Man Accused of Causing Deaths of Two Students in Newport News, VA, is Jailed over Previous DUI

By John Cooper, Norfolk, VA Car Accident Injury Attorney

A man from Newport News, VA has been sentenced to a year in jail after he was found guilty of driving while he was intoxicated.

But that incident occurred three months before a crash that made tragic headlines, when the same driver is accused in a head-on collision that killed two Christopher Newport University freshmen, the Daily Press reported.

General District Judge Richard Kerns found the 33-year-old guilty of driving while intoxicated, driving with an open container and improper stopping.

He’s also accused in a wrong way driving incident that led to the double fatality in Newport News, VA on December 4, 2011. He is likely to face the full force of the criminal law if alcohol is found to be a contributing factor as police say it is.

And it wouldn’t be surprising if wrongful death lawsuits aren’t far behind if the charges stick.

As experienced Norfolk, VA accident injury attorneys we are shocked by this accident and our thoughts are with the families of students aged 17 and 19.

See this video about drunk driving.

Wrong way driving may appear to be unusual but it’s more common than many people think, while alcohol is the cause of a significant number of accidents on our roads.

In 2009 a man received a two year sentence for manslaughter over the death of his friend in Gloucester, VA while he was driving under the influence of alcohol.

In 2007 alone there were more than 15,000 deaths caused by drunk driving which was roughly 37% of all alcohol related deaths. That’s more than 1,200 deaths per month and about 41 people per day that die from these accidents.

If a driver responsible for a traffic accident was drunk or under the influence of drugs, you should make sure they are held accountable.  In Virginia, a victim can receive punitive damages as well as compensatory damages if the other person was grossly negligent.  Grossly negligent behavior can include driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

DM

The Norfolk based personal injury law firm, Cooper Hurley, handles car, truck, and motorcycle injuries. John Cooper and Jim Hurley have over 40 years of combined experience in handling auto injury accident claims. Attorney John Cooper has been named to Virginia “Super Lawyers” since 2010. Cooper Hurley represents people hurt in accidents in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News and throughout VA, and always put the best interests of the our clients first.. The firm is recognized by other lawyers as “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, a national attorney rating service, for our top level of legal skill and highest ethical standards. If you need help or advice about a serious injury, please call us ( 757) 455 -0077. For a free consultation with a specialized Hampton Roads, Virginia personal injury lawyer contact us through this website.