A man who was accused of DWI with regard to an accident that occurred over two years ago will now serve 28 years in prison. A jury handed down the sentence after four days of testimony. The man allegedly ran a red light in North Austin and slammed into a college student from the University of Texas. She was killed instantly. Charges related to DWI are serious under any circumstances, but more so when they are related to a fatal accident.
Authorities said the 20-year-old woman was driving near a busy multi-lane intersection in April 2015. Reportedly, the woman was home from school for the weekend visiting family. The man pleaded guilty to charges of intoxication manslaughter and aggravated assault but contested the accusation that he used a deadly weapon (his vehicle) in the act. Nevertheless, a jury found otherwise. Because of the jury’s decision, he must serve half of his punishment before being eligible for parole.
When someone is charged with drunk driving, there may be severe consequences looming. Financial hardship due to high fines and jail time are not uncommon. Jobs may also be in jeopardy because of the charges, and Courts can also order a driver’s license suspension or revocation.
Those facing DWI-related charges in Texas may consider consulting with a knowledgeable criminal attorney. A lawyer proficient in DWI can assess the charges and prepare the best defense possible for a particular case. A well-prepared and strong legal defense team can aggressively work toward obtaining the best possible outcome.
Source: KXAN.com, “Drunk driver gets 28 years in prison for deadly north Austin crash“, Brittany Glas, Dec. 8, 2017
