06 November 2023 , 19:12
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Two women who were reportedly "doing donuts" near a popular restaurant have been arrested after a car rammed into a crowd of people this week.
On Sunday morning, the Honda SUV crashed into a patio wall at the Black and Blue in Santa Clarita before pulling away, leaving six people with minor injuries that were treated at the scene. Footage captures the Honda pivoting toward a large crowd of patrons lined up outside the restaurant as it flew across the intersection with the passenger hanging out of her window.
A witness, identified only as Eric, said the damage happened after the driver failed to perform a full rotation, which reportedly led to a second attempt at a donut. "We were hanging out in that area when a driver decided to do some donuts," Eric said. “She did one turnaround where it pretty much just wasn’t too successful, and I guess she did another one and that one made impact."
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Several witnesses said the driver of the Honda SUV was "unsuccessfully" attempting donuts (KTLA)California officials said the two women in the vehicle sped off from the scene after the crash with their front bumper dragging on the pavement. Their license plate had also been removed by the impact. Police near the Magic Mountain Parkway pulled over two women believed to be guilty for the damage. They were seen undergoing sobriety tests.
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Authorities said the women will be charged with driving under the influence, but the nature of the other charges the two may face is unclear, according to KTLA. Witnesses told police the suspects were attempting to close down the intersection for their "unsuccessful" stunts.
According to the US Government Accountability Office, the COVID-19 pandemic was a catalyst to an increase in road fatalities, which was due to a significant decline in traffic activity. The Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported an 18.4% increase in traffic fatalities for the first half of 2021.
In addition to the crowd injuries, the Honda SUV damaged the front patio and the wall (KTLA)California law states that reckless drivers are liable for all damages to businesses and individuals. Lawmakers have relied on the fault-based system to make such determinations. Eastonlawoffices.com describes reckless driving as the "intentional disregard for the safety of others and intentional disregard for traffic laws.
The legal site describes the many ways a driver can be labeled "reckless." Drivers who are considered to be under the influence may face reckless driving charges as well. In a less extreme example, one might be charged for speeding, which is a common scenario in California.
Authorities also consider stunts as a disregard for traffic safety. This includes the donuts the two women were trying to perform Sunday morning. Illegal maneuvers like switching lanes over the yellow line, running red lights, or driving on sidewalks are also considered reckless no matter the rationale.