Being accused of operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs is a matter that should not be ignored. If the accusation was proven as true, serious punishments will await the defendant.
In a case that involves drug use as a cause of an accident, the prosecution will use testimonies from experts to prove that the defendant actually took such substance and he or was affected by it.
This is the goal of the prosecution team in fatal accident that occurred on Aug. 29, 2009. Deputy District Attorney Susan Price asked witnesses in a trial at Orange County Superior Court to state that the defendant, Jeffrey Woods, was impaired and under the influence of drugs when he struck Danny Oates.
Oates is a 14-year-old bicyclist who was struck by the defendant while he was on his way to get his school schedule.
Witnesses were called to testify that the defendant had traces of Vicodin and Xanax in his system after the accident.
A former forensic scientist with the police department said both drugs and text messaging would have made it hard for the defendant to maintain his speed, drive in his line, and react to different hazards.
However, defense attorney Scott Well has been continuously saying that his client had a seizure during the accident and had no control over his vehicle.
Wood pleaded not guilty to one felony count of driving under the influence and causing bodily injury and another felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated. He will be given a maximum sentence of 10 years in state jail if found guilty.
Complicated legal processes like this one may be easily avoided if only drivers would abide all traffic rules. Following these rules will help in saving lives and avoiding injuries.
In a case that involves drug use as a cause of an accident, the prosecution will use testimonies from experts to prove that the defendant actually took such substance and he or was affected by it.
This is the goal of the prosecution team in fatal accident that occurred on Aug. 29, 2009. Deputy District Attorney Susan Price asked witnesses in a trial at Orange County Superior Court to state that the defendant, Jeffrey Woods, was impaired and under the influence of drugs when he struck Danny Oates.
Oates is a 14-year-old bicyclist who was struck by the defendant while he was on his way to get his school schedule.
Witnesses were called to testify that the defendant had traces of Vicodin and Xanax in his system after the accident.
A former forensic scientist with the police department said both drugs and text messaging would have made it hard for the defendant to maintain his speed, drive in his line, and react to different hazards.
However, defense attorney Scott Well has been continuously saying that his client had a seizure during the accident and had no control over his vehicle.
Wood pleaded not guilty to one felony count of driving under the influence and causing bodily injury and another felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated. He will be given a maximum sentence of 10 years in state jail if found guilty.
Complicated legal processes like this one may be easily avoided if only drivers would abide all traffic rules. Following these rules will help in saving lives and avoiding injuries.
