The ultimate fate of a Utah resident who is charged with alcohol-related offenses after a crash could take months to occur. During that time, both officials and the accused will scrutinize the evidence to determine charges, whether rights were violated and whether a plea bargain would be the best course of action for everyone involved. For instance, a woman accused of causing the death of a 4-month-old infant back in Aug. 2016 (“Driver faces charges of vehicular homicide and DUI after crash,” Aug. 9, 2016) recently received consecutive prison sentences between zero and five years for crimes to which she pleaded guilty.
On that day in August, the 30-year-old woman was behind the wheel of a car. Her passenger, the infant’s 39-year-old mother, was holding her child. When the vehicle left the roadway, it slammed into a tree and rolled. The mother and child suffered serious injuries. The mother survived, but the child did not.
The mother originally lied about the circumstances surrounding the crash, but when her daughter died, she provided police with a different set of facts that ultimately matched the investigation. In addition, the investigation determined that the driver’s blood alcohol level was .233. She faced numerous charges that came with serious penalties. Ultimately, she accepted a plea bargain that reduced some charges and dismissed others.
When it comes to DUI crashes involving fatalities, the driver believed to be responsible could face serious charges. Sometimes, the evidence is overwhelming, and taking the risk of going to trial would not provide the accused individual with the best outcome. Depending on the underlying facts, it might be necessary to consider entering into a plea bargain with Utah prosecutors in order to reduce the potential penalties.
Source: ksl.com, “Woman sent to prison for DUI crash that killed unbuckled infant“, McKenzie Romero, Jan. 18, 2017
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