Recent Posts in Vehicular Manslaughter Category

On Monday, police in Los Angeles reported that a 16 month old boy drowned after his father's off-road vehicle plunged into a flow of water.

Following the boy's death, 23-year-old Hunter Kilmer was arrested for suspicion of manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).

Police say that Kilmer was at the wheel of the 1987 Suzuki Samurai with his son, Ford Kilmer, and a 19 year old friend.  California Highway Patrol officer, Joaquin Zubieta, said the baby had been strapped to a car seat in the back when his father drove into a water flowing reservoir. 

The vehicle allegedly overturned and Hunter and the 19 year old were able to escape, but could not get the baby out.  The child was declared dead at the scene of the accident.

At this time, the boy's father remains in jail.

If you have been charged with DUI or vehicular manslaughter, now is the time to contact our law office and get professional help from an Orange County DUI attorney.

In the state of California, it has been reported that a teenager who pled guilty to manslaughter in July for the death of two of his classmates will undergo a mandatory 90 day evaluation. 

On May 11, 2009 at around 2:30 AM, Jared Nobel Berggren crashed his pickup truck into a tree in Fullerton.  During the crash, two of his passengers were ejected and died at the scene of the accident.  Both 19 year old Jacquelyn Ardalan and 19-year-old Miles Christensen were killed.

Police say that the accident occurred after a night of drinking.  Berggren faced two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and a penalty for causing great bodily injury.  Even though he initially pled not guilty, he later changed his plea to guilty on the manslaughter charge and now faces a 14 year sentence.

Berggren also suffered serious injuries during the accident.  After the crash, he provided a blood sample and his BAC was .1%, well over the legal limit for adults and minors.  New sources say that Berggren will be evaluated by the California Department of Corrections before his sentencing in November and their  evaluation will weigh heavily on his penalties.

If you have been charged with DUI, contact our law office to discuss your case with an Orange County DUI attorney!

This week in Santa Ana, it is reported that the judge presiding over the case of a man that is accused of killing Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart has delayed the trial.  The man, 23 year old Andrew Gallo, has been charged with second-degree murder for killing Adenhart and two other individuals during a DUI accident.

Originally, the trial was expected to start on Monday in Orange County.  Now, it has been pushed back to September.  The change was made after Gallo's attorney said that she needed more time to repare an expert witness for the defense.

In April 2009, Gallo struck a car at the Fullerton intersection.  Inside of the car were Adenhart and some of his friends who were out after a recent MLB game.  Police say that at the time of the accident, Gallo's blood alcohol concentration was three times the legal limit in the state of California.  Gallo pled "not guilty" to three counts of second-degree murder.

Contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry to discuss your charges with an Orange County DUI lawyer and get the representation you need to fight your case.

This week, a 35 year old woman has been charged with murder after driving under the influence and hitting another car head-on.  During the DUI accident, Tiffany Ann Holmes of Stockton managed to kill one person and left another individual with fatal injuries.

According to California Highway Patrol Officer Angel Arceo, Holmes was places under arrest on Monday afternoon and was charged with two counts of murder.  Her arrest occurred 10 days after her accident on northbound Highway 99 south of Yosemite Avenue.  During the collision, she struck a couple and their 3 year old daughter.

The crash led to the death of the girl's father, 21 year old David Gomez and seriously injured the mother, 21 year old Adriana Martinez.  The young girl was also injured, but has been moved from the intensive care unit to the pediatric unit at University of California, Davis, Medical Center.

Holmes was booked into San Joaquin County Jail on the murder counts as well as charges of felony driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.  She is being held in jail without bail at this time.

Charged with DUI?  If so, contact our law office to speak with an Orange County DUI lawyer.

In San Diego, a man from Encanto pled guilty last week Wednesday to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.  The man, 52 year old Bruce Michael Hanson, allegedly drove while under the influence and killed a woman who was exiting her car to go to work in Chollas View.

Now that he has pled guilty, Hanson will face a sentence of up to 15 years in state prison.  He is expected to be sentenced by Judge Eugenia Eyherabide on September 10th.

According to police, Hanson admitted that he ran over the victim, 35 year old Alejandra Vazquez.  The incident occurred on February 19^th at 2:15 AM near Interstate 805 ramp at Market Street.  Police say that Vazquez's mother witnessed the hit and run and that Hanson had been driving at a rate of 40 - 45 MPH when he hit the victim.

Prosecutors say Hanson then fled the scene and tried to get rid of his car.  He even disposed of his license plates and got a haircut before he was placed under arrest the day after the accident.  A witness reported an abandoned vehicle after seeing a news story about the hit and run.  The vehicle's identification number led officers to Hanson.

Charged with DUI in San Diego?  If so, discuss your case with a San Diego DUI lawyer by contacting the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry today!

Police in Las Vegas are reporting that a teen that was charged in the death of a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer is facing multiple charges, including driving under the influence.

According to officers, 18 year old Rafael Garcia had been heading northbound on I-5 near Barstow during early morning hours on Sunday.  While driving, he veered off of the road and crashed into a CHP officer that was conducting a traffic stop.  The officer, Justin McGrory, was airlifted to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.

At the time of the crash, Garcia was driving home to Las Vegas.  He was arrested at the scene of the accident.  Garcia was held at a California detention center and charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI resulting in bodily injury, possessing and selling marijuana as well as child cruelty because he had a minor in his car at the time of the crash. 

If you have been charged with underage DUI in Southern California, now is the right time to obtain representation from an Orange County DUI lawyer.  Contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry today to discuss your case with an attorney.

In San Diego, a driver was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Monday.  The driver, 45 Becky Anderson, was prosecuted after she drove under the influence of prescription drugs and hit and killed a mother of two who was walking to work. 

Last month, Anderson pled guilty to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing great bodily injury.  Charges were brought against Anderson after she hit and killed 36 year old Kristen Bedard in November 2009.

After the accident, Anderson admitted to police that she had taken Valium the night before and a dose of Methadone at a clinic in during morning hours.  She said that while she was driving, she reached down to grab a piece of paper and lost control of her car, which served into the road's bicycle lane and hit Bedard.

Police report that Anderson has two prior DUI convictions.

Have you been charged with DUI or related offenses?  If so, now is the time to get help from an Orange County DUI attorney.  Contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry now!

An eighteen year-old-girl who was high on drugs ran off the road this past Tuesday in Long Island, killing a woman who was mowing her lawn. Kayla Gerdes, the driver, apparently jumped the curb and ran over 69-year-old Rebecca Twine-Wright. The entire front of the commercial van Gerdes was driving smashed into Twine-Wrights Colonial style home. Twine-Wright , a retired doctor, was dragged beneath the vehicle and died at the scene of the DUI accident. Gerdes, was charged with second-degree manslaughter, driving while impaired by drugs, and unlicensed operation of a vehicle, police said.

The owner of the vehicle, who was in the passenger seat, was not charged in the incident.

Charged with DUI or Vehicular Manslaughter in Orange County?

When it comes to DUI charges, having an expert DUI defense lawyer is not only desired, it is a MUST. If you or someone you know needs expert representation in this area, contact an Orange County DUI attorney at the law offices of Virginia L. Landry today for experienced and dedicated representation!

A driver who confessed to vehicle manslaughter in connection with an auto accident that left his passenger dead has been sentenced to 16 months in state prison.

On January 9, Vicente Garcia Ramirez was speeding when he lost control of his Nissan Altima and crashed into a tree in Garden Grove. His passenger, 22-year-old Joyce Lopez, was taken to the hospital, but she later died from her injuries.

According to prosecutors, Ramirez was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. He was also driving without a license. The combination of intoxication and speed are believed to be what caused Ramirez to lose control.

Ramirez pleaded guilty to both vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence and driving without a valid license.

If you have been arrested for causing an accident while driving under the influence, it’s in your best interest to speak with an Orange County DUI defense lawyer at the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry right away. Causing a DUI accident gives prosecutors a reason to seek enhanced penalties and charges. If another person was injured or killed in the accident, you will certainly face much more serious charges than DUI. You could be charged with aggravated assault, vehicular manslaughter, or some other felony crime.

At the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry, we have experience handling all types DUI cases, including those involving accidents. Should you choose to work with an attorney at our firm, you can trust aggressive measures will be taken to defend you against the charges in an effort to secure the best possible resolution to your case.

To set up an appointment to discuss your case, please call (877) DUI-QUEEN today!

A Ladera Ranch man could spend the next 10 years in prison if he found guilty of the vehicular manslaughter charges he faces.

Richard Ernest Caselli, 37, was charged with vehicular manslaughter following an October 2009 accident that left a woman dead. Prosecutors say Caselli was driving more than 100 mph on the 73 toll road just north of Laguna Canyon Road when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into an SUV being driven by Brook Boynton. Boynton, who was ejected from her vehicle, died in the accident.

In addition to speeding excessively, authorities also said Caselli showed signs of intoxication, including bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and the scent of alcohol on the breath.

Caselli is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow. If he is ultimately convicted of vehicle manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated he will face a maximum of 10 years in prison. For now, he is out on $150,000 bal.

A 21-year-old Orange County woman convicted of second-degree murder is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Brittany Deanne Schuetz was convicted by jury of one felony count of second-degree murder and could face a maximum of 15 years to life in prison for the offense. Her charges stem from a fatal accident she caused while driving under the influence of alcohol. At the time of the accident, her blood alcohol concentration was .24, nearly five times the legal limit for a person under the age of 21. The California Vehicle Code states it is illegal for any driver under the age of 21 to drive with a BAC higher than .01.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Imperial Highway in La Habra. The victim, April Whang, was driving her Acura Integra through a green light at the intersection when Schuetz ran the red light and plowed into the side of her car. During the trial, Schuetz confessed that she had consumed vodka and several other drinks prior to the accident. According to the prosecutor, Schuetz refused rides home from her friends, instead choosing to drive home herself.

This is not Schuetz’s first DUI arrest. She was convicted of drunk driving in 2007.

Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 30.

If you or a loved one has been charged with murder or vehicular manslaughter for causing a fatal DUI accident, it’s imperative that you speak with an experienced  Orange County DUI defense attorney at the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry right away. As you can imagine you are in a very precarious situation, and should you be convicted of the charges you could find yourself spending years in jail or prison. In Schuetz’s cases, not only did she kill someone, but she was also underage at the time of the accident and she had a prior DUI conviction on her record, two factors that would enhance any DUI charge.

Whether you have been charged with a simple DUI or you are facing much more serious crime, such as vehicular manslaughter, you can trust the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry to work diligently in fighting your charges and building the strongest possible defense.

Call (877) DUI-QUEEN to schedule a consultation with an experienced attorney at the office today!

An Escondido man has been arrested for suspicion of DUI after he lost controlled of his Lexus. His passenger perished in the accident.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Georg M. Reyes was driving eastbound on Avenue S in the Antelope Valley, an area in Northern Los Angeles County, when his car drifted off onto the shoulder of the road. While veering his car back onto the road, Reyes lost control, crossed the median, and overturned. After sliding across several lanes on the opposite side of the road, Reyes’ overturned vehicle finally came to a stop.

His passenger, 20-year-old Michelle Garcia, also from Escondido, was not wearing a seatbelt, which is probably why she was thrown from the vehicle. Garcia died at the scene.

Reyes was transported to the hospital with major and moderate injuries, and later was arrested for DUI. It has not yet been reported whether or not he’ll face felony DUI charges and/or vehicular manslaughter charges. Reyes’ BAC level has also not yet been confirmed.

Causing a fatal DUI accident is one of the most serious situations you can find yourself in. Vehicular manslaughter is a felony offense punishable by thousands of dollars in fines, restitution, and anywhere from 1 year in jail to 10 years in prison. If you have been arrested for causing a serious or fatal drunk driving accident, contact a San Diego DUI defense lawyer at the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry. An attorney at our office can ensure you are provided with aggressive defense and committed representation to increase your chances of successfully combating your charges.

Contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry today at (619) 255-7494!