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Drunk driving suspected in Sonoma crash

A serious accident in Sonoma County is being blamed on drunk driving just as police step up their summer DUI enforcement.

Accident a reminder of the risk of drunk driving during busy summer season

A serious collision involving two cars near Sonoma has led to three people being injured, one with major injuries, according to the Sonoma Index-Tribune. Police suspect that drunk driving was to blame for the accident and have arrested one of the drivers involved. The incident should serve as a reminder of the risks posed by intoxicated drivers during the busy summer driving season, particularly during weekends and holidays. Police across the region say they will be stepping up their DUI enforcement efforts this summer to crack down on drunk drivers.

Car weaving

The accident happened on Arnold Drive on the evening of Saturday, June 6. A 2000 Dodge Neon driven by a 22-year-old male was said to have been weaving along the road due to the driver allegedly being intoxicated. As the Dodge Neon headed northbound, it struck a Chevrolet Cavalier coming in the opposite direction with two occupants inside: the 39-year-old male driver and a 31-year-old female passenger.

The two occupants of the Chevrolet Cavalier received moderate to major injuries and were taken to hospital in Napa. The allegedly intoxicated driver of the Dodge Neon suffered minor injuries, but was released from hospital later that same evening. He has since been charged with DUI causing injury and for violating his probation.

Summer enforcement

The wreck comes just weeks after police in Sonoma County reported a drop in the number of DUI arrests during their Memorial Day weekend DUI enforcement campaign. According to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, police in Sonoma County arrested 28 people for suspected DUI this past Memorial Day weekend, which was down sharply from with 46 DUI arrests made during 2014’s Memorial Day weekend campaign.

Police say they hope that the lower arrest figures are an indication that drivers are taking DUI more seriously. Nonetheless, as the recent crash along Arnold Drive shows, drunk drivers still pose a risk to the public, particularly during the warm summer months when more people are out on the road. Police say they will be conducting another DUI enforcement campaign, consisting of extra checkpoints, during the upcoming Independence Day weekend.

Drunk driving accidents

Driving drunk is a reckless decision that places everybody on the road at risk. When intoxicated drivers cause a crash, victims are often left feeling angry and confused, especially given that every drunk driving accident is entirely preventable.

An experienced personal injury attorney should be contacted as soon after such an accident as possible. The right attorney can help protect the rights of those who have been injured by allegedly drunk drivers and possibly assist such victims in pursuing whatever compensation they may deserve.

Keywords: drunk driving, accident, injury