A middle-school teacher is facing a DUI manslaughter charge in Naples in connection with a November accident that claimed the life of a 22-year-old motorist, according to the Naples Daily News.
The Florida Highway Patrol arrested the 29-year-old woman last week-- nearly a year after the crash. Consulting a Florida DUI manslaughter attorney can assist in protecting your rights in the immediate aftermath of an accident and during what can be a lengthy investigation. An experienced attorney can help you understand the steps that need to be taken to ensure evidence that could help your case is quickly gathered following an accident. Such evidence, including witness statements and a timeline of the days events, may not be available if charges are filed a year after the fact. In other cases, a DUI defense lawyer may even be able to prevent charges from ever being filed in the first place.
In this case, the teacher rear-ended a pickup truck on I-75. The victim was a passenger and was ejected when the truck rolled through the median. The 19-year-old driver of the truck was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
The defendant was never arrested or cited following the accident. A report by the Highway Patrol estimated her speed at 90 mph and noted that blood was taken for a toxicology test. The patrol reported that her blood-alcohol level was .196, more than twice the legal limit of .08 in Florida.
Results of the blood test were reportedly available in December and authorities have said little to justify the lengthy delay in pressing charges.
An experienced defense lawyer will work to defend the driver against both the allegation that she was driving under the influence of alcohol and the assertion that she was responsible for the accident. If the state fails to prove either allegation, she will not be convicted of DUI manslaughter.
Fort Lauderdale DUI Attorney Carlos Canet is an aggressive and experienced drunk driving defense attorney, representing clients facing DUI charges in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach. Call 866-7ASKDUI to discuss your rights.
