December 19, 2017 | By Greene Broillet & Wheeler
A fatal car accident in Pasadena, California, in early November, left two young female victims dead and injured three others. It appears that the negligent driver may have been behind the wheel of the decedents’ vehicle when it swerved out of its lanes on the Pasadena Freeway. The collision occurred during the early-morning hours on Nov. 3.
The single-car accident was likely alcohol-related, according to officers, as the driver appeared intoxicated at the time of the wreck. That driver and two other passengers in the vehicle survived, but two women, ages 22 and 23, were both pronounced dead at the scene. Those two had been best friends for some time, according to news reports. The group of friends had been out on the town celebrating the 22-year-old’s upcoming birthday in mid-November. That woman is survived by two children, ages 6 and 2, according to family members.
Relatives of the victims say the young women were always hesitant about traveling on the Pasadena Freeway, also known as the 110 Freeway. The women’s parents say they now understand that the road can be dangerous, but the drunk drivers can be even more perilous. Many consider the 110 to be one of Southland’s most dangerous roads for a variety of reasons.
No driver has the right to get behind the wheel while intoxicated and put his or her passengers in danger. In this case, the driver survived the wreck, and that person will be held accountable for the poor decisions that led to the fatal accident. The driver may face criminal charges in connection with the deaths, but civil claims can also be filed to pay for the medical care required for the surviving victims.
Family members of the decedents in such cases can also pursue claims for burial and funeral costs, emotional distress and a variety of other civil claims to ensure that the driver pays – literally – for this terrible mistake.