Fatal car accident blamed on drunk driving

A recent fatal crash here in North Carolina has likely devastated at least one family. What’s worse is that police say they have reason to believe this could have been prevented if the driver currently being blamed had not been intoxicated at the time. Any time a fatal crash happens, the results are tragic, but it may seem especially upsetting if it happened for a preventable reason. 

A life taken in an instant 

According to reports, the crash happened on a recent weekend, during the very early hours of the day. A van driving on Interstate 26 had apparently slowed for construction when, police say, a sports car traveling at an excessive speed for conditions, rear-ended it. This caused the van to hit a passenger truck from behind. The driver of the van, who authorities say was wearing a seatbelt, died as a result of the crash. 

Officials say that others hurt in the crash are expected to survive, though their precise conditions are unknown. Police charged the driver of the sports car, a 27-year-old man, with felony DUI resulting in death. It is not known how police determined that the driver was intoxicated at the time of the crash, though officers could have used field sobriety tests, results from a Breathalyzer or even a blood test. The crash is still under investigation and police will likely release all findings when it is complete. 

A grieving family deserves justice 

No matter what the outcome of any criminal charges may be, the family of the man who died may be struggling to cope with the financial ramifications of this car accident in addition to mourning their loved one. They may want to file a wrongful death claim against any parties deemed responsible, as it could be a way of producing monetary compensation that may help them cover expenses related to the crash. An experienced wrongful death attorney here in North Carolina can help any family in a similar situation.