Suspect Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal DUI Crash

Jun 04,2018

The man accused of causing a fatal DUI crash in Desert Hot Springs last year pleaded not guilty to the charges at his court hearing on May 15. The suspect, 23-year-old William Rojas of Palm Springs, was charged with DUI gross vehicular manslaughter, as well as multiple counts of DUI causing injury.

1 Person Killed, 4 Others Injured in Crash

The fatal crash occurred on February 5, 2017, on North Indian Canyon Drive, north of 19th Avenue. Rojas was traveling south in a Chevrolet Silverado when he drifted into the northbound lane. The pickup truck drifted into the path of a northbound Toyota Camry, and the vehicles collided. The Silverado was then vaulted over the Camry, ripping off the vehicle’s roof. A third vehicle was also involved in the crash.

Five people were hospitalized, including the driver of the Camry, Haitao Yuan, and his passenger Zhenkui Li. Li succumbed to his injuries five days later in the hospital.

Lawsuit Filed Against Driver

Rojas admitted to having two beers an hour prior to the fatal DUI crash, but has pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces. The blood sample taken after the crash showed Rojas had a blood-alcohol content of 0.11, 0.03 points above the legal limit of 0.08. A lawsuit has been filed against Rojas, as well as the cities of Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs, and Riverside County, by Li’s family and other victims of the crash.

“Several people have had their lives forever changed because of this driver’s actions, and we hope to see justice served in this case,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in an auto accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, El Centro, and Yucca Valley, and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.