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Santa Barbara Police Make 2 DUI Arrests at Check points, Urge Safety for Super Bowl Sunday

By Renee Nordstrand on February 6, 2010

http://www.thedailysound.com/News/020210duicheckpoints

Santa Barbara police officers enforced DUI checkpoints on Coast Village Road, Haley Street, San Andres Street, and Shoreline Drive last weekend, the Santa Barbara Daily Sound reports.  Police made two DUI arrests and cited thirteen other for driving without a valid license during the course of the checkpoints.  Santa Barbara police plan to add nine additional checkpoints for a total of thirteen during Super Bowl Sunday. 

The Santa Barbara Police Department is encouraging Super Bowl partygoers to establish a designated driver for the night of football, food, and, in many cases, large quantities of alcohol.  Additionally, the police department urges anyone who sees a suspected drunken driver while on the road to call police immediately and report the driver.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2008 almost 50% of the driving fatalities from the time of kickoff to the morning after the Super Bowl were alcohol related.  Additionally, according to a study done by the Automobile Club of Southern California, drunken driving incidents are 27% more likely to occur statewide on Super Bowl Sunday.

Given these statistics, please exercise safety and caution when celebrating football’s biggest day.  If a drunken driver hits you or a loved one, please contact experienced personal injury attorneys immediately to determine your legal options at a free consultation

Marine Sentenced in Drunken Driving Accident

By Renee Nordstrand on January 25, 2010

https://www.ocregister.com/2010/01/22/former-marine-sentenced-for-killing-doctor/

Former Marine Elijah Ferguson was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison on Friday for causing a car accident that killed Dr. Michael Sein and severely injured his wife, Grace Sein, the Orange County Register reports.

Ferguson rear-ended the Sein’s stopped vehicle at 75 miles per hour on February 22, 2008 in Orange County.  Toxicology reports indicated that Ferguson’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit at the time of the collision. Ferguson, a Marine at the time who has since been discharged, had been playing drinking games with fellow Marines shortly before driving.  His friends attempted to hide his keys to prevent him from driving, however Ferguson ordered a lower-ranking Marine to return his keys so that he could visit his wife and baby.

This terrible incident clearly illustrates how many lives a single drunken driving accident can affect, as both families involved continue to grieve.   If you or a loved one has been the victim of a drunken driver, you need clear answers and aggressive representation to ensure fair compensation for medical bills and pain and suffering.  Please contact personal injury and wrongful death attorneys today to learn more about your legal options.

2nd San Diego Pedestrian Killed by a Drunk Driver

By Renee Nordstrand on November 24, 2009

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/23/poway-pedestrian-second-fatally-hit-sidewalk/

For the second time in three days, a San Diego pedestrian has been killed by a drunken driver, the San Diego Tribune reports.

Kristen Ann Bedard, 36, was walking at approximately 7 a.m. in Poway when a car driven by 44 year-old Becky Anderson drove up onto the sidewalk, striking and killing the mother of 2.

Anderson was arrested under suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence causing great bodily injury.  A similar situation in East County killed a young walking mother on Saturday night.  In that situation the driver was arrested for identical charges, as well as an additional hit and run charge.

Please call compassionate and skilled personal injury attorneys if you have been victimized by a drunk driver.  First consultations are free of charge and attorneys are ready to help you find the answers and justice that you deserve.

Pedestrian Killed by Drunken Driver

By Renee Nordstrand on November 23, 2009

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/22/bn22pedkilled-el-cajon/

A San Diego pedestrian was struck and killed by a suspected drunken driver in East County Saturday night, the San Diego Tribune reports.   The unidentified 35 year old pedestrian was walking on Pepper Drive at about 9:20 p.m. when Deborah Felix, 51, who was driving a Dodge pick-up truck, struck her and continued driving.

Felix went on to hit several mailboxes, a car, and, eventually, a home before she was stopped and apprehended by police.

Every day drunk driving causes terrible tragedies that affect thousands of Americans.  If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to a drunken driver’s actions, experienced Southern California attorneys can help.  We will we aggressively pursue compensation and guide families in recovering from the loss so that they can move forward with their lives.

San Diego Teen Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Fatal Crash that Killed Friend

By Renee Nordstrand on November 13, 2009

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/11/teen-pleads-guilty-manslaughter-fatal-crash/

A seventeen-year-old high school student, who caused a car accident that killed his friend while driving under the influence of alcohol, has pled guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter, the San Diego Tribune reports.

The youth, who was not identified, was traveling at speeds of up to 79 mph in a 45 mph zone when the crash occurred.  His blood alcohol content was 0.11; the legal limit for adults over the age of 21 is .08.

Adults who plead guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter are normally sentenced to 12 years of jail time.  Because he is a youth, he will most likely receive less than 12 years of custody, if any jail time at all.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), drivers aged 15 to 20 have nearly 20 more fatal crashes than any other age group.  Additionally, drunk driving traffic crashes have costs an estimated $19 billion dollars in the United States.

If someone you or someone you know has been the victim of a drunk driving accident, please call an experienced and compassionate attorney who will explain your options and fight to recover compensation.

Wrong Way Driver Causes Deadly Crash in Anaheim

By Renee Nordstrand on October 26, 2009

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/freeway-early-crash-2623541-eastbound-way

An unidentified woman who was traveling the wrong way on an Anaheim freeway struck another vehicle early this morning, the Orange County Register reports.  The driver and front-seat passenger of the other vehicle were killed.  Two back-seat passengers, who have been identified as minors, were hospitalized with serious injuries.

The crash occurred at about 3 a.m. this morning when the suspected drunken driver was traveling westbound in the eastbound FasTrack lane of the 91 freeway near the 55 freeway.

In 2007 alone, there were 3,669 injuries and 106 fatalities due to drunken driving accidents in Los Angeles County according to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System.   If, after investigation, police determine that the woman who caused this accident was driving while intoxicated, she can be held both criminally and civilly responsible for her negligence.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a drunken driving accident, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney who has your best interest in mind and will help you recover damages from the accident.  We firmly believe that drunk drivers should be held liable for their actions and will fight to ensure this until you are fully compensated.

Orange County Authorities Remember Adenhart, Urge Fans Not to Drink and Drive

By Renee Nordstrand on October 20, 2009

https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/10/police-to-swarm-angels-stadium-in-drunk-driving-crackdown-citing-adenhart-case.html#more

Following the tragic April death of 22 year old Anaheim Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart to a drunk driver, Orange County officials are warning Angels fans not to drink and drive after today’s playoff game versus the New York Yankees.

Adenhart, a promising young pitcher for the Angels, was killed when a drunken driver with a suspended license and previous drunken driving conviction ran a red light and struck the car Adenhart was riding in.  Earlier that night, he had pitched six scoreless innings of one of his first major league games.

As of October 10, the trial for the drunken driver, Andrew Thomas Gallo, accused of three counts of second degree murder for the deaths of Adenhart and two of his friends who were also killed in the collision, has been postponed to April 19.  If convicted, Gallo could face up to 55 years in prison.

With baseball playoffs in full swing, the Orange County Police Department seeks to prevent drunken driving accidents that are typically caused when celebratory fans leave the baseball stadium after consuming large quantities of alcohol over the course of a 9 inning game.

According to the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) website, on average someone is killed by a drunken driver every 45 minutes.

At Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand, we provide experienced representation and hold drunken drivers completely accountable for their actions.  If you’ve been the victim of a drunken driving accident, please call our offices today to learn more about how we can help you receive the compensation your deserve.

Repeat Drunken Driver Sentenced for 15 years to Life for Killing Friend

By Renee Nordstrand on October 13, 2009

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/gandarilla-county-prosecutors-2601141-passenger-orange

A Long Beach man was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison after causing a fatal accident that killed his passenger and friend on February 16, 2008.  The man had a blood-alcohol level of 0.17 (more than twice the legal limit) when he made an illegal left turn into oncoming traffic. A Chevrolet Tahoe crossing legally through the intersection struck the passenger side door, instantly killing the passenger.

The driver had two previous drunken driving convictions on his record, in one of which he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.33.

Los Alamitos City Council members are considering a new proposal in which drunk drivers that cause a car accident may have to pay the city for police and fire department costs.  The costs for offenders would vary according to the accident’s severity and the injuries (if any) sustained.   This program has already been enacted in Anaheim, Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa.

Drunken driving accident victims not only need experienced legal representation, they absolutely deserve it.  As a client of our firm, you will be working with an experienced attorney from the very beginning of your case through its conclusion. Your questions and concerns will not go unanswered.

Drunk Driving Crash Kills 2 on Highway 118

By Renee Nordstrand on September 29, 2009

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/sep/28/2-killed-2-injured-in-suspected-dui-crash/

Two well-known Ventura County DJs were killed early Sunday morning when their car was struck head-on by an alleged drunk driver.  David Joseph Garcia, 34, of Port Hueneme and Alex Estrada, 33, of Ventura were returning from a charity fundraiser, Relay for Life along with Garcia’s wife, Sonia, who was seriously injured and remains in intensive care as of Monday.

The incident occurred at 5:36 a.m.  David Garcia was driving eastbound on Highway 118, when the drunken driver, who was heading west in the eastbound lane, collided with Garcia’s car.

According to the Ventura County Star, 30% of the 27 traffic deaths in 2009 in Ventura County roadways patrolled by the CHP have involved drunk drivers.

My thoughts are with the Garcia and Estrada families in their time of loss.

If a drunk driver has claimed the life of a loved one, accident attorneys can help to compensate you for medical expenses, funeral costs, property damage and losses of expected income, companionship, support, parental guidance and others, as well as for pain, suffering and grief. Punitive damages may also be awarded in some cases.

Local City Ranks #1 in California for Alcohol-Related Collisions and Hit and Runs

By Renee Nordstrand on September 18, 2009

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/sep/17/oxnard-police-making-strides-in-traffic-safety/

Oxnard, California has the highest number of alcohol-related collisions and hit and run incidents in California, according to recently published statistics from 2007.

On average, there are ten traffic deaths per year in Oxnard, with at least two of those deaths involving pedestrians.  The Oxnard Police Department cites dangerous intersections, improper signaling, and poorly designed lanes as the cause of many of the accidents.  Another cause, one accompanied by the highest fatality rates, is driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Oxnard Police Enforcement is cracking down on DUIs through checkpoints, saturation patrol, public information campaigns, and community outreach programs.

On August 29, officers from multiple agencies issued a DUI crackdown on Highway 101.  During an 8 hour period, they pulled over 230 drivers for traffic violations, arrested 10 people on suspicion of DUI, and towed 12 cars driven by unlicensed drivers.

With the steps taken by the Oxnard Police Department and other Oxnard agencies, hopefully the city can become a safer place to drive and live.

If you’ve been the victim of an alcohol-related collision or a hit and run incident, you need the best-skilled attorneys to handle your case with experience, analysis, and determination for results.