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Man will be tried for hit and run and DWI after car accident

A drunk driving accident in Schuylkill can have severe ramifications for everyone involved. If that accident is a hit and run, the accident investigation is going to devote an extensive amount of time and manpower to locate the drunk driver. If there are injuries or deaths in the car accident, that will make the situation far worse.

A 53-year-old man is facing a trial for a drunk driving accident in which he ran a stop sign and crashed into a Chevrolet Blazer SUV carrying a woman who was almost eight months pregnant. The SUV was being driven by her father and her two sons, ages 9 and 3, were also in the vehicle. Following the accident, the man committed a hit and run as he tried to escape. Witnesses pursued him and found him at his home. He was discovered sitting in the driver’s seat of his vehicle. Officers stated that he smelled of alcohol, and there was serious damage to the front of his car. When given a breath test, it registered 0.37. The driver had three previous DUI convictions on his record, and there was a requirement on his driver’s license that he have an ignition interlock device on his vehicle. He did not have the device at the time of the accident.

When there is a car accident due to a person driving drunk, there is the potential for injuries or deaths to occur. If a loved one is severely injured or killed, that family has rights to try and recover money for their loss. The insurance company will likely try to contact victims in an accident to settle the case as quickly and inexpensively as possible. Often the victims will not realize how seriously they have been hurt, or, confronted with escalating medical bills, will accept the offer to get the case over with. This can be a mistake as the long-term consequences of a drunk driving accident might not be immediately known and could be far more expensive than initially believed.

In this case, the driver was arrested for DWI and for hit and run. The pregnant woman initially thought she might have miscarried at the time of the car accident because she spilled a drink on herself when it happened. In any event, it is wise to discuss the matter with an attorney before moving forward.

Source: Lehigh Valley Live, “Alllentown man faces trial for alleged drunken hit-and-run crash with SUV carrying pregnant woman, kids,” Sarah Cassi, Feb. 14, 2014

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