Deadly Crash on Interstate 17 Kills One

Interstate 17 was the site of a deadly crash on Saturday that killed one person and sent numerous others to the hospital.  According to police, a woman suspected of driving drunk lost control of her vehicle and slammed into a median.  A second vehicle, whose driver either did not see the first vehicle or was going too fast to avoid an impact, slammed into the first vehicle.  The force of the impact ejected the passenger in the second vehicle and catapulted her over the wall into oncoming traffic.  The woman was struck by several vehicles and died at the scene.

Unfortunately, the damage and destruction did not end there.  A man who was trying to be a good Samaritan entered the freeway to render aid and was struck by another vehicle.  The freeway was shut down for over six hours while officers and crime scene specialists tried to clean up and reconstruct the earlier events.

The individuals involved in the accident, including the good Samaritan, were all taken to the hospital where several of them required surgery for their injuries.  All are expected to make a full recovery.  The driver of the initial vehicle will be charged with manslaughter; those charges may be upgraded when the results of her blood work are returned to include driving under the influence.

Arizona DUI Laws–No Room For Error

Arizona’s DUI laws are rather harsh and unyielding.  In this case, the driver is initially being charged with manslaughter, which is a Class 2 felony and carries a possible sentence of between four and ten years in prison.  However, if the state includes a driving under the influence charge, the whole scenario is changed.

If the state can charge the woman with a Super Extreme DUI, she will automatically face a mandatory four month jail sentence as well as substance abuse counseling and classes, loss of license for at least three years and the requirement of an ignition interlock device.  The monetary costs are already high with an average of $5,000 per year; these costs will only increase with additional charges of manslaughter.

This situation has the potential to devastate this individual’s life and family.  If you are facing such life-altering consequences, it is important to find a way to protect your rights and defend yourself against these charges.  Contact Alex Lane for DUI defense in the greater Phoenix area.  Alex Lane is prepared to answer any questions you may have concerning the DUI laws of Arizona.