With all the public service announcements on television, the radio and billboards, almost everyone who drives should be well aware of the dangers of driving drunk. Sadly, not everyone takes that knowledge to heart and avoids getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming alcoholic beverages. For one young woman, choosing to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking led to her being charged with DUI manslaughter.
The fatal car crash occurred just prior to midnight on a Saturday at the intersection of Fay Boulevard and U.S. 1, when a 43-year-old woman lost control of her vehicle while trying to make a right turn. Her vehicle went into the oncoming lanes and hit the left side of a vehicle.
A 26-year-old female passenger in the vehicle she hit died at the hospital. The 21-year-old driver of that vehicle and a 23-year-old passenger were treated at Parrish Medical Center in Titusville for minor injuries. The alleged drunk driver wasn’t injured in the accident.
Two people were injured and one was killed because the 43-year-old woman allegedly chose to drive drunk. Although she is facing criminal charges, that might not be enough to bring peace to the people who were harmed by her choice. The family of the deceased woman and the people who were injured might choose to seek compensation from the alleged drunk driver. If they choose to exercise that right, they should make sure they understand the process. Any compensation awarded won’t make the horrible experience go away, but it might help them to deal with the financial strain this accident put on them.
Source: Florida Today, “Titusville woman killed in Port St. John DUI crash” Rick Neale, Mar. 05, 2014