California head-on collision kills two, drunk driving suspected

Two people are dead following a head-on collision on U.S. Highway 101 in Marin County on Nov. 23. The California Highway Patrol stated the crash might have been caused by a drunk driver.

Authorities said the CHP began receiving calls about a vehicle traveling north in the southbound lanes of Highway 101 in Novato just after midnight. Before officers could intercept the vehicle, which turned out to be a Toyota Camry, it struck a Nissan Sentra head-on near the border between Marin County and Sonoma County. The Nissan overturned, and it was then hit by a Dodge Ram before coming to rest in a ditch.

The Toyota driver, a 61-year-old Novato man, and the Nissan driver, a 66-year-old Union City man, both died at the scene of the crash. The Nissan driver's wife, age 65, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a local hospital. The driver of the Ram was not hurt.

CHP investigators are looking into the Toyota driver's activities in the hours before the accident. Alcohol is suspected of playing a role in the crash, but the toxicology test results will not be available for several weeks.

Anyone who has lost a loved one in a car accident caused by a negligent driver such as a drunk or a distracted motorist could have a solid case for a wrongful death claim. With the aid of an attorney, a victim's family may wish to seek compensation from the at-fault driver for medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost wages, lost companionship and other damages.

Source: Marinij.com, "Novato and Union City men identified as fatalities in wrong-way crash," Megan Hansen and Gary Klein, Nov. 24, 2014

Source:�CBS San Francisco , "2 Die In Novato Head-On Crash Caused By Wrong-Way Driver On Hwy 101", November 23, 2014