Driver charged with homicide involving suspected DUI accident
Drunk driving accidents happen every day, but they are not a simple, everyday occurrence for those who are charged with DWI. Some cases involving DWI in Tennessee are more serious than others, specifically those that involve fatal accidents.
A man recently charged with aggravated vehicular homicide in Tennessee must see his legal situation as much more serious than a DUI. He’s accused of driving under the influence and causing a car accident that took the life of another driver.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol arrived at the scene of a multi-vehicle accident and claim to have seen a driver, 49, peeing outside of his vehicle amid the wreckage. That driver is now charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, driving with a revoked license and more.
Working against the defendant is his criminal history. He reportedly has more than two DUI convictions on his record, the details of which are undisclosed. In Tennessee, multiple offenses of DUI escalate the severity of charges and sentencing post-conviction.
If the defendant’s past convictions are from in the last 10 years, he faces a minimum sentence of 120 days in jail. Being that this case involves an already revoked driver’s license and a homicide, however, sentencing could be more severe than that.
Anyone in the legal circumstance of fighting against a DUI homicide would be wise to work with an aggressive criminal defense lawyer whom they trust. A case like this is about more than avoiding a slap on the wrist; it’s about avoiding a significant loss of freedom.
Source: Knoxville News Sentinel, “Man, 49, with DUI history charged in fatal crash on Gov. John Sevier Highway,” Aug. 27, 2013