Colorado state law does not treat drivers accused of being intoxicated behind the wheel lightly. A recent example of this includes a driver arrested on multiple counts of vehicular homicide — two involving DUI and another two for reckless driving. She has yet to post her bond, which was set at $50,000, and she is still in police custody.
The accident originally occurred in Feb. 2016 when police claim that the 28-year-old driver struck multiple motorcycles. She allegedly told one of the responding state troopers that she had drunk some wine sometime prior to the wreck and that earlier that same day she had smoked marijuana, although the exact amount was not clear. Just before the wreck, the driver was apparently reading a text message on her cellphone. When she turned her gaze back to the road, she was supposedly in the oncoming lane of traffic.
The 58-year-old motorcycle rider and his 56-year-old passenger were hit by the larger motor vehicle and thrown from their bike. They were later pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Another motorcyclist — a 28-year-old Colorado man — who was riding behind the other motorcycle — was also involved in the wreck, although he survived with what were only minor injuries. The driver accused of causing the wreck did not appear to be injured.
The defendant pleaded not guilty in a recent court appearance, and her trial is set to start in Dec. 2016. For some Colorado defendants, achieving the best outcomes for their unique situations involves fighting their charges before juries, while others can be best benefited by negotiating plea deals that can lead to lesser charges or minimized consequences. Deciding on the best defense strategy is uniquely personal to each criminal defendant who is facing allegations of DUI.
