A fatal car accident occurred at about 6 am Saturday morning when a black Mercedes driven by Miguel G. Almanza, 24, struck a Honda Odyssey on Patterson’s West Main Street, near Jennings Road. The Odyssey was being driven by Concepcion Gomez, 30, of Vernalis, who died at the scene. The other occupants of the Odyssey (39-year-old Juan Rodriguez, 6-year-old Andres Rodriguez and 1-year-old Ricardo Rodriguez) were injured.
Juan Rodriguez is currently listed in good condition, and Andres Rodriguez, who with his brother was taken to the University of California Medical Center in Sacramento, is in fair condition. Ricardo has already been treated and discharged. Almanza, the driver responsible for the crash, remains in Doctors Medical Center in Modesto.
What makes this senseless tragedy all the more heart wrenching is that Conception Gomez was pregnant, and that Miguel Almanza had a blood alcohol content over the legal limit when he caused the accident.
According to CHP officer Eric Parsons, the crash might have been avoided had Almanza simply obeyed the law and not driven while intoxicated: “With any DUI collision, by making the choice to get behind the wheel you’re putting other lives at risk,” he said.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Conception Gomez as they come to terms with this terrible tragedy.
At the Dolan Law Firm, our attorneys have extensive experience with complex accidental death cases involving drunk drivers. Head attorney Christopher Dolan gained a $6,000,000 settlement on behalf of the family of a woman killed in a tragic car accident. (Visit our verdicts and settlements page to read about other cases handled by Chris Dolan and his team of lawyers.)
