At approximately 2:25 a.m., on Friday, Nov. 1, a 23-year-old woman was seriously injured in a horrific car accident. Allegedly, she was run over by her 22-year-old friend, who police have charged with DUI in the incident. Georgia police have also charged the young man with fleeing the scene of the accident.
Police say that the woman was running alongside the man’s truck while holding onto his passenger-side door. Police indicate that she was trying to get him to stop his vehicle. Allegedly, she had been riding in the vehicle just prior to the incident.
Police say that accident and injury occurred when the woman inadvertently slipped. She fell under the truck, and the wheel of the vehicle ran over her head. Her injuries were severe, and emergency medical responders transported her to the East Georgia Regional Medical Center. Later, she was flown to Savannah. At this time, her current condition is unknown.
Initially, the young man ran away from the accident scene, but he later returned. He now faces charges of hit and run, DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia. Clearly, the tragic events that unfolded in this accident were not intended by any of the parties involved. However, it is likely that prosecutors will try to prove that the accused man was drunk or high, and that the accident occurred because of that.
Depending on the facts of this Georgia case, the driver’s defense attorneys may assert that he was not driving under the influence and force prosecutors to prove otherwise. Alternatively, it may be that the tragic accident was just that — an accident. Ultimately, the condition of the injured woman, and if she survives, may have the greatest affect the severity of the DUI and related charges, as well as the potential for jail time if the man is convicted.
Source: statesboroherald.com, Woman critical after truck runs her over, Holli Deal Bragg [email protected], Nov. 4, 2013