Santa Maria, CA (September 19, 2024) A fatal DUI collision occurred in Santa Maria, claiming the life of 60-year-old Mathew Venable. Another person was critically injured in the accident. It happened on Skyway Drive in Santa Maria around 1:15 in the morning and led to the arrest of Eduardo Chavez Hernandez, 41.
It was the middle of the night as Mathew Venable drove along Skyway Drive in Santa Maria. As he entered a curve in the road, he noticed headlights in front of him. Another vehicle, driven by 41-year-old Hernandez, veered out of his lane on the curve and headed right for Venable’s car. There was no time to avoid the collision and the two vehicles collided, head-on, officers reported.
Emergency crews quickly arrived at the scene and found the two vehicles with major front-end damage. Paramedics with the Santa Maria Fire Department found Venable and a passenger in his vehicle with life-threatening injuries. They were rushed to a local hospital to receive emergency treatment. Reports indicated that Venable held on for five days before succumbing to his injuries. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The passenger in his vehicle remains in critical condition.
It was determined that Hernandez was intoxicated and officers arrested him at the scene. He faces felony DUI charges and was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail. The Santa Maria Police Department Traffic Bureau is leading this investigation.
All of us at Accident News Now extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mathew Venable. We also wish the other victim a full and quick recovery following this horrible accident.
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