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Woman Hits and Kills Man, Faces DUI-Related Charges

Feb. 22, 2018

A Florida woman has been charged with DUI manslaughter after an incident that occurred around 7 p.m. on Feb. 17. The 51-year-old woman was driving in St. Pete Beach near Captiva Circle and Blind Pass Road when her car mounted the sidewalk.

According to reports, the woman hit a 40-year-old man and drove away. The man died later in the hospital. Investigators say that two miles down the road, the woman was then involved in another crash.

According to police, when they detained the woman, she appeared to be drunk although she refused to take a Breathalyzer test. She was charged with felony driving under the influence manslaughter, felony leaving the scene of a crash with death and misdemeanor driving while license suspended or revoked. The woman also had been taken into custody in the past on charges that included battery of a law enforcement officer and disorderly intoxication.

Charges of drunk driving can be serious even if a person is not involved in an accident. Drunk driving can lead to license suspension, which may affect a person’s job, as well as fines or even jail time. A person who is facing charges for drunk driving might want to talk to an attorney. An attorney may challenge a Breathalyzer result or an officer’s account of the driver’s behavior. The attorney might also look into whether the driver’s rights were observed when being detained. Another possibility is a plea bargain. This would allow the defendant to plead guilty to a lesser charge. In addition to reducing the penalties, it would also keep the defendant from having a record of a drunk driving conviction. Penalties may be more severe for second and later charges.

Source: Palm Beach Post, “Florida woman faces DUI manslaughter after running into man on sidewalk“, Sandra Nortunen, Feb. 18, 2018