Several people sustained serious injuries and a motorcyclist was killed on Tuesday in a four vehicle collision on southbound Interstate 505 north of the Patah Creek Bridge.  According to the California Highway Patrol, the first collision occurred at approximately 10:12 p.m. on Tuesday when Thomas Roberts of Newark allowed his Ford Taurus to drift into the center median then overcorrected, cut across several lanes of traffic, and hit collided with a guardrail before bouncing back into the roadway.  The Taurus, which had 5 passengers, was then struck by a Toyota Corolla at a high rate of speed, knocking it into the opposing lanes of traffic where it was struck again by a Lexus driven by 74 year old Robert Ardave.

Immediately after the first collisions, Oscar Alfaro, 48, of Antioch, encountered the strewn vehicle wreckage on his southbound motorcycle and tried to use the shoulder to go around the obstructions.  However, he ended up laying the motorcycle down and was ejected over the bridge embankment and into the creek.  Unfortunately, Mr. Alfaro was pronounced dead on the scene.

Two occupants of the Taurus, including an infant, sustained major injuries and were transported to U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento for emergency medical care.  Other victims involved in this California car crash suffered minor personal injuries.

Mr. Roberts was arrested on suspicion of felony drunken driving.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a crime resulting in felony charges when crash victims sustaining personal injuries. The California Highway Patrol Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System indicates that in 2008, there were 1,355 fatal collisions involving drunk drivers.

California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) states, “It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.” If the drunk driver causes a death of another, the drunk driver can face vehicular manslaughter charges based on California Penal Code section 191.5 (a): ”Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle, where the driving was in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the Vehicle Code, and the killing was either the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, and with gross negligence, or the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, and with gross negligence.”

Victims of DUI car accidents should to consult a reputable Sacramento personal injury attorney, who will conduct a thorough investigation of the collision and hold the offending driver accountable for their actions. A qualified California personal injury attorney can advise you regarding a claim for civil damages, including recovery of medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. Victims should know their rights under the law and any applicable insurance policies. Family members of a deceased victim may have a wrongful death claim, which includes funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages.

The Demas Law Group personal injury law firm is not currently representing anyone mentioned in this article at the time it was posted. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your legal rights and options, call us or another well recognized and respected personal injury law firm. Please do not rely or act solely upon the information provided in this article. Please consider getting a consultation immediately. The best personal injury law firms will provide a free consultation. Demas Law Group will provide a free, confidential consultation to the persons who were not at fault named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.