Man Charged in Arroyo Grande Drunk Driving Accident

Yet another drunk driving accident, this time in Arroyo Grande, killed one person, and seriously injured two others. The accident occurred Sunday morning on Highway 101 off El Campo Road.

The accident, apparently, was waiting to happen. According to reports, the car driven by 28-year-old Apolinar M. Rodriguez, a Watsonville resident, was seen by many motorists to be driving erratically, southbound on the highway. Some of the other motorists called 911 to inform police about the reckless driving. Rodriguez was with two other occupants in the car.

California Highway Patrol officers managed to locate the Honda, and were in the process of coordinating with units when the car suddenly turned to the right. Rodriguez at this point, seems to have lost control of the car, and it went off the highway, and down a 30 foot embankment. When it crashed into the bottom of the embankment, the Honda rolled over. One passenger was ejected from the vehicle, while the others were still trapped in the car.

When California Highway Patrol officers arrived at the scene of the drunk driving accident, they found the two passengers still in the car. The front seat passenger, who has not yet been identified, was dead. A small fire broke out in the engine, but CHP officers managed to douse the flames before there was an explosion. Both Rodriguez and the other passenger Benito Salvador, were taken to the hospital for treatment of multiple severe injuries they suffered in the drunk driving accident.

Officers, suspecting that Rodriguez was driving under the influence of alcohol, have arrested him on suspicion of felony drunk driving and manslaughter.

This is yet another instance of how drunk driving kills – not just people walking on the sidewalk, or occupants of drivers of other cars you come in contact with, but unwittingly enough, even your own friends and relatives sharing your car. The victim of this drunk driving accident no doubt, didn’t think twice about getting into a car with a man who was visibly drunk, and in no condition to drive. He has paid for this mistake with his life

It’s a hard lesson to learn, and this unfortunately is how many youths seem to learn this message. For them, there is no dawning awareness of the dangers of drunk driving – one resounding crash, the shattering of glass, the screech of brakes and then, death. It’s unfortunate that the split second before they die is when so many people realize that they made a horrible mistake drinking, or getting into a car with a drunk driver at the wheel. By then, of course it’s too late.

Rodriguez has much to answer for, from his victims’ family and his own conscience. This young man will have to live knowing that he killed his own friend.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of drunk driving accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.