Wrong Way Drunk Driver Kills Six in Multi-Car Collision in Diamond Bar
A multi-car collision on Highway 60 east of Los Angeles near Diamond Bar Sunday morning, February 9th, left six people dead. A Chevy Camaro heading east in the westbound lanes slammed head-on into a Ford Explorer before also colliding with a Ford Freestyle. Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others died at the hospital. Among the dead were two passengers of the Camaro, one of which may have been the driver’s sister. According to witnesses, the Camaro had been speeding up to 100 mph at the time of the accident.
The driver of the Camaro, who was herself hospitalized and listed in serious condition at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and manslaughter.
Those injured in the crash, as well as the family members of the deceased, may decide to take civil action against the driver of the Camaro for personal injury and wrongful death. She will first have to deal with the criminal charges against her, though. If the driver is convicted of DUI, manslaughter or other offenses, the fact of that conviction may be used against her in the civil litigation. Even if she is not convicted in criminal court, she may still find it difficult to escape civil liability. Whereas criminal charges must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, civil cases are decided based on a preponderance of the evidence, i.e. whether a given fact is more likely true than not.
