A horrific tragedy occurred on July 19 in North Carolina. The suspected drunk driving accident resulted in the loss of three lives. The person deemed responsible for the crash was reportedly released from jail after recently posting bond. Reports indicate that he might have been less than forthright with officers immediately following the incident.
The 20-year-old University of North Carolina student was allegedly driving a vehicle that smashed, head on, into another car that contained four occupants. Sadly, the driver of the car that was struck, a 49-year-old female, was killed in the collision. Two other persons in her vehicle, a 6-year-old girl and a 46-year-old woman, also suffered fatalities in the tragic crash.
The young man deemed at fault in the incident is reported to have posted a $1 million bond in order to secure his release from jail. According to reports, he must wear a monitoring device around his ankle and is on house arrest. The UNC student was charged with a slew of offenses, including three counts of murder, three counts of death by motor vehicle, wrong-way driving, reckless driving, impaired driving and possession of alcohol as a minor. Authorities claim that at the time of the accident, the 20-year-old showed false identification to responding officers.
The state of North Carolina has a “dram shop law,” which makes it a crime for vendors or individuals to provide or sell alcohol to minors. In certain circumstances, those deemed to have violated the statutes could be held liable for damages sustained by those who were injured or killed in car accidents caused by minors who drove under the influence of alcohol that was served or sold at their establishments or places of residence. Because issues of liability can be complex, it would most likely prove beneficial for anyone considering filing a legal claim after a drunk driving accident to first consult with an attorney who has experience with such cases. Immediate family members surviving victims killed in a crash are typically able to act on behalf of their deceased loved ones in court.
Source: wncn.com, “UNC student charged in triple-fatal crash posts bond“, July 28, 2015
