The worst nightmare for every parent is that their children will face serious injury. Unfortunately, that nightmare came true for a family in California as they returned from a fishing trip. Law enforcement officials have filed several criminal charges against the man believed to have caused the fatal accident that is said to have resulted in the death of a young child.
The incident happened on a day in mid-June. Police claim that a 34-year-old man slammed into the back of a pickup truck. Three children in the vehicle, ranging in age from 5 to 10, suffered major injuries. A fourth child passed away as a result of injuries suffered in the collision.
A police officer claims that the man believed to have been driving the vehicle that struck the truck was slurring his speech and had calluses on his hands consistent with drug use. Witnesses claim that the man was driving recklessly prior to the collision, and investigators say they recovered a meth pipe in the man’s vehicle. Blood samples taken within an hour of the incident were positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine.
As a result of the fatal accident, the man faces multiple charges, including driving under the influence of drugs resulting in injury, gross vehicular manslaughter and possession of drug paraphernalia. While a conviction may provide some sense of closure to the grieving California family, it will likely do little to help them with the financial fallout of their loss. Funeral expenses and medical bills can quickly make a difficult situation even more overwhelming. While it will not reduce their grief, they may choose to file personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against the man accused of causing the accident. If successfully presented, they could receive a financial award that will allow them to focus on their recovery rather than their ability to pay their bills.