Man Charged with DUI Manslaughter after Crash Kills his Brother

37-year-old F.B. has been charged with two felonies after a fatal accident occurred in the early morning hours last Monday. F.B. was allegedly driving a pickup truck in Santa Ana which was also occupied by his brother and nephew. At around 12:30 a.m., F.B. reportedly lost control of the truck and it careened off the road. The vehicle went up and over a curb and then crashed into a street light and palm tree before going through a fence which protected a flood control channel. The truck fell into the channel and landed on its passenger side on the cement bottom. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and began to extricate the three individuals out of the wreck. F.B.'s brother, 47 years old, died at the scene. F.B. and his nephew were transported to a nearby hospital. The nephew had suffered several broken ribs from the crash but F.B.'s injuries were not described. Prosecutors say that F.B. showed signs of intoxication while he was at the hospital being treated including "emitting an odor of alcohol and bloodshot, watery eyes." Reports do not state if a blood test or other chemical test for determining intoxication was conducted. Drunk driving charges can mean serious imprisonment, fines and other penalties so get the help of a criminal defense lawyer right away.

Suspect Charged with Serious DUI Felonies

F.B. was taken into police custody after being released from the hospital and appeared at the Orange County Superior Court two days after the crash for his initial hearing. He has been charged with two felonies, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence and driving under the influence and causing bodily injury, as well as misdemeanor driving without a valid license.

Have you been charged with a DUI offense?

Charges for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in Orange County can mean severe penalties which can have very negative impacts to your personal and professional life. A first time misdemeanor DUI conviction can result in jail time, $1,000 in fines, five years probation, license suspension, community service and more. The penalties are substantially harsher in cases involving previous DUI convictions or if there has been an accident involving injuries or fatalities. That is why there is no time to lose when getting a strong defense attorney on your side. An attorney with the Law Offices of Bruce Bridgman has successfully handled a variety of DUI cases and obtained a positive outcome. Contact the firm now to schedule a free initial consultation on your case. Don't face the criminal justice system on your own.