When it comes to operating a motor vehicle, one poor decision can have catastrophic consequences. This is especially true when it comes to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In some cases, a single decision can result in wrongful death and impact lives forever. Recently, a North Carolina man was charged following an accident in which a mother and her young son lost their lives.
Purportedly, the 26-year-old man who has been charged in the accident was driving while intoxicated. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed that the man has been charged with felony death by motor vehicle on two counts. The accident for which he is charged claimed the lives of a 21-year-old mother and her three-year-old son.
The man, who serves with the United States military and recently returned from deployment, was headed southbound when he crossed the center line and struck the woman’s car. Troopers believe that the woman and child were killed instantaneously. The accident took place around a half-mile from Cooley Road, near Rocky Mount.
Witnesses report that there was no squealing of tires before the sound of the impact. The 3-year-old child was riding in a safety seat that was not properly installed and was ejected from the vehicle. His 21-year-old mother was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver deemed at fault and his twin brother, a passenger in his truck, were treated for minor injuries and released. Police officers found beer cans in the man’s truck and do believe alcohol was a factor in the accident.
It goes without saying that the family of the woman and child killed in the accident are facing overwhelming grief. The decision to drink and drive can result in tragic consequences despite the best of intentions. People who believe they’ve been victimized in a drunk driving accident, whether through wrongful death or injury, may find it beneficial to seek the options available to them within the confines of the law.
Source: wral.com, “Driver charged in Nash County collision that killed woman, child,” March 13, 2013