When a person chooses to drink and drive in Las Vegas, he often does so with the mistaken belief that he is only putting himself at risk. However, this is just not the case. Far too often it is the other motorists on the road that suffer the consequences.
This was the case for an accident that was caused by a drunk driver last year. The collision resulted in the deaths of a Las Vegas couple who were traveling in California at the time. The driver who caused the crash had visited a bar prior to the accident and reportedly drank 17 beers. He crashed into the back of the couple’s car in the early morning hours, around 2:30. The couple’s car came to a stop in the middle of the freeway after it rolled multiple times. The drunk driver pulled over to the side of the road, but instead of getting out and helping the victims, he ran away from the scene.
Right after the accident, other motorists stopped to help. Just as they got the couple’s 13-year-old son out of the car, a pickup truck slammed into it. The impact sent the couple out of the car and onto the road. A motorcyclist also crashed as he tried to avoid hitting the car.
The motorcyclist and pickup truck’s driver were taken to the hospital. The biker sustained broken bones in his neck and ribs; the pickup truck’s driver was treated for injuries that were moderate.
The drunk driver who caused the accident was found and arrested at his home days after the accident. He was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter, something to which he pled guilty. He was recently given a 14 year prison sentence.
The families of those who died in this accident and those who were injured would be well advised to seek the help of a personal injury lawyer to help them recoup the damages they and their loved ones suffered in this accident through civil litigation.
Source: CBS 8, “Man who drove drunk, triggered crash that killed couple admits guilt, gets 14-year sentence,” July 2, 2013
