A 22-year-old Diamond Bar woman tragically was killed Sunday night in a likely alcohol-related crash in Anaheim, the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner reported. The accident occurred on the southbound 57 Freeway (Orange Freeway), near the 91 Freeway (Riverside Freeway), at about 11:15 p.m. on Sunday, August 22, 2010. The victim, Mai Hayakawa, 22, was a passenger in a 2003 Toyota Celica driven by Michael Keating, 24, of Fullerton.
Keating, who was later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, was attempting to merge onto westbound 91. He reportedly sped up to pass a big-rig on the shoulder, and lost control of his vehicle. The Celica veered down an embankment and struck a palm tree. Hawakawa died at the scene of the crash. Keating and a 22-year-old woman in the backseat of the vehicle suffered minor injuries and were taken to UCI Medical Center.
Cause of the Crash
The cause of the fatal 57 Freeway crash remains under investigation by the CHP. However, if news reports are accurate, this fatal solo-vehicle Orange County crash was caused by the suspected drunk driver of the vehicle. Under the California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a), "It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle."
DUI Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability
If Michael Keating is determined to have caused the accident, he may face criminal charges for driving under the influence of alcohol and the death he is suspected to have caused. In addition to criminal charges, he may also be held liable and financially responsible for Hayakawa's death in a California DUI accident wrongful death claim. While this fatal 57 Freeway accident remains under investigation, the family members of Mai Hayakawa may benefit from talking to a Southern California drunk driving injury lawyer about this accident and the family's legal rights and options. Damages awarded in a wrongful death claim may include compensation for final medical expenses, anticipated future lifetime earnings of the decedent, and loss of love, care and companionship.
Good luck fighting a DUI+Fatality when the kid driving was just shy of completing his schooling to become a bartender.
You would think by now that people would be smart enough to figure this out, drinking and driving dont mix.
Just saw another article on this. Minor injuries? There was a picture of him with a f**king cage around his head! That means he at least had a fracture in his spine somewhere, i'm a little confused if that counts as "minor cuts and bruises" now a days. I know DUI's are awful, but its only says he was suspected of it. If they exaggerated on the injuries, what makes you think you can trust anything else said? Thats a horrible interchange, an accident like that can happen to anyone, drunk or not.
Micheal Keating should go to jail for the death of my friend. I hope he gets put away for a long long long time. It was his fault why do people fail to see that. I don't care if he had a cage around his head, he's not dead is he?