In Santa Ana, a deadly motor vehicle collision claimed the life of a 27-year-old woman from Paramount in the early hours of April 21. The incident occurred southbound on Main Street around 2 a.m. when the driver of a pickup truck lost control, collided with a palm tree, and then struck a pole. Law enforcement officials report that the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident.
The victim, identified as Jocelyn Janet Campos, was a passenger in the vehicle. She suffered severe injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead upon arrival at a local hospital.
The 39-year-old driver of the truck and another passenger were also injured and needed hospital care. Following the incident, the driver was taken into custody and is facing charges of gross vehicular manslaughter.
This tragic accident is now being thoroughly investigated, with a particular focus on the driver’s condition at the time of the crash. Given the circumstances, an independent probe will likely consider the driver’s blood alcohol content and other factors that may have contributed to the crash.
Drunk-driving accidents represent a significant public safety concern due to the impairments alcohol and drugs have on judgment, vision, coordination, and reaction times. National Safety Council statistics indicate that approximately 10 percent of fatal road accidents involve drivers impaired by intoxicants.