DUI car accident kills girl in Pennsylvania

The tragic death of an 18-year-old girl in Lancaster County has been attributed to drunk driving, according to local sources. Pennsylvania police arrested a 29-year-old New Providence man after a car accident on July 8 that killed one girl. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance in early September and, if convicted, he faces 20 to 40 years in prison.

Details of the actual accident were not provided in this report, but it was confirmed that the 29-year-old crashed his vehicle into another car being driven by the victim on the night of July 8 in West Lampeter Township. The man is believed to have been high on heroin and drunk at the time of the crash. The girl did not survive.

The man was initially charged with vehicular homicide, but investigators now believe enough evidence exists to charge the man with third-degree murder. He also faces DUI, aggravated assault and possession of drug paraphernalia charges in addition to the major charge. Combined, these charges could see him sent to jail for most of his natural life if he is found guilty. There is no word as to whether he suffered any injuries himself that might prevent him from taking the stand.

The tragedy of this car accident cannot be understated, and it is made even more so by the suggestion that the alleged perpetrator was intoxicated. Preventable car accidents of this type are dealt with harshly in Pennsylvania. Additionally, the man could face civil charges from the girl’s family related to wrongful death. If he is proven guilty of the charges against him in criminal court, there would be strong evidence in place to support such a civil case.

This blog entry was posted on behalf of [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″], and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the firm or its attorneys. The information presented in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice.

Source: fox43.com, “UPDATE: Charges upgraded following DUI crash that killed 18-year-old girl“, Valerie Waltz, Aug. 15, 2014