A woman lost her life in a pedestrian accident in New York that law enforcement authorities blame on DUI. A man was arrested on a drunk driving charge in connection with the accident. The crash, which occurred upstate in Onondaga County, took place on a recent Thursday night.
Events leading up to the accident
The crash in New York happened at about 10:30 p.m. According to authorities, a 22-year-old woman was visiting bars with a male co-worker, said to be 23 years old, but refused to accept a ride home from him. Police said she decided to walk, while the man drove.
As she began to walk down a street, the male co-worker reportedly struck the woman but did not stop after the accident. Instead, he allegedly kept driving and struck a shop sign as well as some items near a thrift store. His car then reportedly caught fire. Police later found the deceased woman in the street and arrested the man on charges of manslaughter in the second degree, vehicular manslaughter and leaving a fatal crash scene. These three felony charges may lead to prison sentences of 15 years, seven years and seven years, respectively, if the man is convicted.
How an attorney can help
The surviving loved ones of the woman who died in the New York crash may opt to file a wrongful death claim against the accused man, seeking the reimbursement of monetary damages sustained as a result of the collision. If the man is convicted, proof of the conviction may be presented in a related civil court proceeding with the goal of establishing negligence per se in the accident. A successfully presented claim will likely result in a monetary judgment to cover the deceased woman’s funeral costs and other documented financial losses.