A man in Florida has been arrested in the wake of a car accident when his Jeep Wrangler struck a pair of pedestrians. The authorities allege that he was under the influence at the time of the crash.
The wreck occurred at about 11:30 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 15. Per local news reports, the 25-year-old man was behind the wheel of a Wrangler, heading down 3rd Street North. He then attempted to make a turn onto 1st Avenue North.
When he did so, two people were crossing the street. Police say that they were in a crosswalk that was clearly marked. One of them was a 24-year-old man and the other was a 23-year-old woman. Both were hit by the Jeep, and the driver then allegedly tried to leave the scene of the accident.
He did not get far. A few blocks from the scene, officers stopped his vehicle. They then arrested him both for leaving the scene when there were serious injuries and for driving under the influence.
The latest reports note that both pedestrians survived the crash, and the young woman only had minor injuries. However, the injuries to the man she was walking with are considered life-threatening.
A situation like this shows just how fast a DUI charge can become incredibly serious and life-altering. When there are additional charges, perhaps stemming simply from the chaos surrounding any car accident, people may wind up facing charges that impact them for years or even decades to come. It is important for them to understand all of their legal defense options at such a crucial point in their lives.