Two Injured in Napa in Alleged Drunk Driver Incident
In Napa, California, on Saturday night, October 2, 2021, an alleged drunk driver caused an accident that resulted in injuries to two people.
Details of the Incident
The crash occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m. Two vehicles were stopped in traffic on Highway 29 when a Nissan Pathfinder that was traveling south at an unsafe speed crashed into the rear of a Mercedes-Benz C250. The impact pushed the Mercedes into the rear end of a Toyota Camry that was stopped in front of it, according to a representative from the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Two Occupants of the Mercedes Injured
Both the driver and passenger that were in the Mercedes were transported to Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center for treatment of trauma injuries. According to the CHP, the driver of the Toyota sustained no serious injuries.
Nissan Driver Arrested
The driver of the Nissan Pathfinder, a 20-year-old man from Manteca, was arrested at the scene and booked into the Napa County jail on an allegation of felony DUI causing injury, according to the CHP report.
Hours Later – A Second DUI in Napa
As the night continued on into the early morning hours of Sunday, another drunk driving incident resulted in an arrest in Napa. At approximately 2:30 a.m., a 43-year-old woman was spotted driving north in a southbound lane of Soscol Avenue in the vicinity of Imola Avenue. This errant driving behavior was conducted in front of a CHP patrol officer, according to a news release.
The officer who witnessed the woman driving in the wrong direction stopped the vehicle and detained the driver on suspicion of misdemeanor driving under the influence. A felony allegation of child endangerment was added, given that there were two young children in her vehicle. The woman was booked into the Napa County jail and was released just before 9:30 a.m.
The Effect Drinking Has on Driving Skills
The government of Quebec, Canada, has a website with information about how drinking affects driving skills. It points out that alcohol negatively affects one’s ability after just one drink.
Some of the ways in which drinking affects driving ability:
- The driver may be more prone to speed or engage in other reckless or risky driving behaviors.
- Many drunk drivers fail to latch their seat belts.
- The impaired driver may feel a false sense of confidence behind the wheel.
- An impaired driver may have difficulty maintaining a consistent speed and path.
- Alcohol causes impaired judgment and decreases attention to detail.
- Alcohol can alter one’s senses – including vision and hearing – both very important when driving.
- Alcohol slows reaction times and general physical coordination. It also causes drowsiness.
Watch the YouTube video. The clip below shows how alcohol can affect one’s ability to drive safely.
Remember that alcohol does not affect everyone equally. Even if they are the same weight and have consumed the same amount of alcohol, a woman’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) will generally be a bit higher than that of a man. If all other things are equal, however, the driver’s sex has a negligible effect when compared to factors such as:
- Age
- Weight
- Other medications used
- General health
- Rate of alcohol absorption
- Fatigue
Napa Valley Personal Injury Attorney
Thank you for visiting our legal blog. I’m Ed Smith, a Napa, California personal injury attorney. Unfortunately, drunk driving accidents happen regularly throughout Napa County. When a drunk driver causes a serious automobile accident that injures others, there are civil remedies available. Negligent drivers can be held financially responsible for the damages they cause. For compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice following a car crash, call our injury lawyers at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400.
Photo: by Reinhart Julian via Unsplash
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