A South Carolina woman is in the beginning stages of grief after a terrible car accident ended the life of a passenger in her vehicle. In addition, she is also confronted with criminal charges related to the fatal accident. Just days after the crash she was charged with felony drunk driving charges, as well as for driving with a suspended driver’s license. As she mourns the loss of her friend, she also must address the need to make a legal response to the charges against her.
The accident took place in Berkeley County on Cooper Store Road. Police assert that the 38-year-old woman was driving a 2002 Ford pickup truck when she lost control. The vehicle crossed the center line, ran off the road and hit a ditch. At that point, the truck overturned. A 36-year-old man riding as a passenger in the vehicle was ejected, and was pinned underneath the overturned vehicle.
Police believe that the man was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. He was unable to survive his injuries, and died within hours of the accident. The driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, was uninjured. As of the time of this report, there have been no charges filed against her in relation to the man’s death.
This is likely a very difficult time for the woman who survived this terrible South Carolina crash. As she begins to mourn the loss of her friend, she must also acknowledge the serious criminal charges against her. Should she receive a conviction for the drunk driving charges, significant punitive measures could result, up to and including time behind bars. There is no word on how police determined that she was drinking in the hours prior to the crash, but any evidence held by the prosecution will be the starting point for her legal team as they prepare for her hearing in the matter.
Source: live5news.com, “Woman charged with felony DUI in fatal Berkeley Co. crash – Live5News.com“, Carleen Bragg, Sept. 12, 2014