Most accidents involving drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs occur at night or in the early morning hours. That’s why if you want to stay safe, it’s a good idea to try and avoid driving or being out on the roads during those times of day. Of course, staying safe means not getting into the car with a possible impaired driver in the first place.
But that appears to be what happened early Saturday morning in Las Vegas when a man was arrested for DUI after an auto accident which killed his passenger. Just before 2:30am Saturday morning, a 27-year old man from Las Vegas was driving a Dodge Caravan north on US 95 on the north side of the city.
Nevada Highway Patrol reports that prior to Eastern Avenue, the minivan drifted off the roadway and onto the right shoulder. The driver apparently overcorrected and swerved left, and the vehicle then struck a concrete center median, which ejected the passenger onto the roadway. NHP officials believe that the minivan then swerved back across the highway onto the right shoulder, striking the ejected passenger in the process. The passenger, a 25-year old man from California, succumbed to his injuries. The 27-year old driver was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence.
News reports do not indicate whether the two men were related. If they were not, the family of the victim might soon file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver of the Caravan. The suit would likely seek damages for burial expenses, lost future wages, and emotional distress.