Though a motor vehicle accident can happen for a variety of different reasons, it may be easy for law enforcement officials to make assumptions when an accident occurs at a certain time of day. For example, police may quickly assume that alcohol was involved in an accident that occurs during the early morning hours. In fact, a woman in North Carolina now faces multiple criminal charges, including DWI, after police claim she was under the influence at the time of a fatal accident.
The incident happened just after 3 a.m. on a day in March. According to reports, a 24-year-old woman and a 22-year-old motorcyclist was involved in a motor vehicle collision near an intersection. The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital, but he died.
The woman was initially charged with unsafe movement causing injury to a motorcyclist and driving while impaired. Law enforcement officials recently added a charge of felony death by motor vehicle. Despite the serious accusations against the woman, many details regarding the case are unclear, including the events leading up to the accident and how it was determined that she was impaired at the time.
The unexpected loss of a life is always a tragedy, and the desire to hold someone accountable is understandable. However, the criminal justice system requires that there is sufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to convict someone of a crime. This standard -- purposefully set high to avoid wrongful convictions -- is often difficult to meet. An attorney with experience with such cases in North Carolina can help this woman fully understand the options available to her and choose the path that is most appropriate for her as she responds to the DWI and criminal charges she is facing.
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