A Memorial Day hit-and-run accident has ignited the prosecutors in Charlotte seek a charge second degree murder for the young defendant.
The 20-year-old defendant had his first appearance in court last Tuesday, where he was charged for driving while impaired (a DWI) and driving while his license was revoked. These are not the defendant’s first charges; he has previously been charged with driving while his license was revoked. In fact, this is the defendant’s fifth arrest in only six months; so essentially, he gets arrested once a month.
This last arrest though, is by far the most serious the 20 year old has ever faced.
The facts of the accident are as follows: a 45-year-old was sitting at a red-light in W.T Harris where it intersects onto Idlewild Road.
As soon as the light turned green, the man began to make his way through the intersection to make the turn onto Idlewild, when he was struck by the 20 year old’s2012 Red Nissan Xterra. The defendant was travelling northbound, or straight ahead, in this particular instance.
The defendant was supposed to stop at the red light, but just sped right through it, ramming his vehicle into the side of the victim’s turning car. After slamming into the victim’s car, the defendant just continued to speed away; which is a crime in and of itself.
This is considered a ” hit-and-run.” Furthermore, when you are the cause of peril, you have a legal duty to render aid, or at least get out of your vehicle to check on the person whom you may have collided with.
About 30 minutes later, the defendant returned to the scene complaining of his minor injuries. When he was taken to the hospital, he blood was taken and it was found that his BAC level was well above the legal limit of .08.
Thus, not only was speed an attributing factor to this accident, but so was reckless driving, alcohol, and drugs that were found in the defendant’s system.
The defendant’s mother claims that there was no malice in this crime. However, the courts disagree, and set the defendant’s bond at $900,000.
This accident is still under serious investigation.
