1 dead, 3 injured in Sunday night crash at Tustin Street and Collins Avenue
ORANGE, CA, (September 29, 2024) - One person died and multiple others were injured Sunday night in a two-vehicle accident involving an alleged impaired motorist in Orange.
Roberto Xitlama was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after a Sunday night two-vehicle accident killed one person and injured three others in Orange.
According to the Orange Police Department, a Chevrolet Equinox operated by 18-year-old Roberto Noe Monfil Xitlama blew through a red light at the intersection of Tustin Street and Collins Avenue and struck a Toyota Rav4 around 8 p.m.
A passenger in the Toyota tragically died at the site of the crash. The driver, and two other passengers, including the daughter of the deceased passenger, were hospitalized with serious injuries.
Xitlama was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
The incident remains under investigation.
DUI ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
Despite crackdowns throughout this country, impaired drivers remain a threat to innocent, law-abiding victims.
The consumption of alcohol can diminish the ability to operate a motor vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 8,174 of the 42,915 fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2021 involved alcohol.
An independent investigation will be required to learn other potential factors in the case such as blood-alcohol content levels.
Candice Bond, an experienced DUI accident attorney, was interviewed and provided her thoughts on incidents such as this.
“Separate from criminal charges, a victim may be entitled to compensation through a civil lawsuit against the responsible party, said Candice Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal. “In addition to the diligent work of law enforcement, an attorney can re-interview important witnesses, analyze any surveillance video from the scene of the crash, and obtain phone and texting records of the liable party. Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help compassionately guide an injured victim during this difficult time, protecting their legal rights, while ensuring that a driver who takes the wheel under the influence is held accountable for their actions.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the results of any investigations, the family of the victim may pursue a wrongful death claim. Survivors of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a tragic or catastrophic accident such as this.
Bond, a national legal analyst for Newsline, said, “Grieving families of victims are sometimes overwhelmed by the legal processes that are in place to protect their rights. An attorney can be a valuable and compassionate resource to help guide a family during difficult times and ensure that those left behind receive the restitution they are entitled to.”
“No amount of money is enough for a victim or their family to deal with the trauma and pain they experienced after a catastrophic crash. However, an attorney can help ease the financial burden and provide a path forward,” Bond stated.
If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed at the hands of a drunken driver and would like a no-cost consultation, our national legal analyst Candice Bond is available for a free consultation 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).
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