Salt Lake City, UT- A Utah woman is headed for some major legal troubles after colliding with a light pole Tuesday morning.
The Deseret News reports that just after 10 a.m., a Salt Lake City woman was exiting I-80 when she lost control on an exit ramp and plowed into a light pole. Two panhandlers were sitting near the light pole and were struck.
Both victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Blaine Robbins told the news outlet that police are not sure if the victims were struck by the woman’s car or the light pole.
The 29-year-old woman stayed on the scene and Sgt. Robbins said she had “no recollection” of what has just happened. The suspect she was on prescription drugs at the time of the accident and have charged her with driving under the influence.
Nearly 50 percent of the American population is one or more prescription drugs so it makes sense that they are becoming common in fatal drugged driving accidents.
In a study from last fall, researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center found that the number of drivers taking more than one drug increased from 11.5 percent in 1993 to 21.5 percent in 2010.
“In 1993, about 1 in 8 drivers were using multiple drugs concurrently. By 2010, it was closer to 1 in 5. That’s a large increase in drug use,” said study author Fernando Wilson, PhD, associate professor at UNMC.
So many people fail to realize that driving under the influence of prescription drugs has the same consequences as driving drunk. Certain types of prescription drugs, such as anti-depressants, sleeping pills, and anti-histamines can impair a motorist and severely inhibit their driving skills. Police don’t care if a motorist has a prescription or not, in their eyes you are in the wrong and need to be taken off the road.
If you have be charged with drugged driving in Salt Lake City, contact a DUI defense attorney are soon as you are able. Prescription or not, a person convicted of drugged driving faces jail times, thousands of dollars in fine, fees, participation in court-mandated programs and minimum of a 120 day license suspension. When you enlist the skills and expertise of a Utah DUI lawyer, you have a better chance of avoiding conviction or getting a lenient sentence.
DUI charges should always be taken seriously and an alleged offender should reach out to an attorney early on in the process. Having the advice of one of our dedicated and professional Utah attorneys will keep you from making a mistake or misstep that can impact your case. USAttorneys can help you locate an attorney in your area so you can set up a consultation and get answers to your questions. If you act quickly you may be able to minimize the consequences of your DUI charge.
