A DUI collision resulted in injuries to four firefighters who were on their way to a medical emergency the morning of June 13, 2010. San Diego 6 reports that the injury accident happened close to Alpine in eastern San Diego County. Officials say a driver identified at 25-year-old Yesenia Mitre pulled out directly ahead of the fire truck. The impact caused the fire truck to lose control and hit a pole. Mitre sustained a broken wrist. But officials determined Mitre was under the influence. The driver was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI.

It is indeed fortunate that this accident did not result in serious injuries. I pray the firefighters injured in this crash recover quickly and completely.

Car Accidents in San Diego

There were 90 fatalities and 2,252 injuries involving car accidents in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. In San Diego County as a whole, 246 deaths and 13,527 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2008.

DUI Law

According to California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): "It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle." It is also illegal under California law to drive with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher.

Liability Issues

Based on this news report, it appears that the driver, Mitre, did not yield right-of-way to the emergency vehicle, but drove into its path. If Mitre is determined to have been under the influence at the time and caused the crash, she could be held liable for the injuries caused here. Injured victims in such cases would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experiencedSan Diego personal injury lawyer who will explain to them about their legal rights and options. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also advise victims about how their car insurance policy might apply to an at-fault driver who is uninsured or underinsured.

Have you been involved in a car crash that was the fault of a DUI driver?

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.