Southern California Accident News

Ventura: Drunk Driver Fatally Struck Bicyclist with Hummer, Injured Several Others

Shortly before 7 p.m. last night, a drunk driver fatally struck a bicyclist and injured several others with his Hummer in Ventura. While traveling west on Telegraph Road, 49-year-old Satnam Singh collided with two bicyclists, both of whom suffered serious injuries; he continued west without stopping, rear-ending a pickup truck at Petit Avenue, and injuring the three occupants inside. Near Mara Avenue, Singh hit a 20-year-old college student on a bicycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two witnesses followed Singh to his nearby home, and police arrived soon afterward. Upon refusing to exit the vehicle, officers used a police dog to distract Singh while they entered the car from the rear. He was taken to a local hospital for the treatment of minor injuries and arrested, explains a California injury lawyer. 

A total of 413 people were killed or injured in traffic accidents in Ventura in 2009, 57 of which involved alcohol, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety’s most current accident statistics. That year, crashes claimed the lives of 61 bicyclists there. Statewide, the number of fatalities suffered in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08 or greater decreased by 7.6 percent from 1,025 in 2008 to 950 in 2009. 

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of the bicyclist who was fatally struck by the drunk driver in the Hummer last night in Ventura. We would also like to wish a full recovery to the two bicyclists and three vehicle occupants who suffered injuries. 

The Los Angeles Times originally reported this story. 

Resources for accident victims and their families, including books and articles on the injury and wrongful death claims process, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to discuss a specific legal matter with a California injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596. 

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