The suspected DUI crash victim was identified as Patrick Michael Elerding, a 34 year old resident of Santee.
Elerding was a passenger in a 1990 Volvo 240 DL station wagon driven by 37-year-old Nico Faulk of San Diego. Witnesses said that Faulk lost control of the car, ran in to the north shoulder of the road, overcorrected then crossed the double lane before it eventually collided head on with a large oak tree.
The wreck was discovered by an off-duty San Diego police officer who reported the matter to the authorities.
Faulk sustained lower back pain injuries and was brought to a hospital. California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Pennings said that Faulk would be charged of vehicular manslaughter and felony driving under the influence upon his release.
Driving while intoxicated is a dangerous act. No wonder it is penalized in most places. In most states, a certain alcohol level should be reached in order to be punished.
Upon scrutiny, however, it is not a question of whether a certain driver is legally intoxicated or not. But it is a question of whether it is safe to drive whenever a driver has consumed any amount of alcohol.
Research shows that impairment starts long before a driver reached the prohibited alcohol concentration level. Just when you think that you are sober, you are not.
For Elderling’s loved ones, they could file a case for wrongful death against Faulk. The suit could be best pursued with the help of a personal injury lawyer.
Elerding was a passenger in a 1990 Volvo 240 DL station wagon driven by 37-year-old Nico Faulk of San Diego. Witnesses said that Faulk lost control of the car, ran in to the north shoulder of the road, overcorrected then crossed the double lane before it eventually collided head on with a large oak tree.
The wreck was discovered by an off-duty San Diego police officer who reported the matter to the authorities.
Faulk sustained lower back pain injuries and was brought to a hospital. California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Pennings said that Faulk would be charged of vehicular manslaughter and felony driving under the influence upon his release.
Driving while intoxicated is a dangerous act. No wonder it is penalized in most places. In most states, a certain alcohol level should be reached in order to be punished.
Upon scrutiny, however, it is not a question of whether a certain driver is legally intoxicated or not. But it is a question of whether it is safe to drive whenever a driver has consumed any amount of alcohol.
Research shows that impairment starts long before a driver reached the prohibited alcohol concentration level. Just when you think that you are sober, you are not.
For Elderling’s loved ones, they could file a case for wrongful death against Faulk. The suit could be best pursued with the help of a personal injury lawyer.
