A fatal crash can make a family feel crushed as they grapple with the grief associated with the fact that they will no longer be able to see their loved one. The family may feel even more troubled if the accident occurred due to someone’s decision to drive while intoxicated. These types of car accidents are life-changing for more than just the victim, and unfortunately, one family recently experienced this after a fatal crash.
The accident occurred on a North Carolina Interstate on a recent Thursday. The incident took place when a woman, said to be 18 years old, was driving on I-40 in Raleigh. She apparently lost control of the vehicle in the late afternoon.
The police say that the car struck a tree located beside the roadway. A 20-year-old male passenger passed away at the accident scene. Meanwhile, the woman and a 17-year-old passenger were transported to the hospital. They both suffered serious injuries.
The woman now faces charges of provisional driving while intoxicated. She may not only face trouble in the North Carolina criminal justice system, but she might also face legal challenges in the civil court system. This is because the family members of the deceased victim have the right to bring a wrongful death suit against the alleged drunk driver. Moreover, the seriously injured passenger might choose to file a personal injury claim against the driver, as well as anyone else with an ownership interest in the vehicle involved. Car accidents attributed to drunk driving continue to spawn both criminal and civil proceedings, and if this driver ends up with a drunk driving conviction, evidence of it may be offered in civil court to establish financial liability for the death and or injuries that resulted from this tragedy.
Source: wxii12.com, “Teen charged with provisional DWI in deadly crash on NC interstate“, May 30, 2014