16-Year Old Going to Court for Killing 4 and Injuring 2 from Drunk Driving
A 16-year-old has been charged with charged with four counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault for a deadly wreck that killed four people in Burleson in June. Ethan Couch, age 16, appeared in court on Wednesday for a detention hearing before being released to his parents. Couch will be required to wear an ankle monitor. Prosecutors in the case stated that they are planning to seek up to 20 years in prison for Couch if he’s convicted. The trial date has not yet been set.
Four people were killed in a crash on June 15th when Couch’s pick-up with a group of teens inside slammed into the vehicle of a stranded driver and a group of people who were trying to help her. Two others were also injured. An investigation was conducted and in a report released in July report, investigators stated that speeding and alcohol were to blame in the deadly accident. The blood alcohol level of the driver of the pickup truck in question, Couch, was .24. This BAC level is three times the legal limit. Authorities estimate the truck was travelling between 68-70 miles per hour at the time of the crash.
The teens had stolen two cases of beer from the Wal-Mart store located in Burleson and some had been captured on the store’s surveillance video stealing the beer. Authorities also believe, however that some of the teens had already been consuming alcohol before the theft. The sheriff says the house where the teens had been drinking was owned by a member of Couch’s family.
This young man could spend the next 20 years in prison, not to mention the pain and heartache that he has caused to both his parents and to the families of the victim involved in the crash.
The State of Texas has a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking. Teen drivers have less experience with both driving and alcohol so they often will misjudge their ability to drive after consuming alcohol. Statistics have clearly shown that teen drivers are also more inclined to drive over the speed limit than more experienced drivers the element of speed added to a teen driver’s inexperience on the road and use of alcohol can be a dangerous and sometimes deadly combination. After the accident, this can be especially troublesome for the parents of young drivers who have been involved in accidents, when the teen has been DUI. The parents face the prospect of being dropped from insurance coverage entirely for allowing them to drive and could also face charges of negligence.
If you or someone you love has been hurt by a drunk driver, you do not have to face the aftermath alone. Our law office exists to help victims like you and to get justice when someone is hurt or tragically killed by the reckless actions of another. Our car accident lawyers have years of experience winning car accident claims against DUI drivers. We have the capability not only to seek complete repayment for your losses, but also punitive damages against the drunk driver—and we offer a free consultation.
Don’t allow yourself to be talked out of your rightful claim. Let us help. When you call us for a consultation, we will help you understand your case and your best legal options, with no obligation. Contact us or fill out the form to the right and get your free consultation today.