At this time of year, most 17-year-olds are looking forward to what their last years of high school will hold and what their future will look like. For many, this includes prom dates and college applications. However, one teenager from a neighboring state is now likely wondering about his criminal defense after a fatal accident in North Carolina resulted in a DWI charge.
The incident happened one evening on a day in May. According to reports, the 18-year-old female victim was a passenger in a sports utility vehicle containing four teenagers. Police say the she fell onto the asphalt from the moving vehicle; reports indicate that she was hanging out of a window of the SUV at the time.
Unfortunately, she died as a result of injuries she suffered in the accident. The driver of the SUV, a 17-year-old male, reportedly had a blood alcohol content of .06 at the time. He has since been charged with driving while intoxicated of a provisional licensee because he was not of age to be drinking. Reports indicate that tests were conducted to determine if the victim was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, but the results of those tests were not available in the weeks following the accident.
The unexpected death of a teenager is always a tragedy. Unfortunately, the lives of everyone in that SUV at the time will likely be irrevocably changed as a result. The young teen allegedly driving the vehicle at the time of the accident is left to cope with the loss of a friend while also dealing with the DWI charge he now faces. Fortunately, there are experienced professionals in North Carolina who can help guide him through the criminal justice system.