In June of last year, an Ohio man engaged in a heavy night of drinking, got in his car and started driving along the freeway in the wrong direction. As a result, he hit another car and killed a navy veteran. When the drunk driver was brought to the hospital, ABC News says that his blood alcohol content level was at 0.19, more than twice the legal limit.
An online confession
Three months later, a video was posted to the popular viewing site, Youtube. The video clip begins with the drunk driver that caused this accident stating that he just wanted to have a good time the night that he killed the man in the accident and simply lost control. Although the drunk driver admitted in the video that he could have had evidence that would have contributed to a lighter sentence thrown out, he said he wanted to take full responsibility for his actions.
At the end of the clip, the man begs drivers not to drink and drive. His video was part of a social campaign called “Because I Said I Would” that encourages making promises to ultimately better humanity. After this video was posted, the man entered a treatment program to get help for his drinking problem.
The consequences of his actions
According to ABC News, aggravated vehicular homicide is a second-degree felony that calls for anywhere from two to eight years in prison. Recently, the drunk driver that caused this fatal accident was sentenced to six and a half years. At the sentencing:
- The judge read a letter composed by the victim’s wife.
- The daughter of the victim told the judge she believed the driver deserved the maximum sentence for his actions.
- The father of the drunk driver told the judge he was disappointed in his son’s decisions.
Fox News states that he received a six month sentence for driving under the influence of alcohol and six years for vehicular homicide.
Drunk driving accidents in Ohio
Unfortunately, drunken driving accidents like this one are not uncommon in Ohio and throughout the rest of the country. According to the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization, there were 385 drunk driving fatalities in the state in 2012. This number accounts for 34 percent of all of the traffic deaths in the state for the year and is 24 percent higher than the following year.
If you were injured in a drunken driving accident or a driver driving under the influence of alcohol killed one of your loved ones, you may not know what to do next. Consult with an attorney in your area that can advise you on what legal actions you should take.