Drunk Driving Accident Kills Man, Injures Friend
A young man has been arrested for misdemeanor driving under the influence after a car accident in which his friend was killed. The accident occurred in the South Kedzie Avenue in Chicago, on Monday morning
According to investigators, Roberto Almazon the 24-year-old driver was in his SUV, while his friend 28-year-old Leopoldo Gonzalez was in the passenger seat. There was one other occupant in the car. In the early hours of Monday morning, Almazon who was driving under the influence of alcohol seems to have lost control of the SUV, and hit a curb. The SUV then proceeded to hit a tree, and then went right ahead, and slammed into a light pole.
The impact of the accident was the most severe on Gonzalez. He received severe injuries, and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital. He died later from his injuries in the car accident.
The other passengers in the car were taken to Cook County Hospital in critical condition. Almazon suffered several injures, and was taken to Mount Sinai for treatment. He was released, and then taken into police custody. He’s been charged with two counts of DUI, driving over the speed limit, and failure to keep in his lane. The charges however were filed before Gonzalez’s death, so it remains to be seen if felony charges will now be added since the drunk driving accident resulted in the death of a person.
This is yet another instance of how driving and alcohol just don’t mix. It probably makes things worse for Almazon knowing that he has been instrumental in the death of a friend. His reckless behavior has now resulted in a tragedy that will follow him for the rest of his life. It would have been so easy for Almazon to do the right thing. All he had to do was refuse to be the designated driver in this situation. He could have called a friend to pick them up, called a cab, anything at all, except getting behind the wheel drunk. Yet he chose to do the one thing that so often tears lives apart.
In California, we have seen dramatic decreases in the number of drunken driving arrests made after the enactment of the .08 count law. The number of drunken driving accident related deaths has also decreased by at least 50 per cent. It helps that we have some of the strictest laws in the country when it comes to drunken driving. Even so, as we see fresh evidence every day right here on this blog, more needs to be done. More habitual drunken driving offenders need to have their driving privileges revoked. There are too many repeat offenders turning up in court rooms after having caused one more accident, when their last drunk driving accident didn’t result in a serious enough punishment.
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.
