The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports that on March 11, 2012, an 18-year-old Riverside man was killed after the driver of the car he was riding in crashed into a parked car on a residential street. The driver, 18-year-old Jesus Gamez was driving nearly 100 miles per hour OVER the posted 25 mph speed limit and was not only under the influence, but was also racing another vehicle in a 1994 Ford Mustang. The DUI driver lost control of the Mustang and slammed into a parked vehicle. The Mustang was reported as being so mangled that firefighters had to cut the victims out of the vehicle.
Both Gamez, the driver as well as the victim, Ruben Terriquez, were transported to Riverside Community Hospital, where Terriquez died from his injuries.
Gamez was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center for investigation of a number of felony charges, which included vehicular manslaughter. It is likely that he will be charged with numerous enhancements, including a speed enhancement as well as being involved in illicit speed racing. The prosecution, especially in Riverside Court, will aggressively pursue the criminal charges against Gamez especially given the outrageous speed being alleged.
All of the above was reported based on law enforcement estimates and other reports and the arrest is based on these law enforcement allegations. A case involving injury alone can be charged as Vehicle Code Section 23153, Driving Under the Influence causing injury. If the injuries are severe, an "Great Bodily Injury" enhancement can be alleged. There are cases where injury may be reported by law enforcement, but later what appeared to be an injury is not substantiated by medical reports. A qualified Southern California DUI Defense Attorney will be able to thoroughly investigate the actual extent of injuries and negotiate a reduction of charges where appropriate.
In this reported DUI manslaughter case, however, it is certain that both law enforcement as well as the Riverside DA will expend significant resources both investigating as well as prosecuting the defendant.
