Man Suspected Of DUI Flees Vehicle Leaving Passenger Fatally I...

January 6, 2009 (by Otto Smyth)

According hit and run accident attorneys Los Angeles and Orange County, as well as authorities a man in his 20’s allegedly under the influence attempted to flee the scene of an accident that his passenger was fatally injured.

According to Anaheim Police Sgt. Brian Santy the accident occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. in the vicinity of Lincoln Avenue and Ohio Street when the driver crashed into the cement pole that holds the Illinois Street sign. The sign fell onto the vehicles roof after it was struck, the sign caused the roof to cave in.

The force of the crash knocked the driver and his passenger unconscious, with the vehicle continuing to travel. The car traveling eastbound then jumped a curb and continued coming to a stop in a strip mall parking lot.

The crashed vehicle was seen by a passing motorist identified as Keith Johnson, who alerted the Anaheim Police Department. Johnson approached the vehicle and banged on the window, the driver became alert and kicked open the vehicles door and attempted to flee the scene. Johnson stopped the driver’s escape and detained him until the police arrived at the scene.

The passenger whose name has not been released had remained in the vehicle had to be extracted by the Anaheim firefighters, which took approximately 20 minutes. The passenger was then transported to UC Irvine Medical Center where he died from the injuries sustained in the crash.

According to Sgt. Santy the driver whose name was not released was suspected of driving under the influence, he was also injured in the crash, he was transported to the hospital and treated for a severe cut to the head.

It is believed the driver will be charged with felony DUI and manslaughter charges due to the fact he tried to flee the scene when his passenger was severely injured.  Looks like the driver will need an Orange County or Los Angeles criminal defense attorney.

The eastbound lanes of Lincoln Avenue from the vicinity of Illinois to Ohio Streets were closed while the vehicle was towed and other debris and the investigators from the Anaheim Police Department went over the crash site.