A teenage driver and five passengers suffered different degrees of injuries following a solo car crash during the weekend in Visalia, California. Matthew Lopez, 18, drove the vehicle involved in the Saturday, September 5th, incident.
The collision occurred at the intersection of Santa Fe Street and Tulare Avenue. The teenager operated a Chrysler 300 at about 3 a.m., and close to the intersection, he reportedly allowed the car to go off the roadway and strike a parked vehicle.
Officers with the Visalia Police Department said they believe that Lopez tried to get back on the road, overcorrected, and drove across all lanes of traffic. The Chrysler went on to strike a tree and rested afterward.
The medics transported the driver and the passengers to Kaweah Delta Medical Center for treatment. The investigators said that two people remained in the hospital with severe injuries, while three others were discharged after treatment of minor wounds.
Sgt. Mark Feller said officers determined that Lopez operated the Chrysler under the influence and arrested him on suspicion of felony DUI causing injury. He would need representation from a drunk driving attorney.
It is unclear if the suspect and the victims were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. The investigation is ongoing, and there’s no additional information.
Under the California Vehicle Code, a person convicted of driving under the influence would face prison time. The court could order the offender to pay a hefty fine of not more than $10 000.
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