Criminal Cases Against Drivers Who Caused Fatal Accidents While Drunk

Drunk driving is one of the most common reasons that people get arrested at traffic stops. As upsetting as it is to go from having a normal day to debating whether to take a plea deal or to make a desperate effort to persuade the jury that the breathalyzer was wrong, you eventually feel grateful that it was only a DUI and not something worse, that no one got hurt. DUI charges are far from the worst possible consequence of drunk driving. If you cause an accident that results in serious injury or death while you are under the influence of alcohol, you can get charges of DUI vehicular homicide, and if you are convicted, the court might sentence you to years in prison, unless you can avoid this fate by negotiating a plea deal or establishing reasonable doubt about your guilt. If you are facing criminal charges after a car accident where alcohol was a contributing factor, contact a Tampa DUI defense lawyer.

Miami-Dade Woman Gets Probation for DUI Accident That Killed Her Friend

On New Years Eve in 2024, two women who had been friends for decades, got into a car belonging to one of the women at the condominium complex where they both lived. The driver, who had been drinking, accelerated and drove the car into a lake on the condo complex property; the passenger died of injuries sustained in the accident. The driver, who was 73 years old at the time of her arrest, accepted a plea deal in which she pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter in exchange for a probation sentence and permanent revocation of her driver’s license.

Defendant Gets Prison Term 20 Years After She Struck a Pedestrian While Driving Drunk

In 2006, a woman in her 30s was driving near her home in Hialeah, when she struck a pedestrian. The pedestrian died of her injuries at the scene. The driver was also seriously injured and was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital, but she survived. The investigation continued while she was hospitalized, and a blood sample drawn at the time of the accident showed that her blood alcohol content (BAC) was twice the legal limit.

Friends of the driver who worked in law enforcement allegedly warned her that she would likely be arrested, so she left South Florida and traveled outside the United States. In 2026, she was extradited from Mexico to Florida, where she faced trial. She was convicted of DUI manslaughter and reckless driving and received a sentence of five years in prison. News reports did not indicate whether any of the alleged accomplices who helped her escape have received charges for obstruction of justice or similar offenses.

Contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Bryant Scriven

A criminal defense lawyer can help you get justice if you are facing criminal charges after a car accident during which prosecutors allege that you were under the influence of alcohol.  Contact Scriven Law in Tampa, Florida to schedule a consultation.

Sources:

nbcmiami.com/news/local/woman-sentenced-to-5-years-in-prison-after-guilty-plea-in-2006-dui-deadly-crash-in-hialeah/3763657/

local10.com/news/local/2026/01/27/hialeah-gardens-woman-gets-probation-loses-license-for-killing-best-friend-in-dui-crash/