Driver faces charges after alleged drunk driving accident

By driving while under the influence of alcohol on busy Illinois roads, a driver not only risks his or her own life but also the lives of others on the road. Following up on a blog post about a fatal accident from Jan. 4 (“Alleged negligent driver causes 1 death, personal injury to 2”), a driver is now facing two felony counts related to the tragic drunk driving accident. The charges were filed upon completion of a thorough and time-consuming accident reconstruction.

According to the accident report, a northbound driver on Illinois 159 lost control of her car on the evening of a Saturday in January. She reportedly veered across the center line and smashed head-on into a southbound vehicle. The 19-year-old driver of the second vehicle and her 20-year-old passenger lost their lives in this collision.

Another passenger of the second vehicle, along with the driver who caused the collision, were transported to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries. The at-fault driver of the first car is now facing reckless homicide charges as well as aggravated driving while intoxicated. Details of the blood alcohol level of the accused driver were not published.

The accused driver will appear in court in June, and it is reported that she may face incarceration of up to 28 years if she is convicted on both charges. Regardless of the outcome of this court case, the injured person and the surviving families of the two women who lost their lives in this accident may pursue compensation for financial losses related to the drunk driving accident. The success of any personal injury and wrongful death claims will depend on the evidence of negligence of other parties that are presented to an Illinois civil court.

Source: bnd.com, “Red Bud woman charged with reckless homicide”, Jamie Forsythe, May 26, 2015