There are many causes for an accident — especially an accident that occurs late at night. These causes include driver fatigue, distractions created by passengers, interference by other drivers on the roadway or a lack of familiarity with the area. Many people are much more likely to automatically assume that an accident that occurs late at night was caused by a drunk driver when oftentimes there is a much simpler, and less sinister, explanation. One woman now faces a DUI charge after a car accident in the Chicago area.
The accident occurred just after midnight in early August. A 30-year-old woman was driving a sports utility vehicle carrying 10 passengers, including nine children. According to police reports, the woman lost control of the vehicle before it rolled over an embankment.
All of the vehicle’s occupants were hospitalized as a result of their injuries, but all are expected to survive. The driver faces several child endangerment charges because the children were allegedly not properly restrained. Additionally, she has been charged with driving under the influence.
It is unclear at this time what led Chicago officials to suspect a DUI charge was appropriate in this situation as no information has been provided about the determination of blood alcohol levels. As with all criminal cases, this woman is entitled to her day in court, and prosecutors must prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It’s important that all drunk drivers be prosecuted and appropriately punished if necessary; however, it is equally important that such charges are completely warranted.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times, “DUI charges filed in I-57 crash that injured 9 children,” Aug. 2, 2013