On March 1, a New York woman was accused of being involved in a hit and run her and her passenger with minor injuries. Authorities stated that the accident occurred at about 11:21 p.m. in Public Square in Watertown.
When they arrived at the scene of the accident, officers reportedly found a 1997 Lincoln Continental that had been left near the 100 block of Washington Street. They then found two individuals who were accused of being involved nearby after receiving reports of two women fleeing from the scene. It appeared that the Lincoln had struck a stone bollard that was protecting a monument before hitting a metal bollard and a street sign.
Authorities determined that a 31-year-old Watertown woman was driving the vehicle when the accident occurred. After she was taken to a hospital for treatment for minor injuries, she was charged with a number of offenses, including driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of a personal injury and first degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.
The state of New York takes accusations of drunk driving very seriously, and those who are convicted on DWI charges can face a variety of punishments. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident, they could face major fines, a prison sentence and lose their driving privileges. In general, a criminal defense attorney may lay out the options that are available for the defendant. These usually include going to trial or negotiating a plea bargain. If the evidence against the defendant does not make sense based on the police reports and other circumstances, the attorney may recommend going to trial. If the evidence is strong, negotiating a plea bargain may be another option.
Source: CNY Central, “Police: Woman facing DWI charge after crashing car, fleeing accident in Watertown“, March 2, 2017
