A 19-year-old in California was taken into police custody following a motor vehicle accident. At the time of the incident, he was also carrying a 16-year-old passenger in his vehicle. A collision occurred as the teenage driver attempted to round a curve on a wet road.
The man reportedly later told police that he lost control of the steering as his vehicle hydroplaned when he entered the bend on the wet road. The vehicle crashed into a hillside nearby. The impact of the collision caused the vehicle to roll.
Accident turns fatal
Investigators say the passenger in the vehicle was ejected from the car as it crashed and rolled over. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was arrested, and police reportedly believe alcohol was a factor in this tragedy.
Mourning the loss of a child in a fatal collision
Losing a child is one of the worst experiences a family can have. When the death occurred in an accident that may have been preventable, it intensifies the family’s grief. There is no excuse for drunk driving, which causes thousands of deaths in California and throughout the country every year. A parent or guardian who has lost a child because of a drunk driver may seek justice by filing a wrongful death claim in civil court. Doing so often results in restitution, which can be used to help cover funeral expenses and other financial distress associated with a fatal collision.