A man in Colorado was recently accused of driving under the influence and causing a fatal accident as a result. He now faces several charges, including DUI and vehicular homicide. The accused man is 20 years old and a former high school star athlete.
According to police, the accused ran over a girl who was riding a bike. She was 8 years old. The accident happened when the man drove onto a crosswalk in an effort to make a right turn. Police at the accident scene believed the man was impaired, and a blood test reportedly revealed that he had cannabinoids in his system. Authorities also said they discovered three beer cans, a whiskey bottle and a glass smoking pipe in the man’s vehicle.
The charges include accusations of possessing a false ID and illegally possessing or consuming alcohol while underage. He is also accused of possessing or consuming marijuana as well as marijuana paraphernalia while being underage in Colorado. Police said he also failed to observe a red light and failed to yield the right of way to a pedestrian.
The crime of vehicular homicide carries a potential prison sentence of between four and 12 years in Colorado. The stakes are high, as the man’s freedom and entire future are at risk. The man has the right to fight the DUI allegations made against him at trial, or he may determine it is in his best interest to instead seek to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecution. A plea deal might lead to lighter charges and/or a more personally favorable sentence for the man than might be imposed should a conviction be secured by prosecutors at trial.