A two-vehicle car accident occurred around 11 p.m. in Oklahoma City on Friday, Aug. 30. The accident happened on North Portland and Northwest 192nd Street. According to authorities, a vehicle that a 20-year-old woman was driving crossed over the center lane and collided head-on with another vehicle that a 40-year-old was driving.
Authorities believe that the 20-year-old woman was driving under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred. She suffered from injuries in the accident and was transported to a local hospital. The 40-year-old woman was pronounced dead on the scene. Now the former woman could be facing a felony DUI charge.
At last report, no charges had been filed in connection with the incident. However, if the woman does end up being charged with a felony DUI, she could have to face more severe consequences than a misdemeanor DUI brings. For example, since someone died because of the alleged DUI-related incident, she could have to serve a prison sentence instead of a jail sentence if she is convicted. Additionally, she might have to pay higher fines and fees in relation to the incident. If her license is suspended or revoked, it could be done so for a longer period than it would have been for a misdemeanor DUI.
The woman's previous driving record could influence any consequences she receives if she is convicted as well. For example, if she already has one or more DUI convictions on her driving record, the court could sentence her on the higher end of the sentencing guidelines than it might have otherwise. The woman might benefit from getting a DUI attorney to help her fight her charges, if she ends up being charged. A DUI attorney might try to show that the prosecution does not have enough evidence to prove that the defendant was over the state's legal limit of intoxication.
Source: News9.com, "Authorities: DUI Likely To Blame In Fatal Two-Vehicle Crash In OKC", Xin Xin Liu, August 31, 2013
