After driving the wrong way on an exit ramp, a 37-year-old woman crashed into another vehicle. Her own car caught fire and both drivers were taken to a local hospital in New York as a precaution. Fortunately, neither driver was injured. Once at the hospital, the wrong-way driver was reportedly uncooperative with authorities. A blood test was taken to determine if she was intoxicated.
This accident closed down the exit ramp for a short time. Once the fire was put out and the wreck was cleared, the ramp re-opened for traffic.
Upon being released from the hospital, the wrong way driver was charged with multiple traffic violations. First, she was charged with DWI due to her blood alcohol level. Then, she was issued traffic citations including failure to obey a traffic signal and reckless driving.
Being charged with a DWI is a serious offense that can have long-term legal ramifications. A person who is charged with a DWI may want to consider seeking legal representation. There are many factors that will determine the degree of consequences that may be faced. Penalties that are levied in such case may include fines, license suspension, mandatory participation in an alcohol abuse program or jail time. However, a lawyer may be able to help a defendant who is charge with DWI seek an acquittal or mitigated sanctions, depending on the circumstances. That lawyer may be able to review the evidence and discuss the charges with the prosecution in an attempt to negotiate a plea bargain that might exchange a guilty plea for reduced penalties.
Source: WGRZ, “Woman charged with DWI after wrong-way crash in Buffalo”, Heather Ly, March 1, 2015