Myrtle Beach-area residents may be interested in the difficult circumstances of a recent auto-pedestrian accident in North Charleston. A 76-year-old woman was struck and killed by an SUV, and the driver of the vehicle, a 32-year-old man, is now facing a charge of reckless homicide.
When the accident happened, the driver was reportedly leaving a gym and en route to school at Trident Tech. After the collision, he rightly called 911, but the accident victim later died at a hospital.
However, police claim the brakes on the driver’s vehicle weren’t properly maintained. He also has a number of previous arrests on his record, but the man’s mother and girlfriend passionately defended him in a news report and expressed condolences to the family of the victim.
The man’s mother said he has four children, and his girlfriend said he is currently working toward a business degree.
A charge of reckless homicide is extremely serious. If convicted, the driver could face jail time. If he is not convicted, the family of the deceased woman may still have grounds to sue the driver in civil court.
Clearly, fatal wrecks can be devastating for everyone involved, and in these situations, all parties have recourse to the law. This particular tragedy raises important ethical questions, and it remains to be seen how justice will be served.
If South Carolina residents would like to learn more about how liability is assessed after a motor vehicle accident, our Myrtle Beach auto accident site is there to help.
Source: Live 5 News, “Fatal auto-pedestrian wreck an ‘honest accident,’ family says,” Debi Chard, Sept. 3, 2013