A 22-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed in Oceanside by a suspected drunk driver at about 1:10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26.
Juan Muniz III, a Texas resident, was walking across the North Coast Highway, near Sportfisher Drive, when he was struck by a car travelling northbound. He was found unresponsive on the eastside of the road and died a short time later.
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 driver, William Vaden, 31, stopped and waited for police. He was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and booked into the Vista Detention Facility at 5:43 a.m. on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence, according to news reports.
Bail was set at $2,500.
One person in the United States every 50 minutes dies in a drunk-driving crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2018, statistics noted that 10,511 died at the hands of a drunk driver.
The legal limit for blood alcohol in California is .08 percent. Alcohol impacts a driver’s ability to drive in many ways. According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, it can cause:
- Drowsiness.
- Impaired vision.
- Reduced reaction times.
- Reduced concentration and vigilance.
- Feeling too relaxed, allowing drivers to fall asleep at the wheel
- Difficulty processing sensory information.
- Difficulty doing multiple tasks such as staying in your lane and avoiding obstacles.
- Over-confidence.
Drivers should always have a backup plan when drinking is involved, states the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. A driver should not get behind the wheel if they are unsure how much they have consumed.