A driver accused of precipitating a fatal bus crash in Las Vegas is facing serious charges, according to local news sources. The 25-year-old man is facing drunk driving charges including three for DUI causing severe bodily harm and an additional two for DUI causing death. In Nevada, the man could face up to 100 years in prison if found guilty of these charges.
The crash took place on Sept. 5, in downtown Las Vegas. According to the accident report, the man allegedly sped through a red light in a sports car, striking a tour bus with enough force to overturn it and set it on fire. The vehicle also spun away and struck a third car. The 25-year-old suffered moderate injuries in the crash.
Others involved in the accident were not so lucky, however. The driver of the tour bus and a German tourist were both declared dead at the scene, and several other people were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The county district attorney’s office has stated the man’s blood alcohol level was measured at .22, well above the legal limit in Nevada of .08. The man has yet to face his charges in court as he was still hospitalized at last report.
In situations where evidence of drunk driving has been collected by medical professionals in a hospital setting, there is still room for error. A Nevada defense attorney may wish to review the tests that were administered to check for errors and assess whether they were administered in accordance with the rights of the injured driver. If there is any question about the validity of this evidence, the defense may petition the court to seek its exclusion before a trial takes place.
Source: Yahoo News, “DA: Driver accused in deadly bus crash well over DUI limit“, Ken Ritter, Sept. 14, 2015
