A man accused of killing another person in a drunk driving accident recently asked for a reduction of his bond, which was denied. The West Virginia man is facing charges of DUI causing death for his role in the fatal collision. The victim died after the alleged drunk driver struck the victim’s motorcycle.
Police were called to the scene of an accident in early Oct. 2018, where a 64-year-old man driving a pickup truck had failed to yield to the right of way, turned in front of an oncoming motorcyclist and caused a devastating collision. Although emergency responders transported the victim to an area hospital for care, he died soon after. The driver up the pickup managed to walk away from the wreck without injuries, although police claim that he was having troubling standing afterward, and it was not from shock.
Officers noted that the driver who caused the wreck was acting impaired, having trouble walking and smelled strongly of alcohol. After asking him to submit to a Breathalyzer test, they determined that his blood-alcohol content was at .122, well above the .08 legal limit. He was arrested and it was determined that it was not his first DUI offense. He pleaded guilty to at least one of those DUI charges while several others ended up getting dismissed.
Losing a loved one because of another person’s negligent actions can be both emotionally and financially draining. West Virginia families are rarely equipped to handle the costs of an unexpected funeral and other related damages, and these tasks are often further complicated by the all-too-natural grieving process. However, families are not without options. After a fatal collision, a successfully pursued wrongful death claim can yield invaluable compensation for the victim’s estate.