DWI charges issued in fatal limousine accident
A recent limousine accident that killed four women and severely injured four others acts as a reminder to New Jersey party goers that even hiring a responsible driver does not guarantee total safety. In this case, a man driving a pickup truck crashed into the limousine’s passenger side when it was making a U-turn at an intersection. The limousine driver stated to authorities that he did not see the pickup before turning.
The accident occurred near a winery, and Suffolk County authorities have charged the pickup driver with misdemeanor DWI. The driver admitted to authorities that he drank beer after work, but said he was not guilty of DWI. He did, however, leave the accident scene. Police located him going down a steep embankment on foot about 1,000 feet from the accident.
The district attorney for the county said during a press conference that more details needed to be collected for the investigation. He confirmed that upgrading the charges against the pickup driver could be possible. No charges have been issued to the limousine driver, whose alcohol test showed negative results. Police said that a U-turn at that location was legal, but a recurring problem with limousines failing to yield the right of way at that location has been identified.
Sometimes fault cannot be clearly assigned in car collisions until the investigation is finished. If an injured person is considering a personal injury lawsuit, the accident reports could be taken to an attorney for evaluation. If a negligent party can be identified, then a claim for damages could be created. A victim could potentially collect compensation for medical bills and lost income.
Source: ABC News, “Pickup Driver Drank Beer Before Crash With Long Island Limo Killed 4 Women, DA Says“, Emily Shapiro, July 20, 2015
