Deadly DUI Crash in Downey Kills Grandmother, Injures Granddaughter

On August 16, 2025, a suspected drunk driver barreled into a Downey home, killing a grandmother and seriously injuring her granddaughter.

Within a few hours, plywood covered up the two adjacent rooms that the car crashed into. The house is on Gallatin Road.

Witnesses said they heard the car speeding down the street at around 2:30 a.m. followed by a loud noise. The 73-year-old woman died at the scene while her 24-year-old granddaughter was taken to a hospital for her injuries.

“I went to go look and saw [my grandmother] laying there, and the car was inside the house,” one family member stated. “I realized the car was inside my sister’s room and had a full panic, started screaming and called the ambulance.”

Police said the 24-year-old driver from Maywood was arrested on suspicion for driving under the influence. The driver was not injured in the crash, police said.

Drunk Driver Crashes

If emergency responders cite a tortfeasor (negligent driver) for DUI or another driving misdemeanor, like reckless driving, the tortfeasor could be liable for damages as a matter of law. The negligence per se rule applies if:

• A tortfeasor violates a penal safety law, and
• That violation substantially causes injury.

A Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can use the negligence per se doctrine even if the tortfeasor beats the DUI in criminal court. Civil proceedings are completely separate from parallel criminal proceedings, at least in most cases.

Negligence per se establishes liability (responsibility for injury). To obtain maximum compensation for injuries (damages), a Los Angeles personal injury attorney usually introduces additional evidence, such as medical bills and witness statements.

Compensation in a personal injury case usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.

Impaired Driver Crashes

All drivers must be at their best, physically, mentally, and otherwise, when they get behind the wheel, according to the duty of care. Alcohol impairment begins with the first drink. Therefore, people who are not legally intoxicated are seriously impaired, mostly in terms of judgment and reaction.

If a tortfeasor had been at a restaurant or other commercial establishment that serves alcohol, it’s more likely than not that s/he had at least one drink there. A preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not) is the burden of proof in civil cases. Other evidence of alcohol impairment includes physical symptoms, such as bloodshot eyes, and the tortfeasor’s statements to witnesses or first responders about alcohol consumption.

Compensation is available in impaired driver cases as well. A breach of duty is a breach of duty. Furthermore, in both instances, tortfeasors know they shouldn’t drive, but they get behind the wheel anyway.

The Law Offices of Eslamboly Hakim Can Help!

Intoxicated and impaired drivers often cause serious injuries. For a free consultation with experienced personal injury attorneys in California, contact the Law Offices of Eslamboly Hakim. We routinely handle matters throughout the Golden State.

Credit: Photo by Midjourney