In an extreme, though not unusual enough case, a Redlands man is predicted to be facing serious charges in a police chase that ended with the death of a CHP trooper. The twenty year old is reportedly being held in San Bernardino County on suspicion of homicide and a slew of additional charges.
According to the San Bernardino Sun the man may also face charges of evading a police officer, DUI, and vehicle theft. They state he was driving a stolen car, fleeing from police, when the trooper’s vehicle slammed into a tractor trailer, killing the officer on impact.
What began as a foolish decision to drive drunk, ended in tragedy. Unfortunately, this is often how it goes with serious charges like this: one criminal violation leads to another and another before something tragic happens to stop the chain of events.
There’s no doubt in my mind that the defendant likely feels remorse. He probably wishes he would have never driven drunk, never got behind the wheel of a stolen car, and certainly never tried to get away from the police. Now, however, he faces a string of serious criminal charges and a potential lengthy, possibly even life, sentence.
When police chases occur it is usually the result of panic. Whether you are driving without a license or insurance, or if you are intoxicated—when you see those lights in the rear view, your initial reaction is to panic. That split second before you begin to slow down, a decision is made. This particular suspect made the decision to try and get away.
Whether you are drunk or simply driving recklessly, when the police try to pull you over, the best decision to make (for everyone involved) is to pull over. If you don’t, they will catch you and you will face additional charges.
Not all driving offenses are a simple ticket. Reckless driving, DUI, and extremely aggressive driving, are all serious criminal offenses that require the assistance of a local defense lawyer. Perhaps you have an explanation but feel like no one has taken the time to listen—I will.
As your defense lawyer, it’s my job to listen to what you have to say; explain your options to you; and represent you in court. Contact us today to discuss your case and see how I can help.