Orange County Hit-and-Run DUI Incident Ends in the Ocean

A 32-year-old man is facing criminal charges in Orange County for driving under the influence and hit-and-run, according to a news report in the Daily Pilot. The man apparently struck and injured a pedestrian while drunk driving and then took off and jumped into the ocean in Newport Beach to evade police and avoid getting arrested for DUI. He was, however, spotted in the ocean by a police helicopter and apprehended. Police said the 48-year-old woman who was struck suffered moderate injuries in the hit and run collision. The man is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and could face up to three years and eight months in prison if convicted of felony DUI charges.

The consequences of a DUI can be devastating, particularly if the accident involved injuries and is grouped with other criminal charges such as hit-and-run. This is why seeking legal assistance from an experienced Orange County DUI lawyer is of the utmost importance to ensure that your rights are protected. In cases where the victim dies, a defendant in a DUI accident case may even face murder or vehicular manslaughter charges.

Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime. A driver who is involved in an auto accident in California shall stop at the scene, exchange information (car insurance, identity, contact) and render aid to the injured party if possible. You are required to stop by law, even if the accident was not your fault.

If you have been arrested for DUI, hit-and-run or other traffic violations, you could face severe consequences including prison time, loss of driver’s license, steep fines and other penalties. The skilled Orange County drunk driving defense lawyers at Sitkoff & Hanrahan will do everything they can to protect your legal rights and make sure you get the best possible outcome in your California DUI case. Please call 866-430-8383 today for a free consultation and drunk driving case evaluation.

Source report: http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2009/08/16/topstory/dpt-peterson071609.txt

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