On Christmas Day, a fatal car accident resulted in one death and injuries to three other people in Denver. Police say that a woman driving a minivan was killed and two children were injured in the crash.
An SUV reportedly hit the minivan, and the driver and passenger fled the scene. Police say they arrested one of the two people they believe were involved in the accident, but didn’t indicate whether they believe the man was the passenger or driver. The man who was arrested has been charged with vehicular homicide, vehicular assault and felony hit and run.
Charges for crimes that involve a vehicle and the injury of another person are very serious. When someone is charged with vehicular homicide, they might face years in prison. If they are convicted of this crime as well as additional crimes, they might have to serve sentences back to back, lengthening the time the spend in prison.
An accusation of these crimes would likely result in a person’s name printed in newspapers and other media. This can ruin a person’s reputation before they are even given a fair trial. If a person speaks about the incident without the guidance of an attorney, it is possible that they will tell investigators things that could link the person to the crime.
An attorney can work with a person to understand the severity of the situation, and ensure that they are treated fairly by authorities throughout any investigation and trial. If a person is mistreated, they might be wrongfully convicted.
Source: 9 News, “1 killed, 3 injured in Denver hit-and-run,” Josh Hubbard, Dec. 25, 2013