[02-18-2023] San Diego County, CA – Suspected DUI Crash in Pacific Beach Injures at Least One

A suspected DUI crash injures at least one near Balboa Avenue on Saturday night, February 18, 2023.

The collision occurred around 9:49 p.m. in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 close to Balboa and Garnet Avenue.

The suspected DUI crash shut down southbound Interstate 5 near Balboa Avenue as workers tried to clear the area of debris and free trapped victims from their vehicles.

When police arrived, they discovered two SUVs: one down an embankment with at least one person trapped inside and the other severely damaged with a severed front end. All lanes were blocked.
At least three of the women involved in the collision were helped by witnesses who reportedly stopped.

After responding quickly, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department treated at least three women and checked them over for injuries.

Firefighters were seen attempting to free a distressed woman from the rear passenger door of an SUV that had overturned and tumbled down an embankment.

California Highway Patrol officers were seen on camera questioning the driver of the white Lexus involved in the collision about whether or not he was under the influence of alcohol.

Ultimately, she was handcuffed and driven away in the back of a CHP patrol car.

According to San Diego Fire-Rescue reports, at least one person was taken to a nearby hospital in an unknown condition.

After clearing more roadside debris, the California Highway Patrol eventually opened a few lanes of traffic for stranded motorists.

DUI Accident Statistics

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that every day 32 people in the United States lose their lives due to drunk driving accidents.

There will be a 14% increase from 2019 to 2020 in traffic fatalities blamed on drunk driving. In 2020, there will be 11,654 such deaths. The California DUI Management Information System found that there was a 5.8% increase in fatalities attributed to alcohol-related crashes between 2016 and 2017.

Drunk driving poses risks to the driver, passengers, pedestrians, and the environment. Drunk drivers are responsible for wasting around two billion gallons of gas yearly due to their reckless behavior on the road.

Drunk driving was directly responsible for 10,142 in 2019 deaths in the United States. California experienced its own share of the tragedy, with 949 deaths. A national rate of 3.1 per 100,000 people equated to an acceleration of 2.4. In 2014, drunk driving contributed to 26.3 percent of all traffic fatalities in the state and 28.1% nationwide.

These results highlight the importance of keeping a close eye on one’s drinking habits and the need to refrain from driving after consuming excessive alcohol.

What Should I Do After an Accident?

It is crucial that you report a car accident to the police as soon as possible. Only provide the police with facts, not assumptions, if they question you. Some victims may apologize even though they had nothing to do with the event. It’s possible that an insurance provider would consider such actions as justification for rejecting a claim.

Requests for report copies must be submitted formally to the relevant authorities. If you’d rather us make the request on your behalf, simply fill out the short form on our site. As soon as we receive your claim, we will begin processing it. If you want a free, no-risk assessment of your claim, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

San Diego County DUI Accident Victims Lawyers

You may feel a wide range of emotions after being injured in a DUI-related accident. Feelings of annoyance, doubt, and even fear may arise occasionally. Perhaps you’re interested in knowing the outcome of this story.

The careless driver who hit you is responsible for your injuries. Severe injuries put people in a difficult financial position because of medical costs and lost wages.

It’s improbable that drunk driving accidents can be avoided. In the event of a crash caused by a drunk driver, you would be covered by California law.

Our San Diego County DUI accident attorneys at Arash Law, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., are devoted to fighting for the rights of those who have been wronged as a result of these accidents.
Drunk drivers should face legal and financial consequences when they endanger the lives of others.

We work hard to secure the highest settlements possible for our clients so that they can pay for necessary medical care and support their families. Get in touch with one of our DUI accident lawyers by dialing (888) 488-1391 or filling out our “Do I Have A Case?” form on this website.