New York Legal Authority
With the coming Fourth of July holiday, many are looking forward to attending celebrations with friends and family. Sometimes those celebrations include alcoholic beverages, and people should think twice before getting behind the wheel after having imbibed. A fatal auto accident that occurred in the early morning hours of June 29, 2013 demonstrates that even drivers who are not legally drunk can cause catastrophes.
A group of friends was traveling home from a pool hall when the accident happened. The 20-year-old driver was speeding down Grand Central Parkway in Queens, reaching speeds of 120 m.p.h. at about 4 a.m. He lost control of his Honda Civic and smashed into a guard rail.
Three of the car’s passengers, two 17 year-olds and an 18 year-old, flew out of the car upon impact. Two of those passengers died immediately and the other was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. A 19 year-old and a 21 year-old also in the vehicle at the time of the accident suffered minor injuries. The driver also sustained minor injuries.
Police gave the driver a breath test, which showed his blood alcohol concentration to be 0.06 percent, which is below the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Even though the driver was not legally intoxicated, his ability to drive safely was obviously impaired. Those who make the choice to get behind the wheel when they are not completely in control put not only themselves, but also everyone else on the road, in danger. The driver in this accident is facing a variety of criminal charges, but the victims of the accident and the surviving loved ones may choose to hold him civilly liable for what he has done.
Source: NY Daily News, “Two teen parents killed, four people injured as boozed-up driver crashes in Queens while going 120 mph, law enforcement sources say,” Joseph Stepansky, Claire Trepasso and Joe Kemp, June 29, 2013
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New York auto accident shows dangers of drunk driving
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