A Tennessee woman is facing a raft of charges, including DUI and two counts of vehicular assault, for her role in a May 2013 accident that left two Montgomery County teens severely injured. The woman’s jury trial began on Nov. 17, and her attorney has said that she is likely to take the stand. Police say that the woman admitted to taking Oxycontin tablets minutes before the crash. The car accident occurred on Highway 48/13 south of Clarksville on May 16, 2013, shortly before 7 a.m.
A motorist who was traveling behind the woman says that her pickup truck strayed across the roadway’s centerline on a number of occasions before striking an oncoming vehicle head-on. Both of the occupants of the oncoming vehicle suffered serious injuries, and first responders called in a helicopter to transport the two teenage girls to a medical facility in Nashville for treatment.
Responding law enforcement officers initially believed that the woman had been driving under the influence of alcohol, but subsequent toxicology tests showed that she had not been drinking. However, a DUI charge was filed against the woman after drug testing discovered the presence of opiates in her system. The woman allegedly told officers that she had fallen asleep behind the wheel.
Negligent behavior causes thousands of injuries each year on the roads of Tennessee, and these drivers may face civil sanctions as well as criminal penalties. Those hurt in automobile accidents may require extensive medical treatment, and they might also be unable to work for lengthy periods. A personal injury attorney could help injured victims file a claim in order to recover the expenses associated with the crash.
Source: The Leaf-Chronicle , “Trial begins in wreck that hurt MCHS cheerleaders“, Tavia D. Green, November 17, 2014
