Results tagged “vehicular homicide” from DUI Lawyers & Attorneys News

A St. Louis teenager has been charged with vehicular manslaughter following a DWI accident that occurred on Sept. 14.

Although criminal charges were not initially expected, 17-year-old Christopher Ransfer is now facing vehicular manslaughter charges stemming from an accident in which he struck and killed 83-year-old Lionel Speidel.  Ransfer was driving while intoxicated by marijuana when the accident took place.

Police believe Speidel dangerously stepped out in front of Ransfer's car. Because Ransfer was cooperating with the police investigation, no charges were filed.  However, police decided to press charges after toxicology reports indicated that Ransfer had marijuana in his system at the time of the accident.

Ransfer, who is now being held on $150,000 bond, could face incarceration in state prison, large fines, driver's license revocation, mandatory DUI classes, community service, and restitution to the victim's family if he is found guilty. But because evidence suggests that Speidel stepped into the crosswalk in a dangerous manner, Ransfer's sentence could be reduced.

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A Florida woman has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for causing a DUI accident that resulted in the death of another woman.

According to authorities, Barbara Diffendal crashed into the car of 34-year-old Jeanine Bethoney, who later died from the injuries she sustained in the crash.  According to police, Diffendal fled the scene of the accident while cradling her 4-year-old daughter in her arms.

Police later found Diffendal and her daughter and took them to the hospital for treatment. It wasn't until after toxicology results indicated that Diffendal was intoxicated that she was charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident without rendering aid, and causing death while driving without a license. 

Diffendal was facing a maximum of 30 years in prison, but agreed to a plea bargain with the prosecution for a 13 year sentence instead. Prosecuting attorney Bill Catto said Bethoney's family agreed to a lesser punishment in order to avoid trial.

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A U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas has pled guilty to driving under the influence, and act that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old girl.

Defense attorneys for Edison Bayas, 37, say he is taking full responsibility for the death of Valerie Talamantes, who was killed on impact when he crashed into the rear of her car as she sat waiting at a red light. 

The defense claims Bayas was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder when the crash took place.  Bayas' attorneys also asked the jury to take into account that Bayas has served two tours in Iraq, and that he was having a flashback at the time of the accident.

But District Attorney Jaime Esparza, who is prosecuting the case, urged the jury to protect the safety of the community and send a message.

At the time of the crash, Bayas has a blood alcohol concentration of .27, nearly three times the legal limit, and was traveling no less than 60 miles per hour when he collided with Talamantes.

Bayas stands to face two to twenty years in prison.

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A Chicago cop has been arrested on DUI and other criminal charges after he allegedly hit a 13-year-old boy and fled the scene of the accident.

According to police, Richard Bolling, who spent 17 years on the police force, was drinking at a bar before he got into his vehicle to drive home.  While driving at excessive speeds, Bolling hit and killed the boy before he drove away from the scene.

Within minutes of the accident, Bolling was arrested when cops spotted his damaged car driving the wrong way on a one-way street. According to police there was an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. In addition, the father of the slain boy said police told him Bolling failed a field sobriety test, and that he was driving 80 miles per hour.

Bolling now faces charges for DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, and reckless homicide.

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In Boynton Beach, Florida - a woman by the name of Michele Ammirato was arrested by police in September for driving under the influence (DUI).  Recently, police charged Ammirato with both DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. 

Serious criminal charges were brought against Ammirato because while she was driving drunk in September, she struck an 87 year old woman named Patricia Servant with her Kia.  Servant died shortly after being hit.  She was trying to cross the 2600 block of Federal Highway when Ammirato crashed into her.

According to Boynton Beach police reports, Ammirato was driving with a suspended license and when she struck Servant, she did not stop to see if the elderly woman was harmed. 

Additionally, toxicology reports reveal that Ammirato was also driving under the influence of cocaine when the accident occurred. 

At this time, Ammirato remains in police custody at the Palm Beach County jail.  Further court proceedings have been set for a later date and time.

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In Denver, Colorado, 32 year old Juan Jose Prieto-Gonzalez was recently arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI).  He made his first court appearance this Monday after being accused of killing his own son during the accident he caused while driving drunk.

The Colorado State Patrol reports that Gonzalez was driving his 1989 Camaro when he ran a stop sign this past Sunday on County Road 5400.  He drove his Camaro right in front of a 1996 GMC Suburban, which crashed into Gonzalez's car, causing a fatal accident.

According to the Montrose County coroner, Gonzalez's son, 7 year old Jose Juan Prieto, died instantly from head and neck injuries while in his father's car.  Trooper Darel Reed came to the scene of the DUI accident after receiving a dispatch call.  Trooper Reed said that every person in the two vehicles sustained injuries. 

At this time, Gonzalez is being held for investigation of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault and driving under the influence.  Gonzalez was convicted of DUI and driving under suspension in 1994 and is alleged to have had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .257% during the accident that led to his son's death.  In the state of Colorado, the legal BAC limit is .08%.

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A Tennessee woman has been indicted on charges of vehicular homicide and DUI for causing an accident that resulted in the death of Jackie Dunavant, the wife of 25th Judicial District Attorney Gen. Mike Dunavant.

Melody D. Caldwell, 36, was arraigned Wednesday before Lauderdale County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Walker, where she was charged with vehicular manslaughter due to intoxication and vehicular homicide due to reckless conduct and DUI.

According to police reports, Caldwell was driving Dunavant's 2005 Lexus around 11 p.m. on Oct. 4 when the car swerved off and on the road before skidding across the highway and ultimately flipping and landing on its top.  Dunavant died at the scene.

According the report it was believed that both women had been drinking alcohol before getting into the car.

Two days after the accident, Mike Dunavant released the following statement, "I have complete faith in the Highway Patrol in the thorough investigation into Jackie's death."

Mike Dunavant, whose district includes the county where Jackie was killed, will not be prosecuting the case.  Instead, prosecutor Robert "Gus" Radford will serve as district attorney general pro tem.

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A 24-year-old New Jersey man was indicted on criminal charges for killing his two roommates in a drunk driving accident that occurred last summer.

The defendant, Kapil Goel, was charged on counts of aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide for the deaths of his two passengers, Amarinder Cheema and Karan Bhandari, both 24.

The Middlesex County grand jury indicted Goel after police charged that he was intoxicated when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a utility pole. His passengers were pronounced dead at the scene.

According to police, Goel's blood alcohol concentration was .164%, more than twice the legal limit.

Goel, who suffered an elbow injury in the crash, plead not guilty and is now awaiting trial. No court date has been set at this time. If Goel is found guilty of the charges, he could face up to 60 years in prison.

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