The driver believed responsible for a recent fatal crash in South Carolina has been arrested. Authorities believe that drunk driving may have played a role in the collision that claimed the life of a young child and left several other people injured. The individual accused of causing this wreck is facing several charges, all of which could — if he is convicted — drastically change the course of his life.
According to a local report, on the evening of Oct. 22, police were called to the scene of a crash in North Charleston. Upon their arrival, they found that a total of six vehicles had been involved in the wreck. Six people required transportation to a medical center for treatment, one of whom was a 9-year-old girl. The child died of her injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital. The current conditions of the other victims have not been reported.
The individual believed responsible for this incident is a 56-year-old male. He was taken into police custody directly from the scene of the collision and — at last report — was being held at a detention center. It is unknown if bond has been set in his case. The charges against him include a felony DUI and reckless homicide.
Police say that they have confirmed that the accused was driving under the influence at the time of the crash. As is standard in South Carolina, this was likely determined by chemical and/or field sobriety testing; however, such tests are not always accurate. With the assistance of legal counsel, the accused may be able to fight the accusations of drunk driving by questioning the results of chemical and/or field sobriety tests, which may be done by reviewing police reports and checking equipment maintenance logs. If any issues with the investigation are found to have occurred, the accused may be able to successfully fight for a dismissal or, at least, a reduction in charges.
Source: counton2.com, “9 year-old killed in drunk driving car accident”, Oct. 23, 2016