On Saturday morning a tragic accident allegedly caused by an intoxicated driver took the life of a 5-year-old girl and badly injured other members of her family.  A Frazier Park woman, Jessica Louise Cowan, has been charged with murder in the hit and run accident that occurred near the intersection of 17th Street and Spurgeon in Santa Ana.  The little girl, Osmara Madrigal, 5, was walking to Norms Restaurant for pancakes with her family when Cowan reportedly blew through a red light and struck the family.  Osmara died at the scene, her sister Grace, 6, suffered critical head trauma and the girls' mother, Eloisa Madrigal, 45, also suffered head trauma and was in "extremely critical" condition.

The Santa Ana Police Department has set up a fund to help the Meza family.  If you would  like to help the family, please go to: http://www.sapdf.org/tragedy/

Nothing can be more devastating than losing a child...especially in such a senseless, tragic accident.  Because of this driver's alleged intoxication, the Mesa family will never be the same, and it will take every ounce of their strength to move on with their lives.  The duration of the injuries to Grace and Eloisa are likely to be life-long, and only the best medical care will help.  To say the least, if convicted, Cowan will deserve every bit of punishment the criminal and civil justice systems will allow.  Perfect justice will never be achieved as we simply cannot turn back time and undo this enormous tragedy, but we have an obligation to the family to do all we can.

Compensation for the victims of serious or fatal automobile accidents caused by an intoxicated driver should be an important concern for all Californians. When a driver operates their vehicle recklessly or while impaired so as to cause a tragic accident like the one above, they should be held accountable.   An Orange County DUI accident attorney with experience at handling wrongful death cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.   Mr. Ralph has more than 21 years of experience handling Orange County automobile accident cases, including those involving wrongful death.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a family member been the victim of an intoxicated driver?

Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.