It is common knowledge that driving under the influence of alcohol has the potential of causing serious harm or death. Unfortunately, people continue to engage in such behavior without regard to their personal safety or the safety of others. One man in Fayetteville has been sentenced to prison after a hit-and-run incident caused the serious injury of one woman.
The incident occurred in January. A police officer reported observing a vehicle traveling down a North Carolina street in the early morning hours with its lights off. When the police officer stopped the car, he noticed damage to the windshield as well as blood. The driver of the car stated that the car was in that condition when he returned to it in a parking lot.
Further investigation by the police officer revealed a call regarding a man and woman who had been injured in a hit-and-run accident only ten minutes earlier. While the male pedestrian only received cuts, the female suffered from internal injuries. Both were treated at the hospital.
A Breathalyzer indicated that the man’s blood-alcohol level was .20, over double the legal limit. He was arrested at the time and charged with leaving the scene of an accident and drunk driving. In mid-July, he pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay restitution.
While the prison time may provide the two victims with some closure, they will both have hospital bills to pay, especially the woman who was a victim of the serious injury. Even with the criminal conviction, the injured parties have the right to file a civil suit against the Fayetteville man. If a court rules in their favor, which the guilty plea in the criminal charges will likely strongly support, they could receive compensation for their medical bills as well as for any lost wages as they recovered from their injuries.
Source: 5newsonline.com, “Fayetteville Man Gets 6 Years In Hit-And-Run Near UA,” Shain Bergan, July 18, 2013