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

In Oakland, California, law enforcement reports that a teenage driver who was recently arrested for driving under the influence had a prior DUI.  The driver, who is 17 years of age, was armed when he crashed his vehicle into an apartment building.  His passenger, who was 22 years of age, died upon impact.

Police say that the 17 year old was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicants and also gun charges as a result of the recent accident, which took place this past weekend.

Due to the fact that the DUI offender is a minor, police will not reveal his name.  However, they have reported that this is not his first DUI offense.

Prior to the accident, California Highway Patrol officers tried to pull over the 17 year old, who was speeding.  However, the chase ended abruptly when the teenager drove into an Oakland apartment building.

If you have been charged with underage DUI or a related offense, click here to find a DUI defense lawyer now!

In Illinois, a woman by the name of Melissa Weiser recently pled guilty to 32 counts of driving under the influence (DUI).  Weiser is 28 years old and was sentenced to a prison term of 20 years by a Clinton County Court judge.

According to police, Weiser was drunk driving when she ran a stop sign and struck a SUV last may in north Clinton County.  The DUI accident led to the death of four people as well as the injuries of five individuals.  One of the individuals that was killed during the accident was Weiser's former fiancé, Chaz Sergeant.  He was 21 years old at the time of his death.

When police arrived at the scene of the accident, they asked Weiser to perform a breath test.  The test revealed that her breath alcohol concentration was well over the legal limit. 

John Hudspeth, Clinton County States Attorney, said that he wanted the 20 year prison sentence because Weiser had three prior driving on a suspended license convictions and five prior no insurance convictions.  Other than those offenses, Weiser had no criminal history. 

At this time, Weiser remains in police custody and expected to start serving her sentence immediately.

If you have been charged with driving under the influence, click here to find a DUI lawyer!

Lexington, Kentucky - In Christian County, a man was recently charged with both murder and driving under the influence.  The man, Edelbert Eastway, was charged with the criminal offenses after he caused a hit and run accident that led to the death of a local woman.

Police say that the DUI accident took place last Friday on Interstate 24 in Oak Grove.  That night, four women were riding inside a car that was struck by a pickup truck.  After being hit, the car began to roll with the women trapped inside.  Eventually, all four women were taken from the vehicle and driven to a hospital in Tennessee for treatment. 

At this time, reports indicate that one woman died, one woman was admitted into the hospital and is still receiving treatment and the two other women were released after being examined.

Eastway is currently being held in the Christian County Detention Center and waiting for his time in court.

If you have been charged with DUI, click here to find a DUI lawyer who can help you fight your charges.

In Lexington, Kentucky, one person was killed during an accident in Henry County on Sunday evening. 

According to reports, a man by the name of Esteban Valasquez was driving under the influence when he caused a DUI accident.  Later, he was arrested by police for DUI and manslaughter.

Police report that Valasquez had been driving south on I-71 near exit 34 at 11 PM when he suddenly lost control of his car.  His vehicle than spun off the road and drove into a support beam for a bridge.  Valasquez's passenger was thrown from the car and instantly killed.
Instead of waiting for police, Valasquez tried to get away.  However, he was found later and charged with DUI and vehicular manslaughter. 

At this time, the name of the victim has not been made public.

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In Firebaugh, California, authorities pressed criminal charges against a father, 34 year old Aref Kareem Mohamed, whose children died in a car accident this past Tuesday.

According to police, Mohamed was charged with three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, three counts of child endangerment, one count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury and one count of being under the influence of a controlled substance.  At this time, police are waiting on results from Mohamed's blood test to determine which controlled substance he was under the influence of while driving.

Authorities report that while Mohamed was driving a van, he was involved in a head-on collision with another automobile.  At the time of the collision, Mohamed's three children, two sons and one daughter, were riding as passengers in the van.  It was later reported that they died during the DUI accident.

Mohamed was being held at the Madera County Jail, but was later released after posting $100,000 in bail. 

If you have been charged with a serious DUI offense, like vehicular manslaughter, click here to find a DUI defense attorney now!

In Santa Barbara, California, a man by the name of Gregory Albert Doan pled no contest to charges of vehicular manslaughter.  In 2008, Doan allegedly hit a 66 year old jobber while driving under the influence (DUI).  Instead of stopping to check on the victim, Doan sped off.

Doan also plead no contest this past Thursday to 19 counts of assault with a deadly weapon against other individuals who had been running alongside the victim.

According to police, Doan had entered the bicycle lane in August of 2008.  While swerving, he hit the victim, Carolyn Samuels.  She was running with 35 other joggers, known as Team in Training, who were representing the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  After being rushed to the hospital, Samuels died a few hours after the collision.

At this time, prosecutors are saying that Doan is facing more than 35 years in prison.  The date of his sentencing is yet to be determined.

If you were charged with a serious criminal offense while driving under the influence, click here to find a DUI defense lawyer!

This week, a Florida jury in Escambia County found 41 year old Donald Buffkin guilty of DUI manslaughter.  Two years ago, Buffkin's wife died while riding as a passenger in her husband's car.  Buffkin was impaired at the time of the accident.

The accident occurred on April 10th and led to Buffkin being charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving with a suspended license.  Buffkin's wife, Gari Ann, had been married to her husband four years when she died while riding in his car.

According to police reports, the 41 year old had been driving on Mobile Highway when he lost control of his vehicle, ejecting his wife from the car.  Gari Ann never made it to the hospital because she died at the scene of the accident after suffering serious injuries.  When police arrived at the scene, they administered a breath test, which revealed that Buffkin's BAC (blood alcohol concentration) was .115%.

Buffkin will be sentenced on March 5, 2010.  He faces up to 15 years imprisonment for his wife's death.  Prosecutors say that he may be subjected to enhanced sentencing because he violated his probation for another criminal offense by driving under the influence (DUI).

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In Hayward, California, police report that two people are dead and one is critically injured.  They say that the individuals were inside of a car that crashed into a semi-truck.

According to Alameda County Sheriff's spokesman, J.D. Nelson, deputies had tried to pull the car over at 1 AM on Wednesday after they saw that the operator of the vehicle was driving erratically.

Nelson claims that the car ran a red light and then crashed into the back-end of a Safeway semi-truck.  The car then crashed into a nearby building.  After the accident, two people were reported dead and one critically injured. 

Law enforcement said that the driver of the car was on parole for carjacking and drug charges.  Both he and another passenger inside the car incurred minor injuries.   Their identities have not been released.

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On Friday, a man from Ohio is due in court for driving under the influence (DUI) charges for the third time.  According to reports, the man had already served 10 years in prison and had permanently lost his driver's license after killing a police officer in 1994.

Sunday, police officers received a call from a store customer who reported that a man appeared to be intoxicated.  Inspector William Holland of the Summit County Sheriff's Department said, "They went and attempted to block this person in, the driver got in the car, maneuvered around the citizen's car and took off driving."

After the incident occurred, the customer followed the erratic driver to a nearby home and then phone police.  When police arrived, they found 47 year old Gregory Gordon behind the wheel.  Gordon killed police officer George Knaff in 1994 when he ran through a stop sign and crashed into Officer Knaff's vehicle.

In 2006, Gordon was charged with DUI, making this his send DUI offense since his release from prison.  Sources say that Officer Knaff's family is infuriated that Gordon is still able to drink and drive. 

Knaff's cousin said,  "I think he should be locked up again, and all this crap about remorse and treatment while he was in prison, that didn't do no good, it didn't do no good ... it's 15 years later."

Police have charged Gordon with DUI, driving under suspension and refusing to take a breathalyzer test. 

Have you been charged with multiple DUI offenses?  If so, click here to find a DUI defense attorney near you!

 

A New York police officer has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter for running over a woman who was trying to hail a taxi cab.

Officer Andrew Kelly was off duty when he fatally ran over 32-year-old Vionique Valnord in Brooklyn on Sept. 27.

According to the police report, Kelly was driving with another off-duty police officer and three civilians when he struck Valnord. First responders to the scene stated that Kelly's breath smelled of alcohol, and that he was slurring his speech.  Kelly refused to take a breathalyzer test. After submitting to a court-ordered blood test seven hours later, his blood alcohol concentration was zero.

In court, Kelly stated that he was not drunk, but simply did not see Valnord when the light turned green. However, reports from the scene indicate that when Kelly was asked if he had been drinking he originally said no, but then said, "not really."

Kelly, who has since been suspended from the NYPD, now faces charges of vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.  If convicted, he could lose his position as a law enforcement agent and be sentenced to up to seven years in prison, fines, probation, and driver's license suspension or revocation.

The New York Police Department is currently investigating whether there was a cover up.

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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 Marine staff sergeant has been accused of killing two brothers after he plowed through them with his car while they were crossing the street.

James Farr has since been charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter and one count of driving while intoxicated. However, prosecutors indicated that the charges could be upgraded depending on the outcome of an ongoing investigation.

According to authorities, Farr had a blood alcohol concentration of .21 percent, which is more than twice the legal limit. 

Farr's attorney claims the accident was unavoidable, stating that the victims darted into the street from out of nowhere.

The victims are Thomas Occhiogrosso, 27, and Joseph Occhiogrosso, 28.  Thomas was an active member of the U.S. Navy reserves, while Joseph worked as a plumber.

Farr, who pled not guilty to the charges, is currently being held without bail in a Long Island, New York jail. If convicted of the charges, Farr could face incarceration, large fines, driver's license suspension or revocation, and more.  In addition, Farr may also be ordered to pay punitive damages to the victims' family.

For more information, contact a DWI attorney near you!

A 15-year-old Florida girl has been arrested after causing a fatal DUI accident that left a 16-year-old boy dead.

If convicted, Karina Campbell could face up to 15 years in jail.  Not only was she under the legal age to be driving, which is 16, but she also had a blood alcohol concentration of .165, twice the legal limit for adult licensed drivers.  Drivers under the age of 21 are not permitted to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. 

Campbell also did not have a valid driver's license, and did not appear to be genuinely remorseful about the accident. In addition, according to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, Campbell was driving around 70 mph in a 30-mph zone.

This case should call attention to whether or not Florida lawmakers should enforce stricter DUI laws and penalties for those who cause serious or fatal DUI accidents.  The issue comes to light after NFL wide receiver Dante Stallworth was sentenced to just 30 days in jail after he pled guilty to killing a pedestrian while driving drunk.

For more information about underage DUI offenders and fatal DUI accidents, click here to find a DUI attorney in your area.

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.

For more information about DUI vehicular homicide, please click here to find a DUI lawyer near you.

A New York man has been arrested and charged with DWI and vehicular manslaughter after his motorcycle ran off the road, striking and killing a man on a bike path.

According to police, James R. Ryan was driving his Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound on the Wantagh Parkway when he lost control of the motorcycle and drove off the parkway.  The 19-year-old victim was changing a flat tire on the bike path when Ryan hit him.

The victim, whose name has not been released, died of the injuries at Nassau University Medical Center.  Ryan suffered multiple injuries and remains in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit.

An initial investigation suggests alcohol was involved, and may be a potential cause of the accident, said police.

Ryan is facing charges of DWI, vehicular manslaughter, reckless manslaughter, reckless driving, and reckless endangerment.  If convicted, he could face imprisonment, fines, probation, parole, community service, license suspension, and restitution to the victim's family.

For more information, please click here to find a DWI attorney near you.

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.

For more information about DUI vehicular manslaughter, please click here to find a DUI attorney near you.

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.

For more information about DUI and traffic laws, please click here to find a DUI attorney near you. 

This Tuesday, 39 year old Shannon Daniel of Chicago, Illinois decided to drive home from holiday festivities drunk.  Daniel lost control of his motor vehicle while driving under the influence (DUI), which resulted in a devastating crash.  His wife, 43 year old Velma Daniel, was riding as a passenger in the car and was killed instantaneously. 

Daniel and his wife were driving north on Bishop Ford Freeway, which is close to 119th street, at approximately 11:15 PM on Tuesday night.  They were driving in a 1994 Pontiac Bonneville.  While driving drunk, Daniel suddenly stopped his car, spun, and was struck by a semitrailer.  Police report that his wife died at the scene from fatal injuries.

Daniel was sentenced last night, on Christmas Eve, in a Chicago court.  He was charged with DUI and reckless homicide. 

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Bluffton resident, 40 year old Rodney L. Galimore, was recently found guilty of felony DUI causing death, reckless homicide, driving on a suspended license and child endangerment for having his two young children with him in his sports utility vehicle while driving drunk.

While driving under the influence in August, Galimore crashed into a motorcyclist.  The motorcyclist, 42 year old Merry C. Deon, was killed and died at the scene of the accident.   Deon was a security guard at Long Cove and was driving home from work at the time the accident occurred.

According to Deputy Solicitor Angela McCall-Tanner, Galimore was portrayed as remorseless throughout his 2 day trial.  She also claims that instead of calling 911 after the accident, Galimore called a friend to complain about being hit.  She told 16th Circuit Judge John Hayes prior to sentencing that Galimore, "had no concern about what happened to the victim. It was all about him."

The jury deliberated for two and a half hours before finding Galimore guilty on all 4 criminal counts.  He was sentenced with 25 years for his felony DUI charge and 10 years for his child endangerment charge.  He also received 10 years for his reckless homicide charge, which is to be served concurrently with his felony DUI charge.  Galimore received a 6 month sentence for his charge of driving with a suspended license, which will also be served concurrently.

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In Baltimore, a Denton area man was recently sentenced for driving under the influence (DUI) and for vehicular manslaughter.  The man, 37 year old Daniel Foster, was ordered to serve 5 years jail time for his guilty plea.  Mr. Foster is responsible for the death of a father of six children.

Aside from jail time, Foster was also ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and the jail time he was sentenced with is part of a 10 year suspended sentence.

On April 27, Foster was arrested for DUI and negligent manslaughter after he drove drunk and crashed into 39 year old John Hill.  Foster pled guilty to all charges.  Local law enforcement report that Foster drove his pick up the wrong way on the ramp from Gay Street to state Route 404.  His pickup collided with Hill's car and Hill died instantaneously at the scene of the accident.

When police arrived at the scene, they administered a breath alcohol test on Foster, whose blood alcohol concentration was more than 3 times the state's legal limit.

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