Mom Convicted Of Murder in Riverside DUI Accident
A Riverside jury has convicted 33-year-old Marisol Garcia of second-degree murder in connection with a DUI accident, which killed her 11-year-old daughter, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports. The jury also found Garcia guilty of gross vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence causing great bodily injury and driving with a blood alcohol level greater than 0.08 percent.
The drunk driving accident reportedly occurred on April 23, 2005 when Garcia, who had gone out for drinks after work in Irvine, picked up her teenaged son Steven and daughter, Marissa and drove to Riverside. Garcia hit a parked car at Van Buren Boulevard and Clay Street in Riverside and then crashed into a stop light and pole on Central Avenue. Marissa died at the scene and Steven was severely injured. Prosecutors said Garcia’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.18, more than twice the legal limit in California.
This case clearly shows that California has harsh DUI laws and penalties that are intended and designed to stop drivers from operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. California’s Vehicle Code Section 23152 states that it is a misdemeanor to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and that it is misdemeanor to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent. However, the charges will become significantly more serious if the DUI accident involves injuries and/or fatalities, as in this Riverside DUI crash. Drivers in such cases could face vehicular manslaughter charges. If they have had prior felony DUI convictions, they could face murder charges.
If you or someone you know has been accused of drunk driving in Riverside County, please call, Stephen R. Brodsky, the top Riverside and San Diego DUI Lawyer for a free consul and case evaluation. You need the best representation you can possibly get in your DUI case because the stakes are extremely high.
