Accident happened along Old Sonoma Road south of Congress Valley Road, authorities say
NAPA, CA, (October 28, 2024) - The California Highway Patrol in Napa County says one of the motorists involved in a Monday night crash was allegedly driving under the influence and may face a felony charge.
Yuko Butler, a 56-year-old Napa resident, was seriously hurt following a two-vehicle collision caused by an allegedly impaired driver in Napa County Monday night, the Highway Patrol said in a release.
Yuko Butler suffered major injuries in the crash. The Napa local was taken to Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center for treatment.
According to the Highway Patrol, a 2000 Volvo S70 was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on Old Sonoma Road south of Congress Valley Road in the Carneros area around 10:50 p.m. when the driver crossed the double-yellow line and slammed head-on into a northbound 2018 Honda HR-V driven by 56-year-old Butler. The driver of the Volvo—a 22-year-old Napan—was also taken for treatment, after which, police say, he will be booked at the Napa County jail.
No additional details about the tragic incident were immediately available.
The investigation is underway.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Impaired drivers are a risk to everyone on the road and can senselessly ruin people's lives.
Each year, motor vehicle crashes in this country kill roughly 36,000 people and injure 1.9 million more. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding was the primary cause of fatal crashes in 2018, followed by the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication; failure to stay in the proper lane; failure to yield the right of way; and distracted driving.
“Road conditions, visibility, and lighting are all possible contributing factors considered and examined,” said Candice Bond, an experienced auto accident attorney and Managing Partner with Bond Legal.
“An accident reconstruction team is sometimes needed to help piece together what happened. All of these resources are necessary for helping clients receive monetary compensation for damages or a loss following a collision,” said Bond.
PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM
Yuko Butler may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim pending an investigation.
Bond, a national legal analyst for Newsline, said, “Injured victims involved in a collision often seek a personal injury claim to cover the cost of medical bills, future medical care, loss of income, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering.
“Insurance companies can be notoriously unconcerned with the mounting costs that an injured party may accrue. An attorney can help. We protect the victims of these tragedies daily, forcing the insurance companies to pay for their mistakes,” she added.
If you, a friend, or a family member have been injured at the hands of a hit-and-run or drunken driver, contact our national legal analyst Candice Bond for a free consultation for guidance.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).