On their own, criminal charges for driving drunk can have serious consequences. These potential consequences can be exacerbated by additional criminal charges, which are not uncommon during drunk driving arrests. A Nebraska woman is currently facing at least seven charges for allegedly causing a fatal accident while under the influence of alcohol.
The accident occurred in Sept. 2017 and involved only one vehicle, driven by a 32-year-old woman. According to police, the driver somehow lost control of her vehicle and left the roadway, which rolled at least once. The driver’s blood-alcohol content registered at .15 at the time of her arrest, which is considerably higher than the state’s legal limit. She also allegedly denied being the driver when first asked.
Including the driver, there were six people in the minivan at the time of the wreck, three of whom were children. The five passengers all had to be transported to an area hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, a 6-year-old child died the following day. It is unclear if the driver suffered any injuries.
In total, the woman is facing charges for drunk driving, vehicular homicide, three child abuse counts, false reporting and drunkenly transporting a child. Some of these charges, including the DUI, are felony counts, which carry steeper fines and jail time than misdemeanor convictions in Nebraska. While serious, these types of criminal charges can effectively be handled through trial court proceedings or plea deals negotiated with the prosecution, which can secure the best possible outcome when done under the guidance of experienced counsel.
Source: rapidcityjournal.com, “UPDATE: Pine Ridge woman charged with DUI, homicide in fatal Nebraska crash”, Kerri Rempp Chadron, Oct. 5, 2017