Manslaughter Charge to Be Sought in Crash : Courts: Former Ram lineman Doug France is accused of being drunk before fatal accident.
The California Highway Patrol said Monday it will seek a vehicular manslaughter charge against Doug France, a former Ram offensive lineman who was involved in a two-car accident Saturday that left a Laguna Hills woman dead.
Investigators suspect that France was drunk when his 1987 BMW rammed head-on into a car driven by Maria Conception Contreras, 53, in south Orange County, CHP Officer Patrick Barnard said. Contreras was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was France’s neighbor in a townhouse complex.
The accident occurred about 4:35 p.m., shortly after France, 37, left his Laguna Hills home and drove north along Aliso Hills Drive.
Traveling at speeds estimated by police at 80 m.p.h., France apparently lost control of his car on a curve near La Cienega Street and collided with Contreras’ Mazda, Barnard said.
CHP officers arrested France at the scene, but released him to Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo. Police said results of a blood-alcohol test will be available in about two weeks.
A hospital spokeswoman said France was in serious condition with a concussion and broken pelvis.
France, a former star at Ohio State, played for the Rams from 1975-81. He was selected as an all-pro in 1978 and 1980.
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