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Lompoc Driver Charged with DUI and Manslaughter in Head on Vehicle Crash from a Harris Grade Road Collision in Santa Barbara, California

On Thursday, October 22, 2020, DUI and manslaughter charges were filed as a result of the August 22, 2020, crash involving vehicles operated by Issac Valentino De Luna and  decedent, Ben Romayor.

Reportedly, at about 6:30 a.m., on August 22, 2020, a  2017 BMW car allegedly driven by Issac Valentino De Luna, age 20, collided head on with a 1995 Ford vehicle, driven by Ben Romayor, age 68, on Harris Grade Road, south of Burton Mesa Boulevard, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Kelly Valdez.   This was an alcohol involved vehicle crash that resulted in the wrongful death of vehicle operator, Ben Romayor.

The other driver, Issac Valentino De Luna, from Lompoc, was charged with DUI and manslaughter charges, that is driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury or death to another, and driving while having a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or more, causing injury or death to another, according to Santa Barbara County Chief Deputy District Attorney Mag Nicola.

Further, DeLuna supposedly received three (3) enhancements, including allegations that he was

driving while having a blood alcohol content of more than 0.15% (significantly higher than the minimum DUI of .08%) and that he inflicted great bodily injury, in this case causing the death of the other driver, Ben Romayor.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and other intoxicating substances is a leading cause of car collisions resulting in serious injuries and fatalities, resulting in wrongful death claims like the one the family of  Ben Romayor has against the other driver including the registered owners of the BMW that De Luna was operating and any business De Luna may have been working for at the time of this collision.

Should there not be sufficient insurance coverages maintained by the responsible parties then the family of  Ben Romayor could also make an uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist claim (UIM) against any applicable policies owned by Ben Romayor and/or any resident relatives of Mr. Romayor.

Unfortunately, most folks do not maintain sufficient coverage on their UM and UIM policies, which unlike liability policies actually cover the hospital and other medical expenses, loss of earnings and income, and injuries (pain, suffering, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life activities) of the insureds – that is, the owners of the policies and those covered by them such as their car passengers and their resident relatives.   If you want more information about uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverages and claims, we invite you to read our article on this important, and often overlooked, subject.

Because many insurance agents concentrate in making sales and commissions and commissions on renewals and do not take the time to review twice or even once a year the policies that they sell as they should, and often circumstances changes (promotions, change of jobs, moves, marriage, additional vehicles, etc), UM and UIM coverages are often inadequate.  We offer a FREE consultation not only for injury and wrongful death accident cases but also to advise regarding appropriate insurance coverages.  Please contact us at any time, including call us at 1.866 INJURY 2.

Be safe (wash hands, wear face masks and maintain physical distancing whenever possible) and vote early if you can.

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