While we enjoy many freedoms here in Colorado that have yet to spread to the rest of the country, those freedoms do carry with them the potential to bring great harm when abused. A young man has come to terms with this tragic reality after pleading guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide and DUI in an accident that claimed the lives of two people in May of 2016.
According to court documents, the young man admitted to having smoked marijuana prior to the accident. Reports indicate that he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a vehicle stopped at an intersection, killing two passengers. After the judge hearing his case in juvenile court required him to elaborate on his actions on the night of the accident, the young man said that he and some friends had all shared a joint before he got behind the wheel and headed home, trying to beat his curfew.
Despite the tragic loss of life, the young man was able to acquire a plea deal from the prosecution, leading to him being sentenced to a maximum two years in Colorado Department of Youth Corrections.
It is tragic that a foolish moment leads to such heartbreak for the communities and loved ones of both the driver and the victims. However, he was able to secure a plea deal from the prosecution that will hopefully allow him to serve his debt to society and re-enter the world with the ability to learn from his mistakes and create a good life in the future.
If you have been charged with vehicular homicide or any other serious crime, you deserve to have experienced representation that you can find. With proper representation, you can rest assured that your case will be heard fairly and that your rights will remain protected. After all, no one should have to pay for a moment of foolish behavior for the rest of his or her life.
Source: The Denver Post, “Boulder teen pleads guilty to vehicular homicide, DUI in crash that killed 2; says he fell asleep,” Mitchell Byers, Dec. 16, 2016