Previous posts on this blog have pointed out the serious consequences of a conviction for drunk driving under New York law. When drunk driving leads to injury or death, the consequences of a conviction become even more severe. A man from Suffolk may be facing charges for vehicular assault or vehicular homicide as the result of an accident that killed three people.

According to police, the man became intoxicated while drinking at a party and was speeding at the time of the accident. After leaving the party, the man rear-ended a car carrying four people on the Southern State Parkway. The collision forced the car across the median and into several lanes of the traffic. The car burst into flames, killing the driver and his two children, aged 8 and 4. The driver’s wife was able to escape the vehicle. The driver of the first car then left the scene of the accident on foot. He was arrested about four hours later.

The driver was recently arraigned on charges of DWI and leaving the scene of the accident. According to the man’s lawyer, he is denying all charges and intends to see the case through to the end. The police are continuing their investigation.

The deaths of the father and his two daughters mean that the allegedly intoxicated driver could be charged with vehicular homicide or aggravated vehicular homicide, depending on his blood alcohol content at the time of the accident. If convicted, the defendant will face a large fine, imprisonment and loss of driving privileges for a significant period of time.

While the circumstances of this car crash are horrific and tragic, it’s important to remember that everyone accused of a crime must be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Everyone is entitled to a defense.

Anyone vehicular assault of vehicular homicide charges may wish to consult an attorney who specializes in defending such cases. Such a consultation can provide a helpful analysis of the circumstances of the case, an evaluation of the various charges and an estimate of the probability of obtaining either a favorable plea bargain or an outright acquittal.

Source: ABC Eyewitness News, “Man charged with DWI after father, 2 young kids die in crash,” Lucy Yang, July 14, 2015