San Francisco Area DUI Collision Leaves Two Dead
Two women identified as Beverly Jones and Nancy McBride, both 77, were killed in a car accident in San Francisco the evening of July 18, 2010. Bay City News reports that the fatal collision occurred in Sonoma County when 27-year-old Lyndsay Murray-Mazany drove straight through a 90-degree turn on Geyserville Avenue and crashed into a Subaru Forrester. The driver of that vehicle, 56-year-old Katherine Hinzman, and two other passengers suffered injuries. Jones and McBride, also passengers in the SUV, died on impact. Murray-Mazany, who told officials she was returning from a wine tasting event, was booked on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of the two deceased victims – Beverly Jones and Nancy McBride. Please keep these grieving families in your prayers.
Traffic Collision Statistics
There were 17 fatalities and 264 injuries involving DUI collisions in Sonoma County, according to CHP's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also, countywide, car accidents claimed 36 lives and injured 1,988 people in 2008.
Vehicular Manslaughter
Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious crime under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a). A driver whose act of driving under the influence results in the death of another will likely face vehicular manslaughter charges. California Penal Code section 191.5 (a) states: "Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle, where the driving was in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the Vehicle Code, and the killing was either the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, and with gross negligence, or the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, and with gross negligence."
An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims and their families in such cases about how to pursue their legal rights. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also advise families about how their auto insurance policy will apply to an incident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. For more information about the dangers of drunk driving, please visit MADD's web site at www.madd.org.
In your opinion, what are some of the best ways for drivers to prevent DUI collisions? We would like to hear your tips and suggestions.
None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.
