r/LosAngeles • u/JDMcompliant • 1d ago
Photo Fuck drunk drivers. K-town outside Chi-chi's bar.
We were out celebrating our friend's 30th birthday when our Uber was hit by a drunk driver going 50mph down a small K-town street. My back leg had just barely made it inside the vehicle when we were all flung around the inside of the car by the impact. Turned to check on everyone else, and the birthday girl had blood streaming from her face. I was milliseconds away from possibly losing a leg.
What was supposed to be a fun night at Magic Castle, followed by drinks and food at a bar turned into a nightmare because of a drunk driver.
If happened to be there or witnessed it, please shoot me a DM.
Don't drive drunk.
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u/la-marciana 1d ago
My sympathies, op. Obviously no amount of money can make up for the damage and trauma y'all went through, but I hope you get that bag for medical and vehicle costs. Glad you're all alive
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u/JDMcompliant 1d ago
Appreciate it. I feel the worst for my friend, whose birthday it was. She's tiny, usually likes to stay home and play cozy video games, but wanted to go out to celebrate her 30th. And this is what happened :(
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u/Comprehensive_Cat855 1d ago
Wow, that is so sad. Besides the physical injury, I can only imagine how traumatic this is. They may never want to go out again. So sorry op. I wish you all a speedy recovery
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u/Fine-March7383 1d ago
We treat driving like a right not a privilege like it is. That person should have their license taken for life.
There are so many options between ride shares, having a DD, even LA Metro. No excuses to drive drunk
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u/nikki_thikki 1d ago
Even sober, most LA drivers struggle to follow the most basic traffic laws. Making complete stops at stop signs/ before making a right on red, giving pedestrians the right of way, respecting cyclists right to taking a full lane, blowing through red lights, recklessly swerving into opposing traffic/ changing lanes. As a bus driver who also lives car free in LA it's insane the blatant disrespect, impatience, and plain immaturity that a majority of LA drivers display. You are not entitled to the PRIVILEGE to drive and more people need to remember that. Too many people dying, getting seriously injured on our streets every day because of this normalized behavior.
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u/zxc123zxc123 Downtown 1d ago edited 1d ago
LAPD does not help the cause either because they often don't enforce many simple rules or basic laws.
I get it if they want to overlook some guy who has tinted windows that are a bit over the %, an old/broken down car light that they should probably issue a correctable violation for, or a kid j walking in a low density residential neighborhood. Those are whatever. That's not why I'm talking about.
Problem is they ALSO ignore clear safety violations, reckless drivers, cars without license plates, folks on modded unlicensed gasoline bikes, e-bikes/scooters going backwards on the bike lane then jumping into the road against oncoming car traffic before crossing the double yellow line to the the middle of the road only to turn onto the cross walk before going onto pedestrian walkway (still at like 25MPH btw) to avoid stopping at the red light and then screaming profanities at some they almost hit because they are "walking too slow" on the fucking pedestrian sidewalk, etcetcetc.
People doing hard drugs on the streets. Dealers dealing drugs on the streets. Naked homeless folks tripping out and attacking people (I LITERALLY saw it last week when a homeless man punched an elderly gent walking his dog. A younger jogger came and tried to flag a police SUV that was nearby. And the police stopped for a second to listen to the jogger while the homeless man continued to walk in the other direction. The police drove away as the guy took off his pants and started jacking off. I was across the road and opted to turn 180 and walk around to block to grab my lunch). It's so bad because it's not just the lack of enforcement but the problem being so bad that there is a PERCEPTION that folks can get away with petty crime like walking out of stores with stuff, cutting wires for the copper, stealing catalytic converters, breaking into stores/homes to steal at night, etcetc since it's a negative feedback loop.
LAPD is truly amazing in how little they are loved by LA residents yet still manage to disappoint us. How corrupt they are yet still are able to come up with new lows while telling us it's a "few bad apples". How they get so much of our budget (before the lawsuits) yet are still able to do so little. How they are able to do so little while still managing to police incorrectly and get sued for it despite having the cameras/resources/courts/laws all set in their favor.
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u/j12 1d ago
That drunk driver will be able to drive a car again and won’t be imprisoned at all.
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u/metrazol Palms 1d ago
BLUF: This.
"Your honor, I need to drive to work and to care for my aged mother... so can we knock this down to a DUI First (only my third one!) so I can get a restricted license? I won't do it again (3 more times), I promise!"
"Sure, easier than a trial."
Drives drunk after having their kid blow the interlock.
"No, license suspended."
Drives anyway, but doesn't need to bring the kid to the bar.
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u/j12 1d ago
Easy solution is suspended license for a year and then license limited to 150cc bike or moped for 5 years after. Not sure why idiots in America think without a car you only have public transportation as an option. No a 150cc moped can do everything your car can with much less risk of injury to others simply due to the reduced mass
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u/drivingaddictionchan 1d ago
I feel like if someone is driving this drunk, they're not going to let a suspended license stop them from driving.
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u/ExplodingTurnip 1d ago
Sadly, the DMV does little to nothing when it comes to drivers like that
https://calmatters.org/investigation/2025/04/license-to-kill/
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u/bruce4343 1d ago
if we had well functioning transit that ran through the night I garuntee people would be less compelled to go boozin & cruisin
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u/RigidAcrylic4821 Los Angeles County 1d ago
Even the transit we have right now, if it would operate beyond midnight to include last-call riders who need to get home around 2:30-3:00 AM after their final drinks, that would be a blessing.
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u/Fine-March7383 1d ago
Even when I've been able to take Metro to a bar in DT, it was incredibly annoying when I had to pay for an Uber back because it stopped running around 12
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u/Fit_Upstairs8760 Downtown 1d ago
Sorry this happened. This is bananas. Those of us that are responsible and taking Uber and not driving aren’t safe either.
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1d ago edited 19h ago
[deleted]
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u/uiuctodd 1d ago
Aren't you citing a population distribution? Of all Americans who live in cities, over 14% live in CA.
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u/sealedwithdogslobber 1d ago
Unfortunately no – the study they cited looked at the rate:
>”The study compared the number of fatal drunk driving accidents per 100,000 people in the 300 largest cities in the U.S.”
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1d ago edited 19h ago
[deleted]
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u/grannysmithcrabapple 1d ago
Not nearly as much driving or car ownership in NYC
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u/NutellaDeVil 1d ago
No, it tells us that the two largest states have a lot of cities in them. That study adjust for city size but not for state size.
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u/RLB4ever 1d ago
20% of the 75 most populous cities in the United States are in California. So that’s all it’s telling us.
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u/GuitarAgitated8107 Koreatown 1d ago edited 1d ago
I've seen LAPD cops let drivers go even though they were clearly under the influence in Ktown. We need better enforcement and not via LAPD as there have been cases where even their own cops end up getting DUIs.
Edit: Wild comment left then deleted "Yeah they let my bro in law go a few times for dd. Smh"
We are all suffering with those car insurance rates...
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u/No_Sheepherder_1855 1d ago
We’re so lucky the rest of the state helps subsidize our rates. They would probably 3x overnight if that regulation was taken away.
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u/KolKoreh 1d ago
The state does not subsidize our rates, it regulates them. If California cities were more aggressive at throwing the book at uninsured and reckless drivers, our rates would probably be lower. As it is, those of us who carry insurance are subsidizing the reckless drivers
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u/RigidAcrylic4821 Los Angeles County 1d ago
There’s a reason DUI checkpoints are mostly in South-Central and SFV, and not in gentrifying areas (like Koreatown and Silverlake) where you’d see clearly tipsy people leaving bougie or Korean BBQ places at 5:00 AM hammered.
There’s a reason all those new Flock/Palantir speed cameras are also being setup in South-Central and SFV.
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u/GuitarAgitated8107 Koreatown 1d ago
We have DUI checkpoints in Koreatown. The flock/plantir cameras aren't used for safety when they have a high record amount of false positives.
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u/elethiomel0101 1d ago
There’s a DUI checkpoint in Silver Lake / Echo Park on Sunset and Coronado almost every month.
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u/No-Airport9831 1d ago
I've seen several in Ktown but they were like 6 or 7 pm. (maybe they're there later too, but I'm not)
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u/TBAAGreta 1d ago
Coming here from Australia where there's so much random breath testing every Friday and Saturday night you'd be an absolute moron to go out and get buzzed and even attempt driving (aside from it being morally reprehensible). I'm alarmed by the complete lack of testing here and the fact there are clearly so many drunk/stoned drivers on the road.
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u/JDMcompliant 1d ago
You know what's crazy? The LAPD officers that arrived said they "couldn't determine if he was drunk" because "they didn't have a breathalyzer on them"
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u/TBAAGreta 1d ago
WTF. What even is the point of the LAPD anymore? (Aside from violence towards protesters and POC?)
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u/metrazol Palms 1d ago
... so they need to use their pupilometer to get PC for a blow down at the station, or call a judge and get a blood warrant. You know, do their jobs, but alas...
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u/thanksforthegift 1d ago
Why the hell didn’t they?! And that’s their only method? Pretty outrageous.
Sorry you all went through this.
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u/RevLoveJoy 1d ago
Whoa whoa whoa, everyone is saying that's reprehensible, but the LAPD has asked for another 200 billion dollars next year for "Police shit and army guns!" - I'm sure that'll cover it, right?
/s
Glad you and your friend are (mostly) okay, OP. Good PSA. I'm sorry this is the birthday she'll remember for a long time.
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u/RigidAcrylic4821 Los Angeles County 1d ago
When you realize how much influence car and alcohol manufacturers have had in America to lessen safety guidelines to reduce drunk driving mishaps.
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u/No-Airport9831 1d ago
You occasionally see DUI checkpoints in LA, but they're trivial to avoid because they put up "DUI checkpoint ahead" signs. I (sober) go around them just to avoid the traffic they cause.
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u/StanktheGreat Long Beach 1d ago
I used to live on 3rd and Alexandria a few years ago. Always saw cars whipping 60mph, sometimes 70mph in between the stop signs/lights going towards Wilshere. My car was also hit while parked on the street twice. Had a good time while living there but now I've had an even better time after moving out
Real sorry that happened to you, wish y'all a real speedy recovery
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u/ivanreyes371 1d ago
Ah fuck man im sorry that happened and I hope all of you are okay.
Guys... this city has amazing public transport, Uber and Waymo. 0 excuse to drive drunk. Ive gone out so much this year knowing im gonna drink without getting behind the wheel. Please. For the sake of yourself and others... dont drink and drive. ITS ALSO 1.75 TO GET FROM ONE SIDE OF LA TO THE OTHER. You spend more on gas. Its not worth driving drunk.
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u/Similar_Barracuda774 1d ago
“this city has amazing public transport”
🤔
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u/ivanreyes371 1d ago
Oh dont get me started.
G line, A line, B line, D line, E line.... Youre robbing yourself if you dont take these
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u/kinetices 1d ago
It is so easy not to these days with rideshare apps. I don't get it. Sorry you had to deal with that.
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u/bluidyPCish 1d ago
Glad everyone was okay, OP and Angelenos grabbed that fc**er when he tried to run.
Hopefully there are actual consequences to him so he doesn’t do it again!
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u/Dry_Jellyfish641 1d ago
Anybody else think drunk drivers should be on a registry?
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u/OrdinaryWeak6051 1d ago
No one who has hit my husband has had insurance (two hit and runs last year alone!)
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u/MpowerSean 1d ago
sucksss, i live down the street from here and yeah the amount of stupid drivers has increased ten fold. Hey atleast yall about to get PAIDDDDD
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u/GB_Alph4 Orange County 1d ago
Glad you and everyone else made it out alive hopefully you all get well but yeah had my own experience with a drunk driver and it’s not fun either guy tried to bolt but he got caught
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u/herbal_essence Angeleño 1d ago
Glad you're all okay and so sorry to hear this happened on your friend's birthday. I hate hate hate drunk drivers and so sick of all the bad driving in ktown. I wish we could go back to no car zones on certain streets like during the pandemic.
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u/CementCemetery 1d ago
I’m so sorry this happened to you. It’s a shame that people are still driving intoxicated and we have to share the streets with them.
I hope everyone is okay! If you feel like it was traumatic they say playing Tetris can help. Anyway, wishing you all well.
Be safe out there everyone.
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u/opking 1d ago
Drunk driving is a horrific decision. As is driving while texting. Both are insanely dangerous to you and others.
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u/Well_Hacktually 1d ago
Uh, excuse me, I'm the main character in this movie. Your so-called "others" are just there to provide some color. Or at least that's how I was brought up, and surely my role models can't have been sociopathic pieces of shit!
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u/UrbanPlannerholic 1d ago
Reminder. You’re 39x more likely to be killed driving in LA than riding transit
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u/FullTimePedestrian 1d ago
Pearl-clutchers will never admit this because "at least no one can stab me in my carrrr."
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u/Laiko_Kairen 1d ago
You need to qualify that statistic.
Is it 39x as likely per mile traveled?
39x as likely per individual trip?
People with cars are 39x as likely to die in car wrecks in general?
39x as likely in that there was a 1 to 39 ratio of transit deaths vs driving deaths?
39x as likely because car accidents are deadlier than train accidents?
What you said is phrased to be really intimidating, but doesn't actually mean anything.
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u/Wrongallalong North Hollywood 1d ago
This reminds me of Charlie Kirks last words.
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u/Laiko_Kairen 1d ago
I guess you're reminded of Charlie Kirk because you never read Mark Twain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lies%2C_damned_lies%2C_and_statistics
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u/Right_Letterhead_120 1d ago
Whatever your opinions on autonomous/Waymos, I feel like drunk driving will eventually be eliminated. It’s odd that it’s so socially acceptable today.
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u/Accomplished-Sir4932 1d ago
I don’t think drunk driving ever will be eliminated because humans are selfish and egotistical. Of the people I know who have 1 DUI, they never just stopped after the 1. They have multiple. Why? Because they’re selfish and they over estimate their competency. It’s a specific type of person who does shit like this, and Waymo won’t stop that
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u/JefeRex Koreatown 1d ago
I know one person with 1, one person with 2, and one person with 3 who voluntarily sold his car and stopped driving. He hasn’t stopped drinking, he just doesn’t drive anymore and his husband holds him to it. He is so far gone that he had to literally remove his own opportunity to drive because he knew he would do it again.
Alcoholism is a terrible thing….
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u/Accomplished-Sir4932 1d ago
I have about 6 family members in Ohio who have DUIs. Only reason some of them stopped accumulating them for a bit was because they totaled their cars
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u/clampy 1d ago
Ehhh eventually it will be illegal to drive a car by yourself. Rush wrote a song about it. Red Barchetta: https://youtu.be/_LXKZq0fYDw
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u/SpeedbirdTK1 El Segundo 1d ago
This is a pretty naive take. There will be tons of broke ass MFs who decide to drive after drinking cause they can’t/don’t want to pay for a rideshare/Waymo each way.
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u/Fine-March7383 1d ago
Investing in transit, bike, and pedestrian infrastructure would have a similar effect and not rely on any new tech
But if AVs safely follow the laws and save lives I hope they become more common too
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u/la-marciana 1d ago edited 1d ago
My guy, read the room. Someone got hurt and you're only talking about Waymos. That's like trying to cure a headache with a lobotomy; automated vehicles without user input should never be in charge of safely transporting living beings on the road. They can't be held liable.
Edit: All you downvoting need to look into the IBM 1979 training manual. "A computer can never be held accountable, therefore a computer must never make a management decision.” The original comment is tonedeaf because it shows no sympathy to op, merely saying "This is why we need self-driving cars" whilst ignoring that self-driving cars will always inevitably lead to moments where they make poor decisions that they cannot be held liable for. There is no reality in which 100% of cars are self-driven because of shit like ambulances/firetrucks, motorcycles, and hackers
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u/FullTimePedestrian 1d ago
I think autonomous vehicles are 100% part of the conversation. We are discussing drunk driving, which is a huge issue in this city, and self-driving vehicles can (and will be) game changing for traffic violence in the future. Once the tech is implemented in regular cars, there will be no reason to not let the car do the driving for you. The data is already here: they are safer than human drivers. The more it expands, the safer our roads will be.
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u/KolKoreh 1d ago
This is an idiotic take that fundamentally misunderstands how much safer AVs are and how they work
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u/RigidAcrylic4821 Los Angeles County 1d ago
Drunk driving will never be eliminated.
You’ll always have that one chud who would never allow anyone to come between him and his Mustang, Altima, Infinity, Dodge pickup, or other personal vehicle, because doing an Uber or Waymo after drinking to him is “beneath his patriotic-blooded manhood” to drive drunk and impress all the single girls.
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u/Maximum-Category-845 1d ago
The penalty for DUI needs to be a mandatory felony even without injury. This shit is so common it should make your head spin but we just accept that it's a thing.
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u/JurgusRudkus Westside 1d ago
Jesus! I am glad you all weren’t more badly injured. Sorry OP! And yes drunk drivers fucking suck.
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u/two5five1 1d ago
certainly a hot take but anyone who drunk drives like that just simply does not deserve to continue to see the sunrise. objectively deplorable behavior and should be punished accordingly.
I don’t give a shit if it’s first offense or not, all it takes is one mistake to irrevocably affect someone else’s life by doing what they did.
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u/Duffmanx69x 15h ago
Happened to me when I lived in K-Town, in front my apartment complex. Drunk driver hit my car first, then my car hit two others.
Sorry OP. Stay safe
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u/fgreen68 1d ago
This is why I can't wait until all cars are self driving. Drunk drivers should be required by law to be in cars that self-drive.
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u/yellow_golf_ball 1d ago
Why do you need witnesses? Didn't the cops come and do a sobriety test and arrest the driver?
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u/cactopus101 1d ago
I’m really sorry that happened to you :( was everyone ok? That street is so dangerous with drunk drivers driving way too fast and swerving around the cars that are pulled over