Car accident kills 1 in New York

A man believed to have been drunk behind the wheel is now facing charges after he crashed his vehicle in Genesee County, according to local law enforcement. New York police detained the man following the car accident that killed his passenger. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, but state troopers have confirmed that the man has been charged with DUI and that more charges are likely pending. 

Details of the crash are still somewhat sparse, but it appears as though the 34-year-old driver was traveling eastbound on Interstate 90 behind a snow plow headed in the same direction. For some reason, the driver rear-ended the snow plow, causing serious damage to the vehicle. His passenger, a 33-year-old woman, was killed immediately in the ensuing collision.

The driver was treated at a local hospital for unspecified injuries and then released. He is currently charged with driving while intoxicated and driving without a license, and further charges are expected as the investigation progresses. It is unclear at this point whether he is in police custody or free on bail, and as of this writing, no court date has been set. 

If New York prosecutors can prove the man’s intoxicated state, there is a good chance he will face jail time and other censures as a result of his role in the car accident. In addition, the family of his deceased passenger will be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit against him in civil court. While a conviction is not always necessary for a civil suit to be successful, a guilty verdict can be a strong motivator in civil court to rule in favor of the complainants.

Source: therepublic.com, “1 killed, 1 hurt in early morning accident near Buffalo involving car, Thruway snowplow”, Feb. 13, 2015