Woman Killed In Houston Drunk Driving Accident
Many people drink alcohol on occasion, but drinking it before getting behind the wheel is never a good idea. Alcohol affects vision, judgment, and other motor and sensory abilities. This can cause a fatal drunk driving accident.
Sadly, this was recently the case in West Houston. The fatal accident occurred in the early morning hours of October 24. A Toyota Camry was parked on the shoulder of the Interstate 10 Katy Freeway between Dairy Ashford Road and Kirkwood Road. The driver had exited the vehicle and was tending to a sick passenger. That was when a man driving a Hyundai Accent went outside of his lane and rear-ended the Toyota.
The driver of the Toyota, a 29-year-old woman, died at the accident scene. There were two other women in the Toyota, but neither were injured in the crash. The sick woman, however, was taken to Ben Taub Hospital and is in stable condition.
The driver of the Hyundai, a 28-year-old man, was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital with minor injuries. He is currently in jail on intoxication manslaughter charges. His bond has been set at $100,000.
What to Know About Drunk Driving
Drunk drivers often think they are “fine” and not doing anything wrong by driving while intoxicated, but the truth is that their ability to drive is being compromised by alcohol use—and they may not even be aware of it. Every year, more than 10,000 people are killed in drunk driving accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Alcohol consumption affects the body in various ways. It can negatively impact brain function, reasoning, thinking, and muscle coordination.
Alcohol’s negative effects on the body’s central nervous system increase the more you drink. As alcohol levels rise, the alcohol is absorbed directly through the stomach and small intestine. It then passes into the bloodstream and is then metabolized by the liver.
A person’s alcohol level is measured by blood alcohol concentration (BAC), which is the weight of the alcohol based on a certain volume of blood. A BAC of 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter (g/dL) of blood is considered illegal in 49 states. The only exception is Utah, where the BAC limit is even lower, at 0.05.
This does not mean that a person cannot be intoxicated at lower alcohol amounts. Even one alcoholic drink can affect driving ability. Thousands of people have been at even lower BAC amounts.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Sadly, drunk driving accidents often affect innocent victims. Pedestrians or those in other vehicles are typically the ones who suffer catastrophic injuries and death.
Drunk driving is a common situation in Texas. If you or a loved one has been affected by this avoidable accident, contact the Houston drunk driving accident attorneys at the West Law Office, PLLC. We can hold the drunk driver liable for your damages. Get justice for this negligent behavior. Call 281-347-3247 or fill out the online form to schedule a free consultation.
Resource:
click2houston.com/news/local/2021/10/24/woman-struck-killed-in-fatal-crash-involving-intoxicated-driver-on-katy-freeway-police-say/
