One teen is dead after her father crashed his car in a suspected drunk driving incident. Earlier this month, four children and their father were involved in a tragic car accident on a Georgia freeway. The father was driving his children on a U.S. highway when he apparently lost control of the vehicle. The car collided with the wood line near an exit.
The children in the car at the time of the collision included two girls and two boys, all of whom are under 16 years of age. Police report that the father walked to a cafe with the two boys to seek help, leaving his daughters in the vehicle after the crash. The 15-year-old girl was pronounced dead on the scene, while the 11yearold was in critical condition when the police finally arrived on the scene.
The father claims that two other vehicles collided with his car, causing him to spin out. However, investigators have not yet found evidence confirming any other vehicles were involved in the crash. The father initially told this story to the employees at the cafe before relaying it to local authorities.
As a result of the car accident on the Georgia freeway, the father faces multiple serious criminal charges. The father was arrested by the police and charged with DUI, first-degree vehicular homicide and failure to maintain a lane. Whatever happens to the father in the criminal proceedings will not change the circumstances of this tragic incident, which is apparently the result of his decision to drink and drive with four children in his car.
While the thought of one family member suing another for negligent or reckless conduct may seem unusual, this accident serves as a reminder that drivers are responsible for maintaining the safety of their passengers. Civil claims for wrongful death or personal injury do not always arise from accidents involving multiple vehicles.
If a driver’s negligent conduct, such as the choice to drink and drive, leads to an accident that causes harm to their passengers, they can be held liable in civil court. Anytime an accident is the result of driver negligence, those involved may be best served by determining their legal rights or responsibilities.
Source: Tucker Patch, “Teen Dies, Father Arrested in Stone Mountain Crash,” Crystal Huskey and Kevin Madigan, June 4, 2012
