A truck driver was recently arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of drugs, resulting in the death a pedestrian. The arrest occurred on a recent Saturday and involved DUI, vehicular assault and other criminal charges. When a person is accused of vehicular assault or homicide in Colorado, he or she is always presumed innocent until and unless his or her guilt is proved in criminal court.
Police said the 25-year-old man hit a pedestrian at the intersection of two streets at about 11:30 p.m. He then reportedly pulled over about one mile away to check his semi-trailer’s temperature sensors. The pedestrian, 28, suffered fractures to the face as a result of the accident.
Police said it was likely that the man who is said to have caused the accident knew he had struck someone. The man reportedly told police that he experienced a jolt at the time of the accident but did not hear or see anything. Authorities said the man ended up failing parts of a drug recognition test and admitted that he had smoked pot several hours before the accident. Besides facing charges involving DUI and vehicular assault, he has been charged with leaving an accident scene involving serious bodily injury and unlawfully using earphones.
When a person in Colorado is charged with vehicular assault or homicide, he or she may decide to go to trial or may accept a plea deal, if one is offered by prosecutors. The advantage of a plea agreement is that it may result in a more lenient sentence for the defendant than what would be given if he or she were to be found guilty at trial. The criminal defense will ultimately fight for the outcome that is most favorable for the client considering the circumstances surrounding the criminal case.
Source: timescall.com, “Truck driver faces DUI, assault charges in Longmont hit-and-run“, John Bear, Feb. 15, 2016