Southern California Accident News

Irvine: Drunk Driver Seriously Injured Ashton Sweet and Four Others in Crash

At around 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, May 29^th, a suspected drunk driver seriously injured 14-year-old Ashton Sweet and four others in Irvine. The crash occurred at the intersection of Culver Drive and Irvine Boulevard when 26-year-old Austin Farley struck the Mercedes-Benz in which Sweet and the others were riding. Farley, who has a record of past offenses for impaired driving, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Unfortunately, Sweet suffered irreversible brain damage and is on life support at a local hospital. The other occupants of the Mercedes-Benz were also hospitalized for their injuries, according to an Orange County car accident lawyer.

Memorial Day Weekend is one of the most dangerous spans of time to be on the road, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2009, NHTSA recorded 473 traffic-related fatalities throughout the three-day holiday, 42 percent of which involved alcohol. That year, 45 people lost their lives and 1,465 were arrested for driving under the influence in California.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish a full recovery to the vehicle occupants injured in the crash involving the drunk driver in Irvine last Sunday. During this difficult time, Ashton Sweet and her family will be in our thoughts and prayers.

The Los Angeles Times originally reported this accident. 

Additional information, including books and articles on the injury and wrongful death claims process, is available to the public free of charge.

To request one of these free resources, or to speak with an Orange County car accident lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596. 

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