A sport utility driver struck and killed a motorcyclist last week in Colonial Beach. Police say that the 44-year-old female who was driving the SUV was intoxicated at the time of the crash. She has since been charged with DUI and involuntary manslaughter.
The accident happened during the early morning hours of Nov. 10. Following the collision, emergency responders arrived on scene. The SUV driver escaped uninjured, but the 47-year-old motorcyclist was catastrophically injured. They rushed the man to a nearby hospital but physicians were unable to save him. He was pronounced dead at approximately 2:43 a.m., just a short time after the collision occurred.
Initially, the SUV driver was charged with DUI and DUI maiming. When the motorcyclist was later pronounced dead, the motorcyclist’s charges were elevated to manslaughter. The woman is scheduled to be arraigned next Tuesday. In the meantime, she has been released on her own recognizance.
Police allege that the collision happened because the SUV driver was driving the wrong way down a one-way street. That’s when she collided with the 47-year-old’s motorcycle. The sport utility vehicle’s front, driver’s side wheel was the part of the SUV that first made contact with the motorcycle.
It’s difficult to imagine the pain and sadness that family members of the deceased motorcyclist will be experiencing in this case. These family members — especially those who lived with the deceased — may also be suffering financially as a result of his loss. This is where a wrongful death claim may be able to help. Those who lose close family members because of the irresponsible actions of a drunk driver may be able to pursue financial damages from the drunk driver in Virginia civil court.
Source: fredericksburg.com, “Motorcycle driver dies after accident,” Keith Eps, Nov. 18, 2017