There is perhaps no worse experience a parent can go through than the loss of a child. Prosecutors in Macomb County, Michigan, acknowledge the pain of a father whose alleged drunk driving caused a crash that killed his 7-year-old son. Nevertheless, they have proceeded to file charges against him for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death, stating that his grief does not diminish his responsibility.
It is the authorities’ belief that the father, a 32-year-old man, was on a visit to Michigan from where he lives in New York when the accident occurred. It is not clear whether his son lived in New York or Michigan. A release from the prosecutor’s office asserts that the man admitted to drinking at a friend’s house prior to the crash, which happened around midnight. His son was reportedly in a booster seat in the backseat of the vehicle when his father allegedly drove at an excessive rate of speed on the paved right shoulder of the road.
The vehicle reportedly went slightly airborne when the vehicle allegedly hit the curb at an intersection. Witnesses contacted emergency services after the vehicle collided with a utility pole. The child was reportedly showing no signs of life and not breathing when law enforcement responded to the scene. His father sustained multiple injuries in the crash as well.
The charge against the man is a felony. If convicted, he could serve 15 years in prison. Drunk driving charges tend to be more serious if someone else comes to harm, especially a child. In a situation like that, it may be a good idea to contact a criminal defense attorney.
