The majority of mothers spend a great deal of time behind the wheel of their car. There are trips to school, after-school events, doctor appointments and even work that must be juggled. The majority of these trips occur without incident. However, as one North Carolina family learned, tragedy in the form of wrongful death can strike when least expected.
The North Carolina Court of Appeals recently upheld the murder conviction of a man found guilty in an accident that claimed the life of a mother of three. Authorities indicate that the convicted driver had been offered a ride; however, he chose to drive home from a bar he had been patronizing. In the course of his trip home, he drove erratically, causing other drivers to leave the road. However, the victim in this case was not so fortunate; she was struck in a head-on collision, resulting in her death.
According to authorities, the convicted driver was legally drunk at the time of the accident. In addition, he had a record of driving and alcohol related incidents prior to this accident. These factors all combined to lead to a second-degree murder charges and his later conviction.
Mothers are an important part of the family. It is often the mother who takes care of the family and ensures that child care issues are taken care of, along with many times contributing to the household income. As a result of one man’s negligent actions, one woman’s family has suffered a tremendous loss. Under North Carolina law, in addition to the felony charges of which this driver has already been convicted, the woman’s family may also have the option of pursuing a claim for wrongful death.
Source: wect.com, 2nd degree murder conviction upheld in fatal DWI case, Debra Dolan, Dec. 4, 2013