A drunk driving attorney would be needed by a man arrested by the police for Santa Barbara, California, DUI crash. Brian Watana, 22, was arrested on the morning of Thursday, April 9th, on suspicion of DUI.
The preliminary accident report by the California Highway Patrol revealed that the crash occurred along Highway 154 at about 6 p.m. It happened approximately a mile from Painted Cave Road.
Have you or a loved one been involved in an accident? Speak to a lawyer for a free no obligation consultation
Or call us at (888) 699-7975
The report showed that a Mazda sedan and an SUV collided, with one of them broadsiding the other on the passenger side. The front right passenger of the Mazda, a male, was trapped in the wreckage, and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department officials worked to get him out.
After extricating the unnamed man, medics took him to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where he later died. The CHP said that three other people sustained injuries from the crash and were taken to the hospital for treatment.
The authorities have not identified the deceased and wounded victims. Watana drove the SUV, and a field test led the CHP to conclude that he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the accident occurred.
Aside from the DUI, Watana is also facing a vehicular manslaughter charge. The investigation into the accident is ongoing, and there’s no information on a bail bond for the suspect.
A vehicular manslaughter charge, under California law, comes with a prison sentence. A convicted person faces between two to ten years in state prison, as well as a suspension of his or her driver’s license for the DUI. Those involved in a DUI accident should contact a drunk driving attorney for legal representation.
Disclaimer: The Safety Watch article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.
The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Safety Watch’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.