In January 2007, one bad decision changed the lives of three teenagers in North Carolina forever. It was the driver, a then 18-year-old Raleigh teen, who made the decision to get behind the wheel after drinking and driving. Going over 70 mph, his car suddenly went off an embankment, killing one of his passengers, an 18-year-old man and seriously injuring the other passenger as well.
In August 2007, the driver pleaded guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and drunken driving. His sentence was to spend 16 to 20 months in prison though all but five months suspended. After serving his time, he was required to serve probation but now the 24-year-old man has once again found himself in a court room after having admitted to his probation officer that he had recently used drugs.
According to police, two other run- ins with the law have forced this man to find his way into a Raleigh court room. In 2012, police say he spent five months in prison for a March 2010 probation violation as well.
Considering the circumstances, most people whose child was killed because of drunk driving might feel forced to relive the pain of their loss after hearing about these ongoing violations; but according to reporters, this isn’t the case for the 18-year-old victim’s mother.
“I feel so sorry for him,” she explains to reporters. “I have no idea what role the burden of taking someone’s life has had on him.” She continued to explain that she doesn’t blame him for causing that fatal car accident, an act of mercy many North Carolina parents might not have extended.
Losing some one in a car accident can be heartbreaking, but losing someone because of negligence like drunk driving can be even worse. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to go through this suffering alone and would be well advised to seek legal representation in the event that you wish to receive compensation.
Source: WRAL.com, “Man convicted in Raleigh teen’s 2007 auto death faces probation violation,” Amanda Lamb, Feb. 14, 2013
