Man Killed in Irvine DUI Crash

Juan Ticas, 39, of Santa Ana, was killed in a DUI collision in Irvine after a series of crashes, which were triggered by a suspected drunk driver swerving over lanes on the transition from the southbound 5 Freeway to the 133 toll road. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the crash occurred early morning on December 3, 2015. California Highway Patrol officials said a black Dodge Charger swerved across several lanes. The driver told officials he got hit by a big rig that caused him to swerve. But he was later arrested on suspicion of DUI and identified as Joshua Garmon.

As Garmon swerved, he drove in front of Ticas causing a crash. Ticas’s Yukon stopped about 100 feet of the Charger before he got out of his SUV and walked over to talk to the other man. As Ticas began calling someone on his phone, a man driving a Nissan drove into the transition and swerved when he saw the Charger blocking lanes. He overcorrected to avoid hitting the car and slammed into Ticas. He suffered fatal injuries. Finally, a man driving a Toyota Camry crashed into the Dodge. That driver was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Juan Ticas for their tragic loss. We also wish the injured driver the very best for a quick and full recovery. Please keep all those affected in your thoughts and prayers.

DUI Crash Statistics

According to CHP’s 2013 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 64 injuries involving DUI crashes in the city of Irvine. In Orange County as a whole, 60 fatalities and 1,235 injuries were reported due to alcohol and drug related collisions during the same year.

Laws and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, the chain of events that resulted in one driver’s death and another’s injuries were caused by a driver who was under the influence at the time. According to California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): “It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.” It is also illegal for a driver to operate with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher.

In such cases, in addition to facing criminal charges, DUI drivers can also be held civilly liable for the injuries, damages and losses they cause. Injured victims can seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Families of deceased victims can also seek compensation by filing a wrongful death claim. Victims and their families would also be well advised to contact an experienced Irvine car accident attorney who has successfully financially pursued drunk drivers.