Drinking and driving can have dire consequences for people who are near the vehicle you choose to drive. In the case of one pedestrian, a man’s decision to drive after drinking is likely what caused the pedestrian’s death. Walking home after a holiday party isn’t something that should lead to your death, but that is what happened to one Florida man on Christmas morning.
The 48-year-old man attended a holiday, and it is thought that he was walking home when he was struck by a vehicle on McGregor Boulevard. The vehicle that struck the pedestrian fled the scene. Approximately 30 minutes after the car accident, a police officer noticed a vehicle with front-end damage consistent with a vehicle hitting a pedestrian. The vehicle was a state-issued vehicle being driven by a Lee County state attorney’s investigator. When stopped by police, the man refused to take a Breathalizer test.
The state attorney’s investigator was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The 2013 Impala was impounded for processing by the Department of Law Enforcement Laboratory. He was arraigned and released on a $750 cash bail. While he hasn’t been charged with the pedestrian’s death yet, he has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Losing a loved one in a vehicle accident is rough, but losing that person to a drunk driving accident is even worse. If you have lost a loved one in a car accident or if you have been injured in one, contacting a Florida personal injury attorney can help you to understand your rights to compensation.
Source: MassLive, “Michael Sasen, 48-year-old Springfield native, dies in Florida hit-and-run accident” Dave Canton, Dec. 27, 2013