Drinking and driving is a dangerous combination, but not all cases are as clear-cut as the media often suggests. There is a large amount of speculation related to many DUI cases, and careful examination of the evidence may reveal a completely different story than the one issued by law enforcement.
A Long Island teen stands accused of drunk driving and losing control of his vehicle. This situation is compounded by the fact that two of his friends, passengers in the vehicle, were ejected from the car and died at the scene. This type of highly emotional case weighs heavily on everyone involved.
The 17-year-old driver entered a plea of not guilty at his arraignment after previously admitting to the authorities that he had engaged in underage drinking on the night of the accident. The prosecution in such a case relies heavily on the evidence of a defendant’s inebriation at the time of the accident. A local news report did not indicate whether a blood-alcohol test was administered.
Many different factors can lead to loss of control of a vehicle. Teenagers out for a joyride after a party do not need alcohol to end up in a dangerous situation. An experienced DWI defense lawyer knows how to sort out the details while protecting the identities of those involved and respecting the privacy of friends and family members.
An underage drinking conviction can be detrimental enough for a young defendant’s future and reputation, but when deaths result from an alleged DWI crash, one must also consider the trauma already experienced by the surviving young person. Nevertheless, prosecutors are likely to seek the harshest penalties possible, and that makes a strong DWI defense all the more important.
Source: MyFOXNY.com, “Teen arrested for DWI after fatal car crash kills 2,” July 29, 2012
