Tampa DUI Defense Lawyer :: Tampa Man Charged with DUI Manslaughter in Crash That Killed Brooksville Woman

June 20, 2013

A 29-year-old Tampa man was arrested and charged Thursday morning with DUI manslaughter, as well as multiple other offenses, as a result of an April 28 crash that resulted in the death of a Brooksville woman in Tampa.

Records from the Florida Highway Patrol indicate the man was driving a 2006 Dodge Magnum with a blood-alcohol level of 0.18 when he ran a red light and collided with another vehicle in the intersection of Fletcher and Nebraska avenues. The Dodge Magnum the man was driving flipped multiple times.

Neither the 29-year-old driver nor his 24-year-old female passenger was wearing a seat belt when the accident occurred. The woman was ejected from the Dodge Magnum, according to FHP. Both were taken to Tampa General for their injuries.

The 24-year-old woman, of Brooksville, died in the hospital two days after the collision.

The other driver involved in the crash was driving a 1992 Jaguar. According to police, the driver was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital with minor injuries.

The 29-year-old was arrested Thursday and booked into the Orient Road Jail. Records indicate that as of Thursday, the man remained in custody with no bail amount set. In addition to DUI manslaughter, he is also facing charges of vehicular homicide, driving with a license suspended or revoked resulting in death, DUI property damage and DUI bodily injury.

The FHP said that investigators did not arrest the man until his toxicology results were verified.

When it comes to drunken driving, Florida law enforces extremely harsh penalties, especially when a death occurs as the result of a drunk driver’s negligence. If you or someone you care about has been charged with DUI manslaughter it is absolutely vital to contact a Tampa DUI lawyer as soon as possible. A conviction for DUI manslaughter often carries consequences that include hefty fines, large amounts of restitution to be paid to the victim’s family, as well as lengthy time in state prison. It is important that you contact an experienced Tampa DUI Defense Attorney at Whittel & Melton right away so that we can help you mount an aggressive defense to challenge the State’s charges against you. Delaying will only hurt your chances of obtaining a successful outcome. Rest assured that the state attorney’s office will begin building a case against you immediately, so by acting quickly we can fight to have the charges against you dismissed or significantly reduced.

A Tampa DUI Lawyer at Whittel & Melton has the necessary experience needed to litigate all types of DUI cases throughout the state of Florida. As former state prosecutors, we can help you successfully defend yourself against any DUI or DUI manslaughter charges. Criminal proceedings can be intimidating and last for extended periods of time. We can make sure you fully understand the charges you are up against and are aware of all of your legal options. For a free consultation, contact us today online or call our Tampa office at 813-221-3200, or reach us statewide and toll-free at 866-608-5529.