A drunk driving conviction can have serious consequences, including license suspension, hefty fines and possibly even a jail sentence. When drunk driving results in a car accident where others are injured or killed, the stakes become even higher. A New York man learned this the hard way when a crash killed a 21-year-old passenger in the car he was driving.
In the early morning hours of New Year’s Eve a 2003 Toyota operated by a 19-year-old went off the road and hit a utility pole, according to police who responded to the 911 call. Emergency responders managed to extricate a back-seat passenger who was seriously injured.
According to law enforcement officials, the injured man received initial treatment from paramedics and was subsequently transported to the Albany Medical Center. He was initially listed as being in critical condition, but he died later.
The driver has been charged with one misdemeanor, drunk driving, and one felony — vehicular assault. He was arraigned in the Greenport Town Court before being released. Police report that they are continuing their investigation, and there may be further charges stemming from the incident.
The potential consequences and penalties for a drunk driving conviction can be life-altering, particularly for young drivers. However, an arrest is not the same as a conviction, and there are steps that drivers can take in similar situations to minimize the damage. Evidence can be challenged and alternatives to jail time can be explored, but this generally requires solid knowledge of applicable law.
Source: Daily Freeman, “Germantown man dies after Livingston crash; driver charged with DWI, vehicular manslaughter,” Jan. 1, 2013
