Some drunk driving accidents can result in serious criminal charges, especially when the suspect injuries or kills someone.
A driver in north Houston was charged with multiple crimes after hitting pedestrians and leaving the scene of the accident while he was intoxicated.
Drunk driver runs over two pedestrians
The suspect was driving a white Chevy Tahoe vehicle on a Saturday night at about 11 pm near the 100 block of Aldine Bender Road. He was traveling about 50 mph when he approached an intersection where multiple people were trying to cross. The suspect struck two pedestrians in the area. One female victim was taken to a local hospital in critical condition to be treated, while the male who was with her remained in stable condition.
Passengers who were in the vehicle with the suspect told the police that he had been drinking before the accident. He would also be charged with additional crimes for leaving the scene of the accident and failing to render aid. Police believe he was wanted on a warrant for a separate felony for DWI with children in the vehicle. Several children were also in the vehicle at the time of this incident. The suspect’s family persuaded him to return to the scene and surrender to police.
Prosecutors say the man will be charged with other crimes if the condition of the victims worsens.
Crimes related to driving under the influence in Texas
While some states use the term DUI, a charge for drunk driving anywhere in Texas is filed as a DWI, or driving while intoxicated. Anyone with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 can be charged with DWI. This blood alcohol level can be reached after just a few drinks for some people. If there are open containers of alcohol in the vehicle, the person in possession of them can be fined in addition to the criminal DUI charges.
The charges for DWI with a child passenger mentioned in the article are very serious, as a first offense can carry up to two years in jail and a 6 month driver’s license suspension.
Drunk driving incidents that include other charges
When a charge for drunk driving is combined with other criminal charges from the state, it is equally important to defend against them all to avoid convictions and jail time. If an attorney can get an initial traffic stop or other important pieces of evidence excluded, it is possible that some or all of the related charges may go away as well.
Because the combined penalties associated with multiple charges can result in additional jail time, probation, and other sanctions, it is important to get help from the best defense attorney available.
How do lawyers defend against DWI charges?
The most important aspects of defending against a drunk driving charge are to make sure the traffic stop was for a valid reason, the breath or blood sample was collected according to procedures laid out in the state’s statutes, and other rules were followed properly by law enforcement. Any evidence collected in violation of this process can be excluded from the state’s case.
Get assistance from a local lawyer in the Houston metro area
To learn more about the possibility of defending against DWI charges and drunk driving laws in Texas, contact Blizzard Law, PLLC. You will receive guidance from an experienced attorney.
