Ohio woman sentenced to 8 years in prison for fatal DUI hit-and-run
A recent case in Logan County should serve as a cautionary tale to anyone who drinks about the importance of avoiding intoxicated driving and seeking experienced legal help if a DUI accident does occur.
May 31, 2013
Ohio woman sentenced to 8 years in prison for fatal DUI hit-and-runArticle provided by Horwitz & Horwitz, LLC
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Most people know that Ohio law prohibits people from operating a vehicle while they are under the influence of alcohol. However, not everyone internalizes just how dangerous drunk driving can be, nor do they realize how serious the legal consequences can be if they cause a car accident that injures or kills another person.
A recent case in Logan County should serve as a cautionary tale to anyone who drinks about the importance of avoiding intoxicated driving and seeking experienced legal help if a DUIaccident does occur.
Circumstances of the accident
The case involved a 49-year-old woman who was accused of killing a 15-year-old boy in a drunk driving accident. The woman was sentenced to 8 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges including drunk driving, leaving the scene of an accident and aggravated vehicular homicide. She faced a possible maximum sentence of 11 years in prison.
The accident occurred on a rural road north of Rushylvania. The young man was walking to a friend's house when the woman struck him with her vehicle. She left the scene of the accident without stopping. The teenager was not found until two days later, when a passerby found his body in a ditch.
After the accident, the woman apparently told her family that she thought she had hit a mailbox. Because she was dangerously intoxicated and threatening self-harm, her family took her to a local hospital. Authorities estimated her blood alcohol content to be 0.29 percent at the time of the accident. The legal limit for intoxicated driving in Ohio is 0.08 percent.
This was the first time the woman had ever gotten in trouble with the law for drinking and driving.
Ohio DUI Penalties
Even without an accident or a fatality, the penalties for DUI convictions in Ohio can be significant.
A first offense can result in at least three days and up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,075. In addition, drivers can have their licenses suspended for up to three years and may be required to install ignition interlock devices or special license plates that identify them as convicted drunk drivers.
A second offense in six years will bring more jail time and higher fines. Ignition interlock and special license plates become mandatory on a second offense. Drivers will likely also have their vehicles immobilized for up to 90 days. The penalties get more severe with each repeat offense.
Because of the serious legal consequences attached to drunk driving convictions, it is important to get experienced legal help if you or a loved one has been charged with driving under the influence. An experienced Ohio criminal defense attorney will be able to review the circumstances of the alleged offense to ensure that your rights are protected.