A woman has been charged in a collision that killed a 21-year-old man. The 28-year-old woman was allegedly driving under the influence and in the incorrect lane when the car accident occurred. The man was able to pull himself from his vehicle and check on his wife and child, who were passengers. He later died at the scene.
The accused woman’s two children were not properly restrained in her vehicle and also suffered injuries. Her five-year-old suffered a fractured skull, a broken back, and was placed on life support after being transported to the hospital. Her seven-year-old child also suffered facial and head injuries. The woman was also seriously injured.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol waited until the woman was released from the hospital and subsequently filed charges. She will face one count of vehicular homicide, one count of DUI, two vehicular assault charges, as well as aggravated child abuse and child abuse. The woman also received citations for failing to properly restrain her children, not wearing a seat belt, failing to exercise due care, not having insurance, and for having a mixed drink and margarita mix in her vehicle. The woman’s husband told police that she had consumed Jagermeister and Red Bull before leaving home to go to work.
Although the victim died at the scene of the accident, his wife and family may pursue wrongful death charges in civil court. Proving the other driver’s reckless behavior will possibly be easier in this case as there are police records that indicate that woman drank alcohol before driving and even had an alcoholic beverage in her car. The woman’s failure to properly restrain her children further points to her arguably reckless mindset at the time of the accident. Accident victims and families may find that having the assistance of a personal injury lawyer can possibly help them prove their case in civil court.
Source: Wate.com, “Woman charged in wrong-way wreck that killed man“, May 24, 2013