Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Woman Killed in Alcohol-Related Accident in Azusa While Hurrying Home to Attend DUI Class
Pasadena Star News ^ | Friday, September 17, 2010

Posted on 09/17/2010 12:24:25 PM PDT by nickcarraway

A San Gabriel woman with a prior conviction for DUI reportedly had drinks in a bar before a crash early Thursday that killed her, California Highway Patrol officials said.

A passenger in 24-year-old Lidia Kopach's car who survived told CHP officers he and Kopach each consumed two vodka drinks and split two pitchers of beer at a bar in Monrovia before the 2 a.m. wreck on the eastbound 210 Freeway.

Kopach lost control of her car, which rolled over. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to court records, Kopach was convicted of DUI on Sept. 30, 2009, in West Covina Superior Court.

Officer Rodrigo Jimenez said Kopach's passenger, Daniel Martinez, 24, of Glendora, who suffered minor injuries, told officers Kopach told him she had to go home and get some sleep because she had to attend a court-mandated, DUI-education class Thursday.

He repeatedly asked Kopach to slow down before the crash, Martinez told CHP officers.

She was one of two San Gabriel Valley residents killed in freeway crashes early Thursday.

Moments before the Azusa crash, 41-year-old Miguel Martinez of La Puente died when his car went out of control on the eastbound 60 Freeway in South El Monte, hit the center divider and flipped over several times.

CHP officials said Martinez's Honda was speeding when for unknown reasons he lost control and struck the center divider near Peck Road.

The car came to rest in freeway lanes, where it was hit by a Lexus driven by a 46-year-old Walnut man, a Toyota driven by a 29-year-old Rowland Heights man and a Dodge driven by a 27-year-old Corona woman, Officer H.J. Arroyo said.

All three drivers suffered minor injuries, and two of them were hospitalized for treatment, he added.

Officials said that stretch of the freeway is somewhat dark and the other drivers were unable to see Martinez's Honda until it was too late.


TOPICS: Local News; Miscellaneous; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: azusa; california; dui; libertarians

1 posted on 09/17/2010 12:24:28 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Physics killz.


2 posted on 09/17/2010 12:27:55 PM PDT by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

It seems as if the reporter is trying to make this into an irony. Sure, it’s funny that she had probably had two screwdrivers and a pitcher of beer, after being ordered to take DUI classes. The headline makes it sound like she stopped off at a bar on her way to the classes. This doesn’t at all seem to be the case.

The other thing I see is that it is by no means clear that her alcohol consumption caused her death. The original accident happened to three other vehicles before her car joined in. The only thing that even makes this a story is if she crashed her car for being stupid drunk on her way to DUI class. That is not what happened.


3 posted on 09/17/2010 12:49:43 PM PDT by webheart (I am a Sarah fan.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Shows how effective DUI Schools are. They are a money grubbing requirement for drunks.


4 posted on 09/17/2010 12:51:23 PM PDT by goseminoles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
An amazing story. More facts are needed, but it appears that the bad drivers died while the innocent drivers only received minor injuries.

It's usually the opposite.

5 posted on 09/17/2010 12:57:14 PM PDT by wideawake
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: webheart

Are YOU drunk? Read the article again.

The accident involving the three cars hitting the Honda is unrelated.

Get sober before replying, please.


6 posted on 09/17/2010 3:20:02 PM PDT by Moltke (panem et circenses)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway; AdmSmith; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; bigheadfred; blueyon; ...
A passenger in 24-year-old Lidia Kopach's car who survived told CHP officers he and Kopach each consumed two vodka drinks and split two pitchers of beer at a bar in Monrovia before the 2 a.m. wreck on the eastbound 210 Freeway.
The trick is, don't accept a ride from someone who is in a DUI class. Thanks nick.


7 posted on 09/17/2010 7:07:16 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Democratic Underground... matters are worse, as their latest fund drive has come up short...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson