A young Wisconsin woman who drank and then drove her car now faces homicide charges stemming from a car accident that killed one person and seriously injured another. The 23-year-old Amherst woman faces up to 75 years in prison if she is convicted of charges in the Sept. 15 accident.
The Portage County Sheriff’s Department says the Amherst woman admitted she was speeding when the accident happened. Passengers in her car confirmed this, saying she was driving 65 mph to 70 mph at the time; the speed limit where the accident occurred is 45 mph. She also told police she started drinking the night before, not stopping until 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. Police tested her blood alcohol level after the crash; it was 0.15. She is charged with four felonies, including homicide caused by operating a motor vehicle while drunk.
The 51-year-old man died at the accident scene. He was a passenger in a car driven by his son, who sustained serious injuries. Police said the pair was going to assist a friend who had just been in a car accident. The son was leaving a driveway when the woman crashed into his car.
Not only is this woman facing criminal charges for her actions, but she could also be facing civil penalties in personal injury and wrongful death claims. Victims who are injured or killed as a result of someone’s negligence may be eligible for under Wisconsin personal injury laws. This can include medical treatment for injured victims and burial expenses for deceased victims, as well as lost income for the injured victim and survivors. A personal injury attorney may be able to assist victims and survivors obtain this by submitting information to the insurance company and working out a settlement.
Source: Wausaudailyherald.com, “Man dies in crash; woman arrested,” Sept. 15, 2013.
Source: WAOW, “Woman charged in fatal Portage Co. crash”, Cassandra Vinch, September 30, 2013
