Recently, a 10-year-old boy lost his life in a crash in which the driver of one of the vehicles involved was believed to be under the influence. A multi-vehicle crash occurred in Anaheim after a pickup truck plowed into the back of a Toyota Camry that was stopped at a red light. The impact of the crash caused the Camry to strike a third vehicle.
10-year-old Rafael Ramirez lost his life in the crash, while four of his family members were reportedly in critical condition. The crash, which happened on Saturday evening just before midnight, left five people injured and one dead all total, including the driver of the third vehicle. Gary S. Hunt, driver of the pickup truck that crashed into the back of the Camry, was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Hunt was apparently not injured in the crash, as he was transported away in a police cruiser after officers placed him in handcuffs.
Michigan DUI defense attorneys know that many people operate their vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; fortunately, most are not involved in accidents that take the lives of innocent young children.
Driving under the influence is a serious offense, however we are all human and we make mistakes. There are some situations in which an innocent individual may be charged with DUI, because of a malfunction of equipment used in breath tests, or even a police officer’s opinion on whether the accused passed the field sobriety test. Certain medications may cause a breath test to register above the legal limit of .08 when in fact, the driver has not consumed alcohol.
Regardless of your situation, if you have been arrested or charged with driving under the influence it is critical you take action right away to protect your freedom and legal rights. The criminal penalties for DUI in Michigan are severe, and may include jail time, fines, community service, license suspension, and more. Contact an aggressive Michigan DUI lawyer immediately so that work can begin on your case.