A major crash in the Greenville area has led to the arrest of a young area woman. Ashley Bridges has been accused of DUI in a September 28 crash that injured a pregnant woman and caused the death of her unborn child.
The crash occurred on the 28th, a Friday, at about 7 PM. Bridges, driving a Honda Civic allegedly crashed into the pregnant woman’s Honda Accord, which was stopped at a red light on Sulphur Springs Road. The Accord was then pushed into oncoming traffic and was then hit by another vehicle.
The Accord contained two people, both of whom were hospitalized due to the crash. The driver was the pregnant woman’s boyfriend, and the front passenger was the woman who was pregnant but lost her child. At least one bystander attempted to help the injured individuals but was not able to successfully save the unborn baby.
Charges Against the Driver
The accused driver was charged with multiple felony counts relating to the crash, including driving under the influence involving a death, and two counts of felony driving under the influence leading to great bodily injury.
Each of these charges are very serious and could carry significant penalties in terms of jail time, fines, and limitations to driving privileges. Specifically each felony may carry a penalty of a year or more of jail time in addition to other sanctions such as fines and loss of driving privileges or license revocation. The exact penalties in many criminal cases depend on the specific facts of any given case. Factors such as whether the defendant is a repeat offender or the severity of injuries of the victims or the level of BAC intoxication can all potentially play a role in sentencing.
The severity of the potential penalties at sentencing could be increased depending on the driving history of the defendant, that is, whether there are recent DUI convictions in the lookback period.
In addition to monetary fines, jail sentences, and driving restrictions (such as losing your driver’s license, having your license suspended, or being required to install an ignition interlock device at your own expense), courts may also require you to take alcohol abuse and prevention courses.
Being Careful Before Getting Behind the Wheel
Everyone who drinks alcohol should keep in the back of their mind the dangers of getting behind the wheel after consuming alcoholic beverages. There are major risks to the driver as well as passengers and bystanders if the driver is intoxicated. People should be careful not to drink and drive as the risk to life and limb is great, not to mention the criminal and financial ramifications of DUIs and related crashes or other damages.
Contact an Experienced Lawyer For DUI Help
The Bateman Law Firm has significant experience in DUI law. If you have any questions about DUI cases for yourself or a loved one, you should consider seeking legal guidance as soon as possible. The Bateman Law Firm is prepared to help you craft a solid defense if you have been arrested and charged with DUI in Greenville or other cities in South Carolina.