An alleged attempted hit-and-run led police to arrest a Nebraska woman. Accused of driving under the influence in addition to other charges, she is currently being held in lieu of $15,000 bond and could face a possible six years behind bars. These types of serious consequences are not uncommon for drunk driving charges that involve causing bodily harm to another person.
Police were called to the scene of a pedestrian accident shortly before 3 p.m. Responding officers found a 78-year-old woman unconscious behind the wheel of her vehicle, and they were initially under the impression that she had suffered some type of medical emergency. Her vehicle had allegedly left the roadway and jumped onto a median in a construction zone, where it struck a worker who was returning to his vehicle.
After the driver was taken to the hospital, she was cleared of any medical issues and released back into police custody. Officers later requested a blood-alcohol test, but the elderly woman refused to comply and apparently would not voluntarily submit to having her blood drawn. It is still unclear where she was prior to the crash.
Refusing to take a blood or Breathalyzer test is not an admittance of drunk driving, but Nebraska officers sometimes treat it as such. A prompt and careful approach to DUI charges following a refusal to test for BAC is usually a good idea, as it gives defendants adequate time to create a solid defense foundation under the guidance of their respective counsel. Doing so can give defendants the opportunity to achieve the best possible outcome for their own unique situations.
Source: journalstar.com, “Police arrest 78-year-old driver after crash where construction worker was seriously injured”, Riley Johnson, Oct. 12, 2017
