Chico Area Injury DUI Accident
I’m Ed Smith, a Chico personal injury lawyer. An auto accident that occurred on Monday, March 12, 2018, left three individuals with injuries that ranged in severity from severe to minor. Authorities report that an alleged DUI driver caused the accident.
Collision Details
California Highway Patrol (CHP) indicated in a public report that they received a phone call at about 10:30 p.m. reporting a vehicle collision. The caller told CHP dispatch that a vehicle had collided with a tree after driving down an embankment off of the southbound off-ramp for East Avenue on Highway 99.
CHP reports that a person living nearby the accident location went to check on the driver of the vehicle, which was identified as a Ford Mustang. The good Samaritan eventually flagged down the driver of a Kia to enlist his help. After being flagged down, the driver of the Kia reportedly parked on the shoulder of the highway and exited their vehicle.
Only a couple of minutes later, an oncoming Toyota Tacoma veered off of the roadway and struck the Kia’s rear-end. The Tacoma subsequently continued to travel down the embankment, eventually colliding with the Mustang before striking several small trees and coming to a stop.
Injuries
Emergency personnel responding to the accident discovered the driver of the Ford that had initially crashed suffered serious injuries and needed to be extricated from the wreckage of her vehicle. Photos taken at the crash scene show several firemen and police officers working to free her from the severely damaged car.
After extrication, the woman was determined to have sustained severe injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Medical officials reported that the woman had suffered a broken hip during the crash. The driver was identified only as a 24-year-old woman. Reports indicate that the woman was still in the hospital’s trauma ward as of Wednesday, March 14, 2018, and I wish her a full recovery.
Two passengers who remained in the Kia after the driver exited were still in the vehicle when it was rear-ended. Both individuals were treated for minor injuries on-site.
Arrest
The driver of the Toyota, also identified as a 24-year-old woman, was arrested at the accident scene and is currently facing multiple charges related to felony driving under the influence. Whether or not the woman received injuries during the accident was not reported.
Investigation
While DUI has been reported as a factor in the secondary crash, it remains unclear why the initial collision occurred. CHP officials are currently working to determine what may have caused the Mustang to drive off of the roadway. Factors being investigated include vehicle defects, dangerous roadway conditions, driver fatigue, distracted driving and more.
More by Ed Smith, Chico Personal Injury Lawyer
Chico Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Chico personal injury lawyer. Negligent drivers can often be held responsible for paying for the damage they cause. If you’ve received injuries during a crash, contact me to get friendly advice for free. I’m available at (530) 392-9400 as well as (800) 404-5400 and my site AutoAccident.com.
Since 1982, I’ve helped Chico residents who have wrongful death and personal injury claims to claim the payments they rightly deserve.
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I’ve obtained verdicts and settled cases for clients worth over one million dollars. Because of this, I’m in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
See my firm’s Prior Verdicts and Settlements here.
AutoAccident.com is Northern CA’s number one website for vehicle accident, wrongful death, and traumatic injury info and reporting.
Pic: “amrambulance” by coolcaesar under CCA-SA3U
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