Blog Post

Fatal DUI Accident has San Bernardino Police Worried for Holiday Safety


December 21, 2007
Topic: Drunk Driving Accidents

For law enforcement officers all around the country, one of the toughest times of the year begins in a day or two, as party season kicks off, and already signs are that this year isn't going to be a whole lot different from others as far as irresponsible and drunken driving is concerned.

On Wednesday, 22-year-old Jose Ricki Flores, driving in an intoxicated state, lost control of his 1991 Nisan Sentra on Highway 18. The car spun around, and skidded backwards crashing into a 2006 Cadillac Escalade. All three passengers in Flores' car were killed. Two were brothers, while the third was their cousin. The oldest of the three dead boys was 25, the youngest 17.

Authorities are still awaiting tests on Flores, but he is expected to be arrested for drunk driving and gross vehicular manslaughter.

The holiday season hasn't begun officially yet, and accidents like these are worrying local police who have been mounting strong efforts to educate people about the dangers of drunk driving. San Bernardino, California had the distinction of ranking fourth in the state as far as drunk driving related accidents go last year - a total of 12,343 arrests.

Drunk driving seems to be a stubborn problem. In spite of all efforts by police and regular DUI programs, close to 8 in 10 drunk drivers are repeat offenders. This means that every time a drunk driver is let off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist when he's caught driving in an intoxicated state, he gets closer to causing real damage to property and life the next time he gets behind the wheel drunk.

Consequences are often tragic and mind numbingly senseless as in the case of Flores. Not only does he face a possible jail sentence, he will live the rest of his life knowing he was responsible for the deaths of 3 of his closest friends. It's a lesson that San Bernardino officials want to drill into young minds this holiday season.

If you've been injured in an accident that occurred as a result of drunk driving, call the experienced California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.


The California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group represent victims of accidents, injuries and wrongful death throughout California from our offices in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Fresno County, Kern County, Sacramento County, San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Antelope Valley, Torrance, Glendale, Bakersfield, Santa Ana, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Ontario, and Victorville.