Fatal Wrong-Way Crash Causes Devastation on U.S. 19 N
Early on the morning of May 3, 2020, local authorities received reports of a 2014 Nissan Murano traveling south in the northbound lanes of U.S. 19 N in Largo, Florida. The speeding vehicle passed 2 Pinellas sheriff’s office vehicles and collided head-on with another vehicle before officers could stop the car. The accident occurred at about 2:15 a.m. and resulted in the death of the other driver’s passenger. The driver in the vehicle that was struck suffered a serious leg injury that required 12 staples, and a 10-year-old child in the back seat was hospitalized with a lacerated liver and bruising to their lungs and intestines.
The driver of the Nissan Murano was unconscious after the crash. Police extracted her from the vehicle and transported her by helicopter to Bayfront Health – St. Petersburg. The woman also had a child in the car with her, who was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Officers noted that the woman smelled of alcohol. They found two open cans of Truly Hard Seltzer in the Murano.
At the hospital, the at-fault driver had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .202. In Florida, the legal limit is .08. The Tampa woman was charged with multiple felonies, including DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, DUI causing serious injury, and child neglect.
What About the Victims?
While the at-fault driver’s fate will be decided in criminal court, these charges and potential punishments do not account for those harmed in the tragic accident. One person lost their life, another was seriously injured, and the child in the back seat could face life-long complications from their internal injuries.
Fortunately, personal injury law exists to take care of the victims in accidents just like this one. At the Paulsen Law Group, our legal team is experienced with the consequences of drunk driving and can help right the wrongs caused by another’s negligence.
If you were harmed in a car accident or DUI crash, please call us at (888) 352-7180 today or contact us online for a free consultation.
Our heart goes out to the victims of this horrible accident – if you are in contact with them, please let them know we are here to help!