JOSHUA TREE, CALIFORNIA – 57-year-old Daniel Howell was booked for investigation the hit-and-run death of a well-known fashion photographer yesterday. Howell was driving his gold 1996 Mazda B2300 pickup truck under the influence of inhalants and prescription medications at the time. Howell was driving in the eastbound lanes of Highway 62 around 50 miles per hour when his truck jumped the curb and hit 51-year-old Alberto Jose Serejo. At the time, Serejo was photographing live models in front of the Joshua Tree Inn.

The truck did not stop after it hit Serejo. Serejo was transported to Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree. He died there just before 6:30 p.m. An hour after Howell was in the first accident that killed Serejo, he again crashed his Mazda truck. This time, Howell crashed at California Street and Kimberly Road in Joshua Tree. Howell was arrested at the scene of that non-injury accident for investigation of DUI. It was there that the officers determined Howell’s truck was the same one involved in the first accident and that Howell was under the influence of inhalants and prescription drugs.

A wrongful death lawsuit claims that the victim was killed as a result of negligence or other unlawful behavior on the part of the person being sued. The suit claims that the victim’s surviving family members are entitled to compensation for the loss they have suffered. While monetary settlements can never replace the loved one, they can sometimes alleviate the financial strain associated with the unexpected loss.

Berman & Riedel, LLP is a law firm in San Diego, California. The lawyers at Berman & Riedel, LLP have handled many wrongful death cases and understand the compassion and legal skill required in these tragic cases. If you have lost a loved one under similar circumstances, contact the firm to discuss your legal options.