Pauline Samantha Portes was just 19-years-old when she was fatally struck in an Orange, California wrong-way driving accident on the 55 freeway in November 2007. The driver who was driving the wrong-way, 28-year-old Fontana Ramirez, has been sentenced to 9 years and 8 months in prison for Portes's vehicular manslaughter death.
Ramirez, a single mother of two, does not remember the deadly crash, but she admits that she drank two tequila shots, four Crown Royal and colas, and three Jagermeister "bombs" at an Irvine bar and at the Cheesecake Factory on the night of the deadly Orange car accident. Ramirez did not have a prior drunk driving record. At her sentencing yesterday, Ramirez asked for forgiveness for the tragic accident.
Wrong-Way Driving Accidents
Driving the wrong-way down any road can lead to tragic consequences--especially if you are drunk. Orange County, California wrong-way driving crashes can lead to deadly head-on collisions for those involved.
Over the weekend, 8 people were killed in a wrong-way driving accident in New York when a woman drove the wrong way up the Taconic State Parkway on Sunday afternoon. The driver, Diane Schuler, her 2-year-old daughter, and 3 young nieces died in the tragic accident, as did three people that were riding in one of the vehicles that she struck with her minivan. Schuler's 5-year-old son survived the crash but was hospitalized.
Motorists reportedly honked at Schuler, flashed their headlights, and contacted 911, as her vehicle drove the wrong-way for nearly 2-miles. Her brother Warren Hance says she'd called him to let him know she wasn't feeling well. Preliminary autopsy results however do not show what could have compelled her to keep driving the wrong way.
Wrong-driving, drunk driving, distracted driving, drowsy driving, and talking on the cell phone or texting while driving are examples of negligent driving that could be grounds for an Orange County, California car accident claim or wrongful death lawsuit if another person gets hurt or dies.
Single mom asks forgiveness in death of college student, OC Register, July 27, 2009
Cops: Autopsy doesn't solve fatal wrong-way mystery, Newsday, July 28, 2009
Drunken driver fights back tears at sentencing, MSNBC, July 27, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Federal Highway Administration
Contact our Orange County, California wrongful death lawyers today.
