Florida Man Faces Charges of DUI Manslaughter After Driving on the Shoulder
Florida police arrested a man accused of driving under the influence after he plowed into the back of another vehicle which triggered a second crash that resulted in the death of its driver. The 31-year-old Lady Lake resident is facing charges of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries, and driving with a suspended license while causing death, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
Florida troopers say the defendant was speeding south in a truck just before 2:30 p.m. on the shoulder of North Carl G Rose Highway in Citrus County. When he tried to merge back into traffic off of the shoulder, he crashed into the back of a Honda Accord. The crash pushed the Accord across the highway where it struck a bridge rail and then crashed into a Ford F-150 heading north.
The driver of the Accord, a 62-year-old man from Lecanto, Florida, was killed in the crash. The driver of the F-150 suffered minor injuries. The defendant was not hurt, according to the crash report.
After the crash, the defendant drove to a nearby gas station, got out of his truck, and ran off into a pasture, according to Florida Highway Patrol. Citrus County Sheriff’s Deputies caught up with the man before he was arrested by Florida Highway Patrol.
Analyzing the charges
The defendant stands charged with DUI manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Typically, DUI manslaughter is charged as a second-degree felony punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison, a presumptive sentence of 10 years, and a mandatory minimum of 4 years. Because the defendant was also charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, he will be charged with a first-degree felony. A first-degree felony in Florida is punishable by a maximum penalty of 30 years behind bars.
To prove DUI manslaughter, prosecutors will need to establish that the defendant caused an accident that led to the death of another individual while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In this case, it seems pretty clear that the defendant’s reckless driving led to an accident that caused the death of another driver. The defendant is alleged to have been speeding on the shoulder attempting to subvert traffic. When he attempted to merge back into a lane, he struck another vehicle at a high rate of speed forcing that vehicle into another lane. That vehicle was then struck by a Ford F-150, and the driver died as a result of that accident. So establishing causation in this case should not be overly hard for prosecutors.
Talk to an Orlando DUI Manslaughter Attorney Today
If you have been charged with DUI manslaughter in the State of Florida, the stakes are quite high. The Florida DUI lawyers at FL DUI Group can help you fight the charges and potentially get them reduced or dismissed. Call our office today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin preparing your defense right away.
Source:
wtsp.com/article/news/local/citruscounty/citrus-county-dui-crash-arrest/67-f3c740d2-3dea-4044-bdfa-a6d812082e6a
