In July of last year, while the Michigan freeways were packed with holiday traffic, police were called to a fatal traffic accident. The crash occurred on U.S. 23, and it was reportedly caused by one individual's drunk driving. On May 12, a 20-year-old man pleaded guilty to having been responsible for that accident.
Accident reports indicated that the intoxicated driver lost control of his truck and drove across the center median, into the lanes of oncoming traffic. He smashed into the car in which three teenagers were traveling. Two of them lost their lives, and the third person suffered severe injuries. Emergency workers had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate the drunk driver.
The man pleaded guilty to several counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated -- two counts for causing death, and one count for causing severe injuries. The sentencing took place in the Washtenaw County Trial Court recently. For the two OWI counts of causing death, he received two jail sentences for six to 12 years that will run consecutively. Records show that the lesser terms sentenced for the two other counts will be served at the same time.
Although this driver pleaded guilty, just because someone is facing drunk driving charges in Michigan does not necessarily mean they are guilty. Criminal convictions don't always follow OWI charges. An OWI defense attorney will fight to ensure that the legal rights of the accused individual are honored at every stage of the proceedings. Sometimes, charges may be dismissed, or an opportunity may arise to negotiate a plea agreement on beneficial terms.
Source: mlive.com, "Man sentenced to 12-30 years in drunken driving crash that killed 2 teens", John Counts, June 24, 2015