Articles Tagged with dui accident

Published on:

Drivers at risk of a charge of DUI in Los Angeles take note: if you want to avoid police notice, don’t drive a vehicle that looks like it’s been involved in a wreck. Had Jonathan Bruno of Raritan Township, New Jersey, followed that advice he might not be facing some serious criminal charges today.wrecked-car-los-angeles-DUI

According to the Hunterdon County Democrat, Bruno, age 19, had sideswiped a guardrail along Route 202-31 north just before he met Patrolman Anthony Moreno. The officer wasn’t looking for drivers under the influence; he was on the scene because a fallen tree limb had hit some electrical wires.

But the officer couldn’t help noticing Bruno’s car. It had come out the worse for wear in its encounter with the guardrail, with the passenger side damaged and the front tire on that side flat.

It didn’t take Patrolman Moreno long to figure out that Bruno was in no shape to drive, perhaps due to the heroin and syringe that the officer found in the back of his vehicle. Police eventually charged Bruno with possession of those items and with a whole list of other offenses, including careless driving, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a motor-vehicle crash, failure to report a motor-vehicle crash, driving an uninsured vehicle, violating the terms of his probationary driver’s license and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle.

A friend came to pick Bruno up from the police station. Since Bruno isn’t likely to get his driver’s license back soon, he may be relying on such rides in the foreseeable future.

In a similar case, police in Hendersonville, Tennessee, responded to a call about a possibly intoxicated driver sitting at a traffic light. When they spotted 19-year-old Ben Steele’s damaged car, they decided to take a closer look. Steele couldn’t tell them what happened—and couldn’t pass the sobriety tests either—but officers eventually traced the damage back to a mailbox he had hit. Officers charged him with failure to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, driving under the influence and underage consumption.

Do you need assistance constructing an appropriate response to a DUI charge? Look to the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers’ Michael Kraut for insight and peace of mind. Mr. Kraut is an experienced Los Angeles DUI attorney with many relevant connections in the local legal community.

Continue reading

Published on:

A recent incident in Milton, Georgia serves as a cautionary tale for potential Los Angeles DUI drivers. On Tuesday, July 8, Milton resident Marjorie Rose Ryan-Santos pled guilty in a DUI driving incident that led to a car accident the week before.Marjorie-Rose-Ryan-Santos-DUI

Ryan-Santos admitted not only to driving under the influence, but to endangering the safety of the four children riding in the car with her at the time. She received a sentence of 10 days in jail, and she was given credit for five days served after her arrest. In addition, she faces community service, probation, and a license suspension.

The Milton Police Department reports they arrested Ryan-Santos after the accident due to her slurred speech, unsteady gait, and blood alcohol level of 0.168.

Thankfully, the car accident did not lead to any injuries for Ryan-Santos or for the children in the car. The current condition and location of the children are not known.

This Milton, Georgia, case represents a best-case scenario for individuals who drive under the influence with minors in the car. Fortunately, the driver and occupants were unharmed; however, many DUI accidents result in more tragic consequences.

In California, the law often imposes harsh penalties on DUI drivers, which increase with repeated offenses and become considerably more severe with additional factors, such as child endangerment. When a DUI accident causes injury or death to passengers in the driver’s car or another vehicle, the responsible party likely faces jail time, hefty fines, and other life-changing consequences.

The best way to avoid Los Angeles DUI charges is not to get behind the wheel of a car when you have been drinking. If not for your own sake, consider the life and safety of your passengers and other drivers.

Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers understands that everyone makes mistakes. Whether you face first-time DUI charges, a repeat offense, or more serious allegations regarding endangerment or injury, contact us today to learn how we can help you build a strong defense. Continue reading

Contact Information