Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
A 24-year-old woman with a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit ran a red light in Delray Beach on Sunday and slammed into a couple crossing the street while pushing their two young children in a stroller, according to police.
According to a city police report, the accident happened around 10:40 p.m. Just minutes after the crash occurred at the intersection of East Atlantic Avenue and Gleason Street, the woman apparently fled the scene.
The Boynton Beach woman stopped her vehicle after she plowed her Honda Accord into traffic signs about three minutes away on the 700 block of Southeast Third Street. That is where officers caught up to her and placed her under arrest.
The man and woman she hit were left lying in the road. The stroller they were pushing carried their 4-year-old girl and 1-year-old boy, who were not harmed. The impact of the collision sent the stroller flying into the bushes with the children strapped inside.
Both parents were transported to Delray Medical Center and the children were turned over to family members. According to a police spokeswoman, the mother was released from the hospital Sunday night, while the father remained in the hospital Monday with a serious leg injury.
Police claim a witness to the crash helped them locate the woman accused of hitting the couple. They apparently found her sitting in her silver Accord after she crashed it a second time with the engine running and the windshield smashed. She allegedly admitted to hitting the family and fleeing the scene.
An officer at the scene claims the woman apologized several times.
Police noted the woman had glassy, red eyes and the scent of alcohol on her breath. She allegedly admitted to consuming several vodka drinks.
According to the arrest report, she nearly fell over and struggled to perform the field sobriety exercises she was asked to complete. Several of the tests were ended because the woman could not comprehend the instructions.
Reports indicate that breath tests revealed the woman’s blood alcohol content to be .263 and .265. The legal limit is .08.
The woman has a clean driving record, however she just received her Florida driver’s license about two weeks ago, according to state records.
She is facing charges of DUI causing serious injury and hit and run. She remained jailed in lieu of $10,000 bail as of late Monday.
Any time a driver chooses to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking, they knowingly place everyone sharing the road with them in serious danger. Palm Beach County drunken driving accidents can result in catastrophic injuries, including lacerations, disfigurement, broken bones and fractures. These accidents can also cause more serious and even permanent injuries like spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and even death.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an alcohol-related crash in Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach or the surrounding areas, a Palm Beach County Auto Accident Injury Attorney at Whittel & Melton can help you seek justice against the drunken driver. We understand that drunk driving is a choice, not an accident, which is why we fight aggressively to make sure you receive the full and fair compensation you are entitled to for your losses. For a free consultation, please contact us today online or call 561-367-8777. You can reach us statewide and toll-free by dialing 866-608-5529.
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