Likely, most California residents know someone who continues to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after having had one too many alcoholic drinks. Everyone knows this is an unsafe practice, yet people who choose to ignore warnings probably believe they will defy the odds and arrive at their destination without injuring themselves or others. However, as everyone knows, impaired drivers often end up causing tragic situations resulting in serious injuries and sometimes fatalities.
Pickup driver loses control
In a recent example, three people, including the driver responsible, suffered serious injuries on a roadway in Sonoma County near Sebastopol. The incident happened on a recent Wednesday evening when, according to the California Highway Patrol, a man driving a pickup truck struck two bicyclists. Apparently, he was approaching the bicyclists while driving north on the roadway at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his truck on a curve. He hit one of the cyclists, a 12-year-old boy riding on the shoulder of the road.
Driver and 2 cyclists seriously injured
After the driver returned to the road, he again veered onto the shoulder where he struck another cyclist, described as a man in his 50s. After hitting the cyclists, the truck crashed into a utility pole and a tree. Reportedly, the driver and the two cyclists were taken to a local hospital for treatment of major injuries. A CHP officer has said the driver has been arrested on suspicion of felony DUI. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the crash to call the Santa Rosa CHP office.
Unfortunately, when collisions happen between motor vehicles and bicycles, typically, the cyclist will take the brunt of the impact. The exact nature of the injuries has not been indicated here, but the outcome for either or both cyclists could be grim, possibly resulting in lifelong consequences. Many people who have been victims under similar circumstances find the emotional, physical and financial toll extremely stressful and impactful on all areas of their life. These victims may consider sitting down with an experienced California personal injury attorney who can apprise them of options that could help mitigate some of the medical costs as well as hold the person responsible accountable.