Police stated Monday that a one-car accident killed a 23-year-old woman and injured a 29-year-old man Saturday night.
The police are still investigating but it looks like the driver of the vehicle will be charged with both a second-degree Vehicular Manslaughter offense and Driving While Intoxicated offense, a reporter recounted.
The 29-year-old man had allegedly been drinking at a party with his girlfriend, who was killed in the crash, and they were on their way home driving down the interstate in his 2003 Chevy Trailblazer. Sources said he somehow turned off the road and hit a guardrail and it sent the car flipping over. The 23-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Like many drunk driving cases, this guy was brought to a hospital and sustained very minor injuries,” indicated a spokesperson.
Police arrested the man shortly after he was given clearance by the hospital.
One witness at the scene remarked on the car accident, “They were driving very close to our car,” he said, “And the next thing I knew they were flipping over off the road. It was so fast and very scary. I’m surprised the guy survived the way that car was banged around.”
Since 1982, accidents with alcohol-related fatalities have gone down significantly, the police discovered. In 1982, 52% of the deaths in car crashes involved alcohol and the driver had a level of over .08 in 45% of those cases. In 2008, this number actually went down to 33% with the driver having a level over .08 28% of the time. Although this number is encouraging, we still have a lot of work to do to stop the drinking and driving. Authorities in The Bronx and Queens are constantly trying to accomplish this.
The driver was arraigned in his hometown and spent an evening in jail instead of posting $10,000 in cash/bonds. Authorities expect him to appear in court later in the week to face charges and possible sentencing.
The family of the girl who died was unavailable for comment but has placed a memorial for her by the road where she was killed.
Losing a loved one in a car accident is devastating. Manhattan Car Accident Attorneys will help your family make sense of the law and your family’s rights. Manhattan Car Accident Attorneys can make sure your family is compensated for your loss.