A man was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident after he crashed into a earlier wreckage, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. KCRA News reports that the fatal collision occurred the night of August 3, 2010 on Interstate 505 in Winters, when a car spun out of the roadway and struck a guardrail. That vehicle was struck by two other cars and then the motorcyclist, who died at the scene. Ten others suffered minor to moderate injuries. The driver who caused the initial collision was booked on suspicion of felony DUI.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased motorcyclist. I also wish the injured victims the very best for a quick and full recovery. Please keep this grieving family in your prayers.

DUI Statistics

There were no fatalities, but one injury reported involving alcohol-related crashes in Winters, according to CHP's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. In Yolo County as a whole, one fatality and 25 injuries were reported as a result of DUI collisions during the same year.

Drunk Driving Laws

It is illegal in California to drive a motor vehicle, with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher. 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."

Compensation Issues

In such cases, injured victims or their families would be well-advised to contact a reputed California personal injury lawyer who has an excellent track record holding drunk drivers responsible for their actions. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation to injured victims and their families.

Do you believe that DUI penalties are sufficiently severe in California?

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.