Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
On Saturday evening March 8, an accident occurred in San Leandro which took the life of a passenger in one of the vehicles. Now, another man is facing manslaughter charges following allegations that he was driving under the influence of alcohol.
The accident took place at an intersection; residents who live near the intersection reported hearing a loud crashing sound. The vehicles involved included a Chevrolet Camaro and Acura Integra; when police arrived on the scene, they found a traffic light had been knocked down onto one of the vehicles. According to Joseph Desrochers, driver of the Camaro, the pole struck the back of his car before rolling off. Desrochers was not injured in the accident.
Two men were in the Acura Integra, and had to be rescued by the Jaws of Life, according to Desrochers. The passenger, a Latino man, was transported to an area hospital where he later died. The driver of the Acura, also Latino, attempted to walk away from the scene of the accident, according to witnesses. Police captured the man, who was admitted to a hospital. According to news reports at KTVU.com, the man was arrested for drunk driving and will be charged with gross vehicular manslaughter upon his release from the hospital.
The identities of the two Latino men were not released as of Sunday evening.
In the state of Michigan, vehicular manslaughter related to drunk driving is a very serious matter. This is particularly true when a defendant has been convicted previously for driving under the influence of alcohol, as the judge may decide the defendant should be sentenced to the maximum allowed by law. A conviction for vehicular manslaughter in Michigan will leave the defendant facing criminal penalties which include fines of up to $20,000, 20 years in prison, or both. Criminal penalties do vary depending on the details of every individual’s case.
Regardless of whether you were involved in an accident that left someone injured or worse, or were simply arrested for drunk driving without any extenuating circumstances, it is critical that you speak with an experienced Michigan DUI defense lawyer. Drunk driving is a serious offense, even when no one is injured. The penalties for DUI include substantial fines, jail time, driver’s license suspension, community service, and more. Without a skilled defense lawyer on your side, you are putting your freedom, career, and reputation in jeopardy.