California Injury Lawyer Blog

A 35-year-old Richmond man died Wednesday night when he was struck by a suspected drunk driver in San Pablo, authorities reported. The victim, Anthony Walker, 35, of Richmond, was riding his motorcycle home from a Bible study class at Rock Harbor Christian Fellowship on Church Lane when he was hit by the Ford pickup truck. He died in the street at the scene of the crash.

The driver of the pickup truck, Juan Manuel Ruelas, 43, fled the scene of the accident on foot with the pickup truck still running and his brother sitting in the passenger seat. Police found him at his home in Richmond early Thursday morning, where he was arrested. He had been driving on a suspended license and was currently on probation for a prior DUI conviction, police told the Contra Costa Times.

Ruelas was arrested on charges of felony hit-and-run, vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. DMV records revealed his license had been suspended after two DUI convictions, including one just two months ago. He is currently being held on $200,000 bail.

This completely preventable tragedy is heartbreaking. KTVU News reported Walker, an employee of the County of Marin, was the father of a three-year-old little girl, and was being trained to become a firefighter. Our sympathy goes out to Anthony Walker's family and friends for their sudden and unexpected loss. If Ruelas was determined to be intoxicated, we hope is prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Civil Liability and Wrongful Death

If the news reports of this incident are correct, this accident was caused by the reckless actions of the drunk driver. Under California Vehicle Code Section 23152, driving while under the influence of alcohol is against the law. In cases such as this one, a driver whose act of driving under the influence results in the death of another will likely face vehicular manslaughter charges Under California Penal Code section 191.5 (a). In addition to criminal charges for drunk driving, the victim may also be held responsible financially in a civil wrongful death claim. The victim's family may pursue a California wrongful death claim and seek monetary damages to cover funeral expenses, loss of future earning, loss of love and companionship, and other expenses related to the accident.