A Los Angeles car accident resulted in the death of a 41-year-old woman the morning of December 20, 2009, on the 10 Freeway in El Monte. According to a news report in the Pasadena Star News, Thomas E. Vanauken, 43, was traveling at a high rate of speed in a 2009 Acura MDX SUV when he rear-ended the 1995 Mitsubishi being driven by the victim.

Vanauken was in the number one lane traveling at more than 120 mph, witnesses told California Highway Patrol officials. The female driver of the Mitsubishi was pronounced dead at a local hospital. One of her passengers sustained moderate injuries and the other was uninjured. Vanauken was only slightly injured, but was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, drunk driving causing death and felony driving under the influence.

My heart goes out to everybody who knew and loved this woman, who was killed in an accident caused by a suspected drunk driver. I offer my deepest sympathies to her family and friends. They will be in my prayers. I also wish the injured passenger the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

DUI Car Accidents

There were five deaths and 46 injuries involving DUI car accidents in El Monte, according to CHP's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Countywide, alcohol-related car accidents caused 268 deaths and 5,169 injuries during the same year.

California Drunk Driving Laws

A driver whose act of driving under the influence results in the death of another will likely face gross vehicular manslaughter charges, as Vanauken does in this case. 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 Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

In such cases, victims' families would be well-advised to consult a truly reputed Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who has had significant success financially pursuing drunk and negligent drivers. Families of deceased car accident victims can also file a wrongful death claim in cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.