Interesting case for any accident lawyer in Brooklyn.
Two drivers being charged for the death of a single passenger. Drink and drive is believed to be one of the major causes of road accidents in the United States that has claimed many lives over the years. This is the first time in the history of Brooklyn two drivers are facing charges for the death of a single passenger caused by an accident which police believes was the result of drive and drink. Any accident lawyer in Brooklyn would keep his eyes on the case considering that two drivers being charged for the death of one person is not quite usual. The men were named in a 26-count indictment including second-degree murder. The accident took place on October 29th on Eastern Parkway of Crown Heights which claimed the life of a female passenger.
In an official statement, District attorney Ken Thompson said, the defendants who did not know each other broke the law by driving drunk which caused the life of young woman. DA Thompson also added that the two drivers will be held as responsible for the loss of her life. Gerrard Herbert and Richard Roman-Santos (both 32 years old) are going to face charges for second-degree manslaughter, vehicular murder, criminally neglectful homicide, running a vehicle while being impaired, driving under the influence, third-degree assault, second-degree irresponsible endangerment, irresponsible driving, third-degree aggravated unlicensed driving of a motor vehicle, and some other violations. Both defendants appeared in the Brooklyn Supreme Court last week. In the DA’s report, it was stated that Roman-Santos was driving westbound at a speed of 90 mph on the Eastern Parkway close to Troy Avenue some time around 04:15 am in the morning while Herbert drove eastbound. The two vehicles collided when
Herbert turned left on Troy Avenue.
According to the DA’s office, the victim was 32-year-old Michelle Mignott who was lying down on the rear sit of Herbert’s vehicle who got severely injured when the cars collided. She succumbed to her wounds on the way while she was being rushed to the hospital. It is to be mentioned that there was a third passenger in Herbert’s car beside himself and Michelle who suffered minor injuries.
According to the DA’s report, Herbert didn’t take a breathalyzer test but his blood alcohol level was tested after a warrant was obtained. The alcohol level in his blood was found to be .07 several hours after the accident took place. Means during the accident, his alcohol level was somewhere around .18 and .20. On the other hand, Roman-Santos had a blood alcohol level of .08 on the spot where the collision took place.
Both Roman and Herbert had their licenses suspended and they were ordered to handover their passports as well. Both of them are due to appear in the court on 17th of December. If found guilty, they might face up to fifteen years of imprisonment. An accident lawyer in Brooklyn might soon come under the spot light explaining all the legal implications of how the case might be handled and the severity of punishment for both drivers if proven guilty.