RSSMost Southern California residents are used to spending countless hours on the state’s highways and interstates. Some people drive for a living, though, and for these workers there are harsher penalties if they are suspected of drunk driving.
Recently near Fowler, a large Kenworth truck ran into the back of a stopped vehicle at the intersection of Fowler and Manning avenues. The car, a Kia sedan, was much smaller than the large truck and two of its occupants, a 14-year-old male and a woman whose age isn’t yet known, perished in the crash. The two were from Selma, while the big rig driver is from Los Angeles. Two other individuals were in the sedan at the time of the incident; fortunately, the 34-year-old and 61-year-old survived the crash but one suffered minor injuries.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the collision shoved the Kia into the intersection and then against a nearby utility pole. The Kenworth truck then struck another vehicle, a Peterbilt truck, being driven at the time by a 45-year-old Reedley man. That truck driver also sustained some minor injuries during the accident. Both he and one of the Kia occupants were treated at Fresno’s Community Regional Medical Center.
Police arrested the 48-year-old L.A. truck driver on charges of vehicular manslaughter. He was also charged with DUI and, because he reportedly ran away from the accident site, he faces a hit and run charge as well.
All of these charges are extremely serious in nature and can entail severe penalties if the driver is convicted. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has required those who hold commercial driver’s licenses to adhere to a higher standard than regular drivers when it comes to drunk driving.
For a truck driver, a DUI charge can quickly curtail one’s ability to earn a living, keep a job or get hired in the future. Truck drivers can even suffer career repercussions if they are arrested for DUI while off work and in their personal vehicle.
Call Los Angeles DUI defense attorney Jonathan I. Kelman at 310.286.1218 to get more information on DUI defense strategies, court processes and important legal deadlines and timelines.