Woman in Hit and Run Pedestrian Accident in Cathedral City Sentenced to 15 Years

A motorist who killed an 18-year-old pregnant woman in February this year was sentenced to 15 years in state prison after pleading guilty to drug and alcohol use while driving and leaving the scene of the accident.

Gina Garcia was at the wheel of the car when she struck Danica Denton. Denton was just one week away from having a baby. She was seriously injured in the pedestrian accident, and doctors were unable to save both her and her child. 18-year-old Denton died suddenly and tragically, just a few days away from holding her first born child in her arms. Garcia was arrested the next day on suspicion of hit and run and released from jail on the same day after posting the bail amount of $25,000.

Garcia, whose husband works as an investigator with the District Attorney’s Office, pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and leaving the scene of the accident. Dania Denton’s family members expressed anger that the charges did not take into consideration the death of the young baby, as well as the fact that Garcia had been convicted for driving under the influence 13 years ago.

Although Garcia was sentenced to the maximum 15 year term, she was allowed as part of her plea to leave the court house on $25,000 bail in order to take care of a “medical problem” that, her attorney claims, requires surgery. She was ordered to return to court within a week to provide proof of a medical condition.

The entire incident has taken on racial overtones and whispers of preferential treatment because Garcia’s husband works in the office of the District Attorney. According to Kenneth Booth, who is the president-elect of the local NAACP, Garcia has been receiving preferential treatment, because her husband has connections with the DA’s office. Booth has also claimed that the bail amount should have been set at $150,000, instead of the $25,000 that was set here. For Denton’s family, there can be little comfort in Garcia’s sentencing.

Wrongful death damages can be claimed in a case where death occurs because of a motorist’s negligence. For people who have just lost their loved one in a tragedy, it can seem odd to think in terms of placing a monetary value on the life of the deceased. However, it’s important to remember that the loss of the victim will be felt in several ways over not just a few years but a lifetime. For instance, children who are left behind may suffer from the loss of care and affection and loss of upkeep and expenses from the death of a parent. Parents in turn who lose a child due to the negligence of another also lose out on the love and affection that the child could have provided in the future. Besides, people who have lost a husband or wife in an accident may suffer from a loss of companionship, spousal relations and affection. A California wrongful attorney can help you prepare a claim that properly compensates you for all your losses.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of pedestrian 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.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.