A Santa Ynez man, who seriously injured a passenger in his vehicle after allegedly driving drunk and crashing into a tree off of Highway 246 between Solvang and Buellton, is asking that his $500,000 bail be reduced.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the 36-year-old man was driving his 2003 Ford E-350 van on Highway 246 east of Ballard road when he veered off the road and struck the tree. While he suffered only minor injuries, his passenger, a 39-year-old Los Olivos resident, suffered major injuries and was flown to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where she was listed in critical condition.
This is the second serious accident that the driver has been involved in. In 1998 he lost control of his vehicle on Alisos Canyon Road, killing an 18-year-old woman in another car and seriously injuring a passenger in his vehicle. Injuries from that accident left him a paraplegic.
An attorney for the driver asked that his bail be reduced due to his serious medical condition. His public defender also stated that his client’s 1998 accident did not involve alcohol and that he only was charged with a misdemeanor in that case. The driver is currently facing felony charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, causing an injury.
CHP reported that both the driver and his passenger were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash and that the investigation is still underway
If you’ve been injured by the irresponsible and negligent actions of an impaired driver, you should seek the services of a Santa Barbara County car accident injury attorney in at The Law Offices of Renée J. Nordstrand. We offer the experienced and aggressive legal representation you expect when seeking compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, hospitalization, and other damages.
If you have questions about your automobile accident, call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or contact us online, for a free, no-obligation review of your case.