A young mother and her infant son who were killed in a DUI collision in Sacramento have been identified as 23-year-old Nancy Naranjo and 9-month-old Joshua Bonton. News10 reports that the fatal collision happened at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Stockton Boulevard the morning of August 8, 2010 when Naranjo's Honda Accord was stopped at a red light. A Toyota 4Runner driven by 22-year-old Xieng Her rear-ended Naranjo's Honda pushing her vehicle at least 200 feet. Both Naranjo and Joshua were instantly killed, officials say. Her was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Nancy Naranjo and Joshua. Please keep their loved ones in your prayers.

DUI Statistics

In Sacramento County, 39 deaths and 856 injuries were reported involving of DUI collisions in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also, countywide, during that same period, 84 people died and 7,874 were injured as a result of car accidents.

DUI and Vehicular Manslaughter

It is illegal to drive in California under the influence of drugs or alcohol under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a). A driver whose act of driving under the influence results in the death of another will likely face vehicular manslaughter charges.

California Penal Code section 191.5 (a) states: "Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle, where the driving was in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the Vehicle Code, and the killing was either the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, and with gross negligence, or the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, and with gross negligence."

Liability Issues

Victims in such cases would be well-advised to consult an experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer, who can help them fight for their rights and protect their best interests. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer can also advise families about how their auto insurance policy might apply to a case where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured. For more information about the dangers of drunk driving, please visit MADD's web site at www.madd.org.

Have you been personally injured and affected by a drunk driver?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.

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