Carlsbad, CA (December 17, 2023) 19-year-old Makayla Balderrama and her 20-year-old boyfriend, Juan Baro, were both injured in a wrong-way collision in Carlsbad. The accident occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Interstate 5 South, authorities said.
Baro was driving and as they approached Cannon Road, a truck appeared in front of them, going the wrong way. It struck their vehicle, head-on, according to the California Highway Patrol. Following the collision, Baro was able to get out of the vehicle. He went around to the passenger side of the car and tried to help Balderrama out, but her legs were stuck. Baro sustained a broken arm in the collision and realized there wasn’t much he could do.
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Suddenly, the car caught on fire and Baro began to panic. “I just felt helpless,” he said. “I couldn’t do anything. I was trying to pull my girlfriend out and my hand wasn’t working.” The California Highway Patrol arrived at the scene quickly and used the jaws of life to free Makayla from the vehicle.
She was taken to Scripps Hospital in La Jolla where she is currently healing from two broken femurs, 4 broken ribs, a broken right arm and a broken elbow. Balderrama said she hopes to be fully recovered in 6-12 months. Her medical insurance doesn’t cover a lot of the medical bills that keep piling up because of this accident, Balderrama’s mother shared.
The truck that was driving the wrong way remained at the scene following the collision. The driver was arrested for suspected DUI at the scene, authorities said.
Balderrama told 10News, “Your actions have consequences, even if they’re not for you all the time, you’re going to affect someone else with what you do.”
Who Is Responsible For A DUI Crash In Carlsbad?
Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal. According to the California Vehicle Code 23152, “(a) It is unlawful for a person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage to drive a vehicle. (b) It is unlawful for a person who has 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle.” It doesn’t take much! Even small amounts of alcohol can affect drivers through delayed reaction times, lowered alertness, impaired judgment and even loss of muscle control.
Any victim’s family could have legal recourse through a bodily injury or wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim could help cover the cost of medical bills, lost wages from missing work while you’re injured and even pain and suffering. A wrongful death attorney could examine your case and help you with your legal options.
The Investigation Of A DUI Accident In Carlsbad
All of us at Accident News Now extend well wishes to Makayla Balderrama and Juan Barro as they heal from this Carlsbad DUI crash. If you have any information regarding this DUI collision, you should reach out to the police. They must conduct a thorough investigation for the sake of those who have lost so much because of this accident.
Are you trying to find more information about an accident that occurred in Carlsbad? A number of laws have been designed to protect your rights. We have a great team of personal injury attorneys who are ready to answer any questions you may have. Whether you just have legal questions or you need more information about a specific accident, we are here to help. You can reach out to us any time, day or night, at (866) 945-4286.