It is a well-known fact that drunk driving accidents can have a significant impact on the lives of both the victims and those who have been charged with a crime. Injured victims can face long, painful recoveries and families of deceased victims face the painful process of grieving their loss. For the accused, drunk driving charges come with serious penalties, including jail, fines, license suspension, probation, community service or any combination of those. Simply put, everyone in such a situation loses.
One Arizona man accused of hitting two pedestrians while driving under the influence is currently facing this reality. The 22-year-old man lost control of his Ford Mustang while rounding a curve and struck a mother and son who were leaving a graduation ceremony at Arizona State University. The mother and son were on the sidewalk when they were hit by the vehicle. While both the mother and son were knocked down by the impact, only the mother was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Police said that the driver showed signs of intoxication after the accident and had just left a bar where there is video footage of him drinking. Police are still investigating how much alcohol the accused driver consumed at the bar. However, it remains to be seen how much the man had to drink and if he was, in fact, intoxicated. Having a drink or two may not increase a person’s blood alcohol content enough to be above the legal limit to drive.
But the fact is that the driver will face some significant challenges in the near future as his case makes its way through the complicated criminal process. Those who find themselves in a similar unfortunate situation of facing DUI charges should seek the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney who can help them navigate the complex system and defend against charges.
Source: AZfamily.com, “Suspected drunk driver hits mother, son leaving graduation ceremony,” Tanya Mendis, May 16, 2014