Drunk Driver Causes Two Separate Accidents, Injures 14

By Peter DePaolis
Attorney

Last year, a firefighter of 40 years of experience said he witnessed one of the most horrific accident scenes in his career. 14 people were seriously injured and five suffered fatalities in the accident, including an elderly couple, a 6-year-old girl, the drunk driver who caused the accident and a pregnant woman who lost her unborn child in the accident.

According to police, a driver under the influence in a pickup truck hit a car going westbound on Chillum Road. Rather than stopping, he fled the crime scene and within mere moments, crashed head-on into a church van that contained more than a dozen passengers from 6-months-old to 70-years-old. Witnesses reported that the truck began to catch fire after he hit the first car, so when he hit the church van, the van and the truck went up in flames. The firefighter and other emergency responders said the flames were so high, they initially thought they were responding to a house fire.

Drunk Driver Who Caused Accident Had Been Ordered Not to Drive

Prior to the accident, the driver had already acquired a record with the state of Maryland. He had previous citations for driving while intoxicated, driving under the influence of narcotics, failing to drive on the correct side of the road, failing to stop for an accident and multiple counts of driving with a suspended license.

According to a study by AAA, 1,023 people in the Maryland, Virginia and D.C. areas were killed by drivers who did not have permission to be on the road within a four-year period. The study goes on to show one in five of fatal car crashes nationwide are caused by drivers who have suspended or entirely revoked licenses.

States Need Stronger Enforcement for Drivers With Suspended or Revoked Licenses

What happened to these families was tragic, especially given the circumstances. The driver responsible for so much pain should not have been on the road that night. A AAA representative advocated that tougher laws, harsher penalties and more enforcement is needed to discourage people from driving with suspended or revoked licenses and we’re inclined to agree.

Speak With A D.C. Personal Injury Attorney

Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP is a personal injury law firm that fights for victims who have been injured in car accidents in Washington, D.C. Contact us for a free consultation.

Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Many-Reported-Hurt-in-Massive-Crash-in-Hyattsville–343185662.html

About the Author
Peter DePaolis joined the firm in 1980 and has since represented a large number of individuals involved in automobile collisions, truck accidents, bus crashes, defective products, and medical malpractice cases. A significant portion of Mr. DePaolis’ practice is devoted to working on behalf of people suffering from asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related cancers. He has led his firm’s fight against the asbestos industry and has recovered over $30 million in damages for asbestos victims and their families.