Minor traffic accidents happen every day in Georgia. When no one is seriously injured in a crash, motorists are usually able to simply exchange insurance information and continue on with their days as planned.
In some cases, motorists may choose to call police in order to file a police report that can later be used to support insurance claims. When this happens, drivers could be cited for breaking traffic laws if police determine that a driver was speeding, ran a red light or failed to yield to another vehicle. This is what happened to a University of Georgia student last week when she made a left turn in front of an oncoming vehicle.
The student was cited for failing to yield to the other vehicle, which did have the right of way. However, she was also arrested and charged with DUI after police were called to investigate the crash.
The minor traffic accident occurred shortly before 3 a.m. on Oct. 5. Athens-Clarke County police reported that the 21-year-old UGA student had been traveling south on South Church Street when she stopped for a red light at Baxter Street. A driver who was traveling north on South Church Street had also stopped for the red light at the intersection. When the light turned green, the UGA student allegedly turned left in front of the other driver who had the right of way at the intersection.
The passenger side of the student’s car was struck by the other driver’s vehicle. No one suffered any serious injuries in the crash, but the driver who struck the student’s car did call police to file a report.
While the two drivers were waiting for police to arrive, the UGA student had decided to wait for police inside a fraternity building that was located near the accident scene. When police arrived, the student spoke with police to explain what had happened. During the conversation, an officer said that the odor of alcohol was detected on the woman’s breath.
The student told the officer she only had two alcoholic beverages several hours before driving, but the officer asked the student to take a field sobriety test and a portable breath test anyway. The student allegedly failed the tests and was charged with DUI.
Source: The Red and Black, “University student charged with DUI after traffic accident,” Cailin O’Brien, Oct. 7, 2012
- Our firm provides counsel to those who want to fight DUI charges after an arrest or an alleged drunk driving accident. To learn more about our firm and practice please visit our Georgia drunk driving accidents and felony DUI defense page.