Illinois police often make arrests at the scenes of traffic accidents. Sometimes, such arrests result in formal drunk driving charges. However, the filing of charges does not necessarily mean the court will hand down a conviction. There is often a lot that happens between an arrest and a criminal trial that can help a defendant preserve his or her freedom.
A 29-year-old man will likely be consulting with a criminal defense attorney in the near future, if he has not already done so. He has been charged with several crimes, including operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. The charges stemmed from a collision that took place between his vehicle, which had been traveling northward, and a vehicle in the southbound lane.
The driver of the other vehicle initially survived the accident and was transported to a nearby medical center for treatment. The patient died after surgery. The medical examiner performed an autopsy and ruled the death an accident, citing causal factors such as obesity, as well as a blood clot in the patient’s leg.
Many are now wondering whether the drunk driving charges against the Illinois man will be updated to include manslaughter, which is often the case when a motor vehicle accident results in fatality. It remains to be seen, however, since the accident victim survived the crash and passed away following a surgical procedure. Any motorist in this state who is facing similar charges will likely benefit from the guidance and support of an experienced criminal defense attorney.
