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It is perfectly understandable that a person of legal age may consume alcohol as part of a celebration, to socialize or as a leisure activity. However, if that same person decides to get behind the wheel, the consequences can be deadly. Arizona police claim that an impaired driver was responsible for a car accident last month. They recently arrested the man, and he is now facing a charge of second-degree murder.
The crash happened on a very late night back in April. Authorities allege that a man was speeding, ran a red light and hit another driver who was heading in the opposite direction. The second driver was rushed to a hospital but pronounced dead soon afterwards. The first driver was also taken to a hospital where his blood alcohol content was apparently tested at 0.213%, which is over the legal limit of 0.08% set by Arizona law.
Witnesses reported that the man was driving erratically and did not stop for the red light right before the crash occurred. Records from the man’s vehicle apparently show that he was driving at 89 mph before the impact happened. Though the man was originally charged with driving under the influence, police decided to change the charge to second-degree murder. Authorities arrested him upon his recent release from the hospital.
This horrible tragedy shows how important it is for drivers to ensure that they are sober. Those who have lost a loved one or been injured due to the carelessness of an intoxicated driver may decide to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim against any responsible parties. An experienced attorney can guide a person through the process of a civil claim, which may be the first step in moving forward from a serious car accident.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, don’t hesitate to talk to our Scottsdale car accident lawyer.