Santa Maria, CA – Multi-Vehicle Crash Kills Two on Highway 135

Santa Maria, CA (February 8, 2019) – The driver of a big rig was arrested for DUI after a multi-vehicle crash that killed two people on Highway 135 on Thursday morning. Nine others were injured in the horrific accident.

Police responded to the incident around 6:30 a.m. to find that 56-year-old Gilbert Pena had been traveling in the southbound lanes of Highway 135 when he suddenly rear-ended a 2009 Nissan vehicle. Due to this, a pile-up accident involving four other vehicles took place.

Several victims were extricated from their vehicles after they were found trapped. Both the driver and passenger in the Nissan were killed in the crash. Their identities were not available due to family notification. Eight other patients were treated at the scene due to their injuries.

Pena was transported to a local hospital with major injuries and has since been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The southbound lanes of the highway were closed for several hours.

At this time, police continue their investigation into the accident.

Losing a loved one might be one of the most horrific times in your life. We would like to take this time to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of those who lost their lives in this accident.

DUI Accidents in California 

Research was conducted between 2003-2012 to find that 10,327 people lost their lives in California drunk driving crashes due to the negligence of others. In 2013, a total of 200,000 drunk driving arrests were reported throughout the entire year. These accidents take place when a driver’s vision becomes skewed and they lose the ability to successfully operate a vehicle. In most of these cases, the DUI driver is found to be fully liable. Losing a loved one due to one of these accidents might be one of the most difficult things you will ever face and our wrongful death attorneys are here in your time of need.

At Brady Law Group, we have helped a variety of clients in the midst of their wrongful death claims. We specialize in these types of cases and have the legal experience necessary to stand by your side when you are feeling most overwhelmed by the negligence of others. If you plan to compensate for funeral costs, medical bills incurred, and many other aspects, look no further. Contact us to find out what we can do for you in your time of need at 866-478-6483.

Note: Outside sources were used in the creation of this post including news bulletins and first-hand accounts of the accident and injuries involved. As a result, the details of the accident presented have not been independently verified by our own writing staff. If you have identified any false information in the story, please inform us immediately, and we will adjust the posting to reflect the most accurate content available.

Disclaimer: As a member of the local community, we at Brady Law Group strive to improve the overall safety and quality of life for everyone who lives in our beloved state. We are extremely saddened by these accidents but hope that, through an awareness of these dangers, those in our community will take precautions to avoid these accidents. This is not a solicitation for business, and this information should not be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. We wish only the best and quickest recovery to all those involved in the accident.