A tragic accident can haunt someone for years, especially if he or she feels responsible for the outcome. In some cases, however, someone may feel sorry for what has happened but not be alone in culpability. One North Carolina man has openly expressed his grief for a fatal accident in which he was involved. While he definitely faces drunk driving charges, investigators have not yet filed any charges related to the accident.
Although his license was revoked because of a previous DWI, the man was driving his SUV along a winding, rural highway when two teenagers on an ATV came onto the road. The driver did not have time to react to the ATV, and the SUV struck the ATV with such force that it split the 4-wheeler in half. The 14-year-old driving the ATV died, and his 13-year-old friend was hospitalized in critical condition.
Police say the driver of the SUV was intoxicated and had an open container in his vehicle. He also allegedly was transporting his 3-year-old granddaughter, who was unrestrained in the front seat. The man claims he was not drunk but that he had taken his prescribed medications that day. Investigators say the boys on the ATV were not wearing their helmets as required by law.
Mitigating factors may include the fact that the boys were driving off-road vehicles on the highway, which is prohibited. Additionally, investigators will have to determine if the driver of the SUV should have seen the boys on the road. Meanwhile, seeking counsel for dealing with the drunk driving charges will be important to the man's future. A North Carolina defense attorney can provide assistance for those in similar circumstances.
Source: wbtv.com, "SUV driver accused of DWI apologizes after teen on 4-wheeler killed", Steve Ohnesorge, July 24, 2017
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