San Diego Personal Injury Attorney Blog

An Alpine woman and her two dogs were tragically killed Saturday night in a head-on collision on Alpine Boulevard, 10 News reported. The crash, which authorities reported was caused by a suspected drunk driver, occurred around 8:25 p.m., east of Dunbar Lane. The victim, identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner as Cathrine Marie Harless, 63, had been driving a green Chevy Silverado 1500 pickup truck westbound, while at the same time, a tan GMC Sierra extra-cab pickup truck was travelling eastbound. The male driver of the GMC, Brian Peterson, 40, of Rancho Bernardo, reportedly crossed into the westbound lane and struck Harless's vehicle head-on. Harless was ejected from her vehicle and died at the scene of the crash. Peterson was airlifted to Sharp Memorial Hospital. After he was released, he was booked into San Diego County Jail on charges of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter.

Cause of the Crash

East County Magazine reported that Peterson "Crossed over the roadway's double yellow lines directly into the path of the oncoming vehicle," according to officer Brian Pennings, California Highway Patrol, who also stated that Harless was unable to avoid the collision. If news reports of this crash are accurate, this accident was 100% preventable by the driver of the GMC. Driving under the influence is an epidemic problem in California and throughout the entire country. Our condolences go out to the family of Cathrine Harless and everyone who knew her and loved her.

Wrongful Death Liability

In situations such as this one, where another driver is suspected of driving under the influence and causing a fatal crash, the family members of the victim would be well-advised to contact a San Diego wrongful death attorney. In addition to the criminal charges the suspected drunken driver is facing, he may also be held financially liable for his actions in a civil claim. An experienced wrongful death lawyer - one who has aggressively represented families of victims of DUI head-on collisions - can help the victim's family protect their legal rights and advise them of their best course of action to pursue maximum compensation for their loss, including funeral and burial expenses, anticipated future earnings or benefits, and loss of love, care and companionship. Although no amount of money can ease the pain of a unexpected and devastating loss, pursuing a wrongful death claim can ease the financial burdens of a loved one's passing as well as hold the at-fault party financially accountable for his actions.