Drunk Driver Injures 10 in Downtown Los Angeles
A driver heading the wrong way down a Los Angeles street in a U-haul truck injured 10 people and left some property damage at the scene, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
The accident occurred on Seventh Street in downtown Los Angeles early in the morning November 1, when the car crashed into a sidewalk filled with Halloween revelers. The driver of the U-haul had both marijuana and cocaine in his system at the time of the crash.
U-haul sideswipes car, loses control
The crash occurred in the 700 block of Spring Street, around 1:40 a.m. The U-haul was traveling eastbound in a westbound lane of Seventh Street when it sideswiped another vehicle and lost control. The truck then struck both a car and motorcyclist in the process of making a right turn at the intersection, before hitting pedestrians on the nearby sidewalk.
During the course of the crash, the U-haul also damaged a fire hydrant and street light. The driver of the truck, Michael Maurice Wilson, was reported by witnesses as exiting the vehicle after the crash seemingly unhurt. He admitted using marijuana prior to the crash to police that arrived on the scene. Police took blood samples from the 40-year-old U-haul driver at the scene and he tested positive for both marijuana and cocaine.
A total of 10 people were hurt during the crash, including the motorcyclist, four motorists from one of the vehicles involved and five pedestrians. Three accident victims, the motorcyclist and two pedestrians, were still in area hospitals over the weekend, although their status has not been updated since that time.
Driver arrested for DUI
Wilson was arrested for driving under the influence. At the time of the accident, he was traveling alone and the U-haul was empty. The officers who investigated the scene do not believe the truck was stolen. Wilson told them he was headed to the store and he didn’t remember “much about the crash,” according to the Los Angeles Times report.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, 29, 719 people were killed or injured in motor vehicle accidents in Los Angeles County in 2012. That same year, there were nearly 8,000 arrests made for driving under the influence (DUI). Drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents that tested positive for substances after the crash have been consistently increasing annually since 2006.
Consequences of motor vehicle crashes
Driving under the influence is a serious problem in Los Angeles and across the country. Victims of these accidents may see their lives changed in a split-second, as they are suddenly faced with the burden of physical injuries, medical bills and other economic and non-economic losses. When the unthinkable occurs and someone is killed by an impaired driver, the family is left to pick up the financial pieces while dealing with the loss of a loved one.
If you have been the victim of a motor vehicle accident, Ellis Law can help. We will provide you with a free case evaluation as well as answers to all of your legal questions. To speak with accomplished car accident lawyers Los Angeles trusts, call 310-641-3335.