Salinas resident killed Sunday in crash on Old Stage Road in Monterey County
MONTEREY, CA, (August 31, 2025) - A suspected intoxicated driver was arrested Sunday night after a crash on Old Stage Road killed one person and injured five.
Authorities have arrested 29-year-old Watsonville resident Miguel Soto Garcia in connection with a drunken driving crash that killed one person and injured several others.
The California Highway Patrol reported that Miguel Soto Garcia, 29, was driving a red pickup when it collided head-on with a silver Nissan SUV carrying five people just north of Natividad Road around 7:56 p.m. The 47-year-old Salinas driver of the Nissan died from injuries sustained in the crash. The four passengers were hospitalized with moderate to major injuries.
Garcia, from Watsonville, was booked into Monterey County Jail on multiple charges, including DUI causing bodily injury. Authorities are continuing to investigate the accident.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Drunk driving continues to claim lives on U.S. roads, despite widespread awareness campaigns, tough laws and devastating statistics. The tragedy is that these deaths are entirely preventable. One person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 42 minutes in the United States in 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association.
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.
Candice Bond, an experienced DUI accident attorney, was interviewed and provided her thoughts on incidents such as this one.
“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,” said Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family members of the victim killed in the crash may be entitled to a wrongful death claim for medical and funeral expenses, loss of love and companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.
“An incident is considered a wrongful death when a person or entity commits a wrongful or negligent act that results in a death,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal.
“When vehicle accident fatalities occur due to unsafe driving, aggressive or distracted driving, speeding, or driving under the influence, family members often have the option to pursue a civil action against the responsible motorist.”
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).