Prosecutors in Milwaukee County have filed homicide charges against the drunk driver responsible for killing one person and seriously injuring another in a Valentine’s Day crash in Brown Deer.
The drunk driver ran a red light, striking the victims’ SUV. The driver, a 26-year-old woman, was ejected from her vehicle and was pronounced dead at the accident scene. The passenger, a 31-year-old man, suffered multiple broken bones and a punctured lung.
Drug and Alcohol Use Admitted
The driver responsible for the accident, a 25-year-old man, had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.094, which is above Wisconsin’s legal limit of 0.08. The man also confessed to taking illegal prescription medication.
He has been charged with homicide and injury causing great bodily harm by intoxicated use of a vehicle, as well as additional charges. If found guilty of all the charges faced, he could face a maximum sentence of 84 years in prison.
Wisconsin Drunk Driving Dangers
Drunk driving is a serious problem in Wisconsin; the state has the highest drunk driving rate in the U.S.
- 26 percent of surveyed adult drivers in Wisconsin admitted to drunk driving in the past year, according to a 2009 study.
- 223 people were killed and almost 3,000 were injured in drunk driving crashes in 2012.
- In 2012, about 36 percent of fatal automobile accidents were due to drunk driving, as well as 33 percent of deadly motorcycle accidents.
The reckless actions of drunk drivers can have life-altering consequences for innocent victims. If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident, or have lost a loved one in an accident caused by an alcohol-impaired driver, an auto accident attorney from Milwaukee at Pitman, Kalkhoff, Sicula & Dentice will fight to maximize your compensation and hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence.
Call 414-333-3333 or complete our online form to request a free case evaluation.
