Aaron Ellison, 19, was killed in a Riverside car accident, which officials say involved a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal DUI collision occurred at the intersection of Borel and Buck roads outside of Murrieta in French Valley, during the early morning hours of January 22, 2012. Officials say 19-year-old Ashly Nicole Rodriguez was under the influence of alcohol when she drove the 2006 Nissan Altima off the road. The vehicle overturned and Ellison was killed. Two other passengers were hospitalized with moderate injuries. Rodriguez was arrested on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter.

My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Aaron Ellison following this tragic car accident. My thoughts and prayers are also with the injured victims of this DUI crash. I wish them all the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

Riverside DUI Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 31 injuries reported as a result of DUI collisions in Murrieta. During that same year, there were 87 fatalities and 986 injuries reported as a result of alcohol-related crashes in Riverside County.

California Drunk Driving Laws

Based on this news report, the teenage driver was under the influence of alcohol when the car veered off the roadway and overturned. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is illegal 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

In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, the family of a deceased victim can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation to cover medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages. Victims' families would be well advised to contact an experienced Riverside personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and make sure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. For more information about the dangers of driving under the influence, please visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) web site at www.madd.org.