A 12-year-old boy in Austin is under investigation for driving while intoxicated after a chase and collision occurred. The 12-year-old was first spotted by a law enforcement officer as he weaved in and out of traffic. Although law enforcement initially thought that the child was an adult driver who was texting, the officer began to suspect a person driving while intoxicated after seeing the vehicle cross over the road’s center. The officer attempted a traffic stop, but the child driver kept driving and eventually collided with another vehicle. After this collision, the child kept driving and even crashed into an electric pole, which impact stopped the vehicle. The 12-year-old was taken to a hospital for minor injuries. Law enforcement has reported that the driver is under investigation for driving while intoxicated, failure to stop and render aid, and evading the police. It remains uncertain what exact evidence led law enforcement to believe that the child was driving while intoxicated.
At Wheeler Law Office, we have represented many underage individuals in all types of alcohol-related offenses and understand what it takes to construct a strong defense.
Alarming Facts About Underage Drinking
When motorists are charged with DWIs, the resulting consequences can be particularly severe if the the deaths of other individuals are involved. Recently, an Austin woman with a history of driving under the influence of alcohol was sentenced to 18 years in prison for a 2014 DWI crash that killed two people. The driver on trial in this case ultimately pled guilty to two counts of intoxication manslaughter arising from the deaths of two individuals. In the incident in question, the motorist was driving northbound when her vehicle collided with a vehicle that was traveling eastbound. The passenger in the car traveling east died at the scene of the accident, while the driver ultimately died at a local hospital. When the motor vehicle collision occurred, the intoxicated motorist reportedly expressed concern to law enforcement about three eight-ounce glasses of wine that she had consumed the night before the collision. Law enforcement further observed both a strong odor of alcohol on the intoxicated driver’s breath and saw that the woman’s eyes were glassy and bloodshot. The official sentencing in this case is scheduled for January 13, 2017.
The Effects of a Guilty Plea