New Port Richey Man Accused of Drinking & Texting Before Causing a Four-Car Pasco Pileup

On July 2 shortly after 9 p.m., a 33-year-old New Port Richey man slammed his Dodge Ram into a stopped car at U.S. 19 and Main Street causing a four-car pileup.

He apparently told police he had been drinking, texting and not paying attention.

According to police reports, the man had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, along with the smell of liquor on his breath. Tests showed his blood alcohol levels to be at 0.15 and 0.146, nearly twice the legal limit.

The man was arrested on one count of driving under the influence and three counts of driving under the influence and causing property damage.

He was released early Tuesday from the Land O’Lakes jail after posting a $2,000 bond.

Damage to the vehicles was estimated at $21,500.

Accidents like those involving texting while driving and driving recklessly are entirely preventable. Distracted driving is dangerous and could result in serious personal injuries and even wrongful death. While texting while driving remains legal in the state of Florida, a texting driver can still be charged with careless driving. According to a study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, texting while driving is comparable to driving under the influence of alcohol, and can even be more dangerous than drunk driving.

Research shows that a texting driver is 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident than other drivers.

Distracted or careless driving is becoming a bigger problem than ever before due to the fact that cell phone use while driving poses a serious threat to the safety of others on the roadways. There are three main forms of distracted driving – taking your eyes off of the road, taking your hands off of the steering wheel and taking your mind off of driving. Texting while driving involves all three types of distracted driving. When a driver is texting while behind the wheel of a car, their chances of being involved in an accident and injuring themselves and those around them is significantly increased.

The Pasco County Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help those injured in a distracted driving collision receive compensation for medical bills, property damage, lost wages, physical injury and emotional trauma. After an accident, it is important to contact an injury lawyer as soon as possible so that evidence can be collected while it is still fresh and easily attainable. While it may not be obviously apparent that texting or cell phone use was a contributing factor in the accident, our Pasco Injury Lawyers utilize accident reconstruction experts and investigators who can collect evidence, including cell phones and cell phone records, to determine the exact cause of the accident. We handle auto accident cases throughout Pasco County, including New Port Richey, Port Richey, Dade City, Hudson, Holiday, Zephyrhills, Trinity, Land O’Lakes and Wesley Chapel.

If you have been injured in an accident caused by a driver who was text messaging, contact the Pasco County Auto Accident Injury Lawyers online or call 727-847-2299.