Coachella Man Arrested for Drunk Driving Crash

Nov 11,2016

Police arrested a Coachella man for drunk driving after he caused a crash in Palm Desert Wednesday night. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, 22-year-old Joel Patricio ran a red light on westbound Fred Waring Drive around 10 p.m. He struck an eastbound vehicle that was attempting to turn north onto Cook Street.

The driver of the eastbound vehicle was injured and taken to a local hospital. The extent of her injuries is unknown. Patricio was also taken to the hospital to be evaluated. He was then arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He is being held at Riverside County Jail.

In 2015, there were 914 drunk driving fatalities in California, up from 2014. Currently four counties in the state—Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare—require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. However, this year Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1046 into law, which will expand the program statewide. The program goes into effect Jan. 1, 2019.

“The expansion of the ignition interlock program is great news for California. Alcohol monitoring technologies are extremely effective in keeping offenders sober,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in an auto accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.