A man in Virginia was recently charged with causing a fatal car accident due to drinking and driving. The man who was arrested for drunk driving is 38 years old. However, even though he faces a criminal charge, he is presumed innocent until and unless prosecutors can prove him guilty in a court of law.
The motor vehicle accident, which involved a single car, took place at a little past 1 a.m. on a Saturday along Route 360. According to police, the man was speeding and then left the roadway. When he over-corrected, the car ended up leaving the roadway on the other side, hitting an embankment and then flipping over.
The man suffered minor injuries, but one of three car passengers passed away at the crash scene. Meanwhile, the other two passengers suffered serious injuries and were transported to the hospital. The man who was driving the car now faces a charge of DUI manslaughter. He has also been charged with DUI maiming (two counts). He was furthermore charged with driving with his licensed revoked as a result of a previous DUI, which is a felony.
The man who was arrested for drunk driving has a couple of options while navigating the Virginia criminal justice system. One option is to proceed to trial, where the prosecution has to prove his charges beyond a reasonable doubt before he can be convicted. This high standard exists with the goal of keeping innocent people from being convicted of crimes they did not commit. The second option is to seek to negotiate a plea deal with the prosecution, which may yield a lesser charge and thus a lighter sentence than what he may receive if found guilty at trial. An attorney will pursue the best option and result for the defendant, making sure that his rights are protected each step of the way.
