On Tuesday June 3, a 65-year-old San Tan Valley woman was arrested after she allegedly drove while intoxicated and ran over a 41-year-old man working in a construction zone, according to news reports at World Now. Kathleen Fleetwood, who lives in a gated community, was arrested on charges of DUI, criminal littering, criminal damage, two counts of aggravated assault, and more according to the article.
Fleetwood was driving a Buick Enclave on Tuesday afternoon on West Hunt Highway at North Gary Road where construction is ongoing when witnesses claim she hit a construction worker after sideswiping a water truck. Witnesses said that the worker was thrown into the air on impact, then landed underneath construction equipment. Fleetwood attempted to enter her gated community, but was stopped from doing so by the construction supervisor and a landscaper, who followed her Enclave from the scene of the accident.
Fleetwood allegedly got out of her vehicle and attempted to hide a bottle vodka in a bush, according to eyewitnesses. She was driving at approximately 50 mph when she drove through the construction zone and struck the worker; the speed limit in the construction zone is 35 mph. The construction worker was not killed, but was taken to a Phoenix hospital via air after suffering serious injuries. A spokesman indicated that Fleetwood faces additional criminal charges.
In the state of Michigan, DUI causing serious bodily injury is a very serious offense, leaving the accused facing harsh criminal penalties if convicted. Penalties include fines of up to $5,000, along with possible prison time of up to five years and driver’s license suspension or revocation. If someone is killed in an accident or circumstances caused by a drunk driver, the driver may face criminal penalties that include up to 20 years in prison if the victim is a highway or emergency worker.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs/substances is not to be taken lightly. Even when no one is injured, those found guilty of DUI will face jail/prison time, steep fines, driver’s license suspension, community service, and more depending on whether it is a first or subsequent offense. If you have been charged with a drunken driving offense, contact an aggressive Michigan DUI defense lawyer at once.