Authorities said another vehicle struck her car near Normandie Avenue
June 22, 2026 | Harvard Heights, CA
A 49-year-old woman died after a suspected impaired driver struck her car in Los Angeles’ Harvard Heights neighborhood shortly after midnight Monday, authorities said.
The victim was identified by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner as Alverta Dunbar.
Alverta Dunbar, 49, died after a suspected impaired driver struck her car on West Gage Avenue at Normandie Avenue.
What happened in the crash?
- A vehicle driven by an adult male crashed into the rear of another vehicle around 12:40 a.m. on West Gage Avenue at Vermont Avenue.
- The man then continued west on Gage Avenue and struck a white car driven by Dunbar at Normandie Avenue.
- Dunbar died from blunt trauma sustained in the collision.
- The driver who struck the vehicles was suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, police said.
This is an ongoing investigation.
Why do these accidents happen?
Even if a driver thinks they don't feel drunk, drugs or alcohol can affect coordination. Impaired driving raises the risk of getting in an accident significantly, which could kill or seriously hurt someone. Over the 10 years from 2012 to 2021, about 10,850 people died each year in drunk driving car accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
An independent investigation will be required to learn other potential factors in the case, including the results of a test or tests to determine the blood-alcohol content levels of the driver.
Accident Statistics
| Source | Annual Average | Time Period | Focus Area |
|---|
| NHTSA | 10,850 deaths | 2012- 2021 | Drunk driving crashes |
Legal Insights
In cases such as this, Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, noted that “Drunken and drugged drivers are subject to criminal charges following an accident or collision that causes harm or kills another person.” Separate from criminal charges, the family of a victim may be entitled to compensation through a civil lawsuit against the responsible party.
- Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help compassionately guide a victim during this difficult time, protecting their legal rights while ensuring that drunk drivers are held accountable for their reckless actions.
Stefano Formica, of counsel with Bond Legal, added that “An incident is considered a wrongful death when either a person or entity commits a wrongful or negligent act resulting in a person's death.”
- When vehicle accident fatalities result from unsafe driving, aggressive or distracted driving, speeding, or driving under the influence, family members are usually left with the option to pursue a civil action against the responsible motorist.
Pending the investigation results, the family members of Alverta Dunbar may be entitled to a wrongful death claim for medical and funeral expenses, the loss of love and companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.
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If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one due to a drunk driver, national legal analyst Candice Bond offers free consultations to guide you.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).