Napa DUI Injures Three
Reports issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) disclosed that three people were hurt during a multiple vehicle accident in Napa County on Thursday, December 20, 2018. The accident involved three vehicles which left four individuals with injuries, two of whom were taken to a nearby hospital for medical care. The crash was reportedly caused by an intoxicated driver who was identified as a 21-year-old resident of Vacaville. The drunk driver is currently in custody of the Napa County jail with charges related to DUI causing injuries. Updates on the conditions of the injured individuals were unavailable, but none of there injuries were declared to be life-threatening.
Crash Details
Police stated that a 39-year-old Fairfield woman had been driving a 1999 Ford F-350 south on Highway 221 at about 6:00 p.m. in the leftmost traffic lane when she stopped because of traffic ahead of her. The Ford came to a stop behind a Toyota Rav-4 driven by another woman from Fairfield. The Vacaville woman had been driving south on the same highway at around 50 miles per hour in a 2010 Jeep Patriot. The Jeep failed to stop and collided with the rear-end of the Ford, which was pushed forward into the Toyota.
The impact caused the Toyota to catch on fire. However, all occupants were able to make it out of the burning vehicle.
Response
The CHP and the Napa County Fire Department responded to the accident. The roadway was shut down while firefighters put out the burning Toyota using fire extinguishers. Medical officials said the driver of the Ford and two passengers of the Toyota, a Napa and Fairfield resident, suffered injuries. The 21-year-old Fairfield resident who had been a passenger in the Toyota was taken to a hospital with severe injuries.
The driver of the Jeep was arrested at the accident scene for driving under the influence. However, the woman was released into the custody of the Queen of the Valley hospital to be evaluated before she was booked into the county jail. Her bail may be set as high as $100,000 according to records from Napa County.
Drunk Driving and Liability
It is a well-known fact that those who choose to drive a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol put the lives of everybody on the road at risk. Because these drivers knowingly endanger others, they are considered negligent when they are involved in accidents and can most often be held responsible for the various damages that they cause. However, in the event of a DUI crash, other parties can also be liable. These parties can include businesses or individuals who supplied alcohol or vehicle access to the driver knowing they would drive while intoxicated.
Those who have been injured by a drunk driver deserve to be compensated for their losses and should contact a local Napa personal injury lawyer to learn what options they have for recovering financially after their crash. Most lawyers offer free phone consultations where you can receive valuable information about the details of your case. To learn a bit more about why contacting an attorney after a crash is important, you can check out this video:
More by Ed Smith, Napa Personal Injury Lawyer
Napa Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Napa personal injury lawyer. Being injured in an accident can be life-changing. If a crash has left you seriously injured, call (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
Napa residents have trusted me to represent them in wrongful death and personal injury cases for 36 years. You can see my history of verdicts and settlements here and read the many excellent reviews my clients have written about me and my firm at:
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I created Northern CA’s best personal injury and car accident information website, AutoAccident.com.
Napa DUI Injures Three: Ed Smith
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