Many people in Oregon do not realize that the penalties for DUI increase dramatically in an accident that causes death or serious bodily injury. A young woman from Canby, Oregon, is now facing these consequences as the result of a head-on collision that police blame on the woman's drunk driving.
According to police investigators, the young woman was driving north on South Barlow road when she veered off the roadway and onto the gravel shoulder. She drove for another 200 feet before oversteering. She crossed back onto the road and across the center line, where she collided with a southbound vehicle carrying two men. According to witnesses, the car carrying the two men burst into flames almost immediately. Bystanders were unable to free either of the men before both of them perished in the flames.
The alleged drunk driver was taken to a hospital for treatment of her injuries. At the hospital, lab technicians determined that her blood alcohol content level was 0.21 percent, slightly more than two-and-one-half times the legal limit of 0.08. The woman has been charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants and two counts of manslaughter.
Under Oregon's Measure 11, the defendant faces an irreducible minimum sentence of incarceration for 6 years and 3 months. She will also lose her driving privileges and may face civil lawsuits from the families of the two men. Anyone facing similar dire circumstances may wish to consult an experienced criminal defense attorney for an evaluation of the laws and evidence that will govern the case and assistance in either negotiating a favorable plea agreement or, if necessary, defending the case in a trial
Source: Oregon City Patch, "2 Men Killed In Crash Caused By 20-Year-Old Drunk Driver," Travis Loose, Feb. 20, 2018