Police in South Carolina say that a 60-year-old man will face felony drunk driving charges in connection with an accident in Greenville that claimed the life of a moped rider. Police say that the 46-year-old local resident was killed when a silver Nissan Altima made a left turn directly into his path. The man is currently recovering from injuries he suffered in the accident at the Greenville Memorial Trauma Center according to reports. Police say that they plan to formally charge him upon his release.
According to a Greenville Police Department report, the collision took place at the intersection of East Washington Street and Laurens Road at approximately 8:50 p.m. Eyewitnesses are said to have told responding officers that the man behind the wheel of the Nissan failed to yield before attempting to make a left turn. The ensuing collision ejected the moped rider from his machine according to media accounts. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a nearby hospital.
The investigation into the crash gained momentum when emergency services workers told police that the interior of the Nissan smelled of alcohol. Initial reports do not reveal whether or not the man has submitted to toxicology testing or what the results of any tests he did take may have been. Police say that the man will also be charged with driving without a valid driver’s license.
Drunk drivers who cause accidents resulting in catastrophic injury or death often face severe criminal penalties, but that does not mean their victims are unable to pursue compensation. When faced with situations where intoxicated motorists are likely to spend years behind bars, experienced personal injury attorneys could file lawsuits against their insurers.
Source: WSPA, Fatal moped crash on Laurens Rd. in Greenville, Oct. 1, 2018
