When a person loses their life in a crash, and when others are also injured, it’s usually the injured party and their family’s right to pursue a claim. On top of civil penalties, the driver who caused a collision may also face criminal charges if they violated any laws.
One case that shows how a serious crash can result in criminal charges took place in Denver. According to a July 21 report, a man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the collision that resulted in two people’s deaths. The 28-year-old man was convicted on 17 charges including vehicular homicide, first-degree assault, vehicular assault, reckless child abuse and driving under the influence.
The news reports that the man was driving a stolen Ford F-150 at the time of the collision. He was taking Colorado 83 south when he attempted to pass in a no-passing zone that was on a curved road. His actions resulted in him hitting a Toyota RAV4 head-on and killing the two passengers, 32-year-old parents of a 2-year-old child in the back seat of their vehicle. The child, as well as the at-fault driver and his passenger, survived.
At the time of the collision, the man told investigators that he was high on methamphetamine and was on probation. Just five months prior, he had pleaded guilty to driving under the influence.
This was a tragic situation, and it’s one that may affect everyone involved for many years. If you’re injured or lose a loved one in a crash, you can also pursue a personal injury claim and seek justice through the courts. No one should put others’ lives at risk by driving recklessly.