DUI Crash Kills One on West Hollywood Street
A high speed DUI crash in West Hollywood has left one man dead, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. A local resident witnessed the accident in the early morning while walking her dog and said the intoxicated driver nearly hit her as he sped north on Curson Avenue in his blue Kia. The driver then blew through a stop sign before crashing into two vehicles, sending one into a fire hydrant and killing the driver of the other.
Yelena Bunina overheard the accident at the crossing of Curson Avenue and Fountain Avenue. “The fire hydrant exploded,” she told investigators. “I was literally shaking. I almost got run over. When I was on the phone with 911, the accident happened…” The incessant cascade of water from the hydrant made rescue work for authorities difficult and kept the intersection closed for several hours. Firefighters were able to pull out the occupant of one car, but the driver of a Honda Accord was pronounced dead at the scene.
Drunk driver kills one in West Hollywood
“Unfortunately, this is just someone who was driving through the neighborhood,” LAPD Captain Edward Pape told NBC news. “And, out of nowhere, comes a driver who hits them from the side and a life is now taken.” The victim’s name has not yet been released, and authorities report that the Kia driver was arrested for possible vehicular manslaughter.
This senseless drunk driving accident, which is just one of hundreds every year in Los Angeles, underscores how the reckless actions of one person can destroy the lives of innocent victims. According to the California office of Traffic Safety, Los Angeles County reported nearly 2,400 deaths and serious injuries in 2012 resulting from alcohol-impaired driving. Across the state, the number of people killed from DUI crashes had been on the decline up until 2010, when fatalities began creeping up again.
Individuals who have been injured by a drunk driver or those who have lost a loved one have the law on their side. For more than two decades, the Los Angeles DUI accident lawyers at Ellis Law have been aggressively pursuing cases against drunk motorists responsible for serious injury and death. Our legal team has no sympathy for careless people who think nothing of getting behind the wheel while impaired by drugs, alcohol or any other controlled substance.
Victims have the right to press criminal charges and pursue a civil action for monetary damages. Our clients are ensured we will do everything in our power to recover maximum compensation for all losses, including medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, permanent disability, loss of future earnings and other damages.
Ellis Injury Law can protect your legal rights
A drunk driving accident can turn your life upside down in the blink of an eye. When the unthinkable happens and you become a victim, our attorneys are fully prepared to investigate the accident and represent your case, regardless if the driver is without insurance. If the responsible driver has already been convicted of a DWI or DUI after the collision, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit in Los Angeles right away.
Remember, you don’t have to go it alone; Ellis Injury Law is here to help victims of DUI crashes and has successfully litigated dozens of car accident claims involving intoxicated drivers. Call us at 310-641-3335 for more answers during a free case review.