Petition For Change: Couple’s Death Spurs Highway Petition

According to recent reports, a petition is now being circulated to change the road conditions at the spot where a young couple died recently on Summerlin Parkway. The family members believe that if barriers had been in place, Savanna Gonzalez and Frank Spenia could have been saved from the drunk driver that crossed into their lane, hitting them head-on and killing them both. The family has gathered more than 1,000 signatures in the form of physical signings and an online petition to authorities asking for barriers to be installed along the stretch of highway where Gustavo Martinez-Garcia ran head-on into the couple, killing them instantly. Martinez-Garcia has been charged with two counts of DUI resulting in the death of another person. Several local car clubs contributed to fundraising efforts to bring awareness to the petition. The families of the two victims say that they hope they can bring about a change that will result in fewer deaths in the future for other people’s loved ones.

DUI CAUSES DEATH AND INJURY

It is not unusual for a drunk driver to hurt or kill others when he or she is behind the wheel. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 32 percent of all drivers between the ages of 21 and 24 who were involved in fatal crashes were drinking. For drivers between 25 and 34, the figure was 30 percent, and for drivers 35 to 44 it was 24 percent. This means that about one-third of young drivers and about one-quarter of middle-aged drivers who are involved in fatal accidents are under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Drunk drivers not only cause death but also contribute to injury in high numbers. Furthermore, many drivers who are involved in accidents are not “first time” drunk drivers. MADD estimates that about one-third of all drivers who were arrested for DUI in 2011 were repeat offenders, so it is logical to assume that many drivers who cause crashes have operated a vehicle in the past while drinking.

CIVIL ISSUES WITH DUI AND INJURY

DUI is a criminal matter, and those who are driving under the influence face fines and jail time among other penalties. However, even if the driver is convicted, this will not compensate the victims for their damages. High Stakes Injury Law in Las Vegas are ready to help the victims of a DUI crash recover monetary compensation for their injuries.