Virginia Driver Charged With DUI Following Interstate Accident

While most people in Virginia will not drive after having consumed too much alcohol, that doesn’t mean that police won’t be on the lookout for those they believe are drunk driving. Facing drunk driving charges can be a serious situation, as one recent incident shows.

A 34-year-old Virginia man was recently arrested for driving under the influence on I-264 east after a head-on collision. The man was reportedly driving the wrong way on I-264 west in the eastbound lanes, when his truck struck an SUV that was preparing to get onto I-264 east from I-664. The two people in the SUV allegedly were injured and taken to the hospital. The man was charged with a DUI.

Drunk driving is seen as a form of negligent and reckless driving and will typically result in criminal charges. If convicted, a drunk driver could face incarceration, fines, and/or probation, as well as be required to submit to mandatory drug and alcohol treatment programs. The judge will determine your sentence based on your blood alcohol level at the time of the traffic stop or accident, how many DUI convictions are on your record and whether your actions caused an injury or death.

If responding officers suspect that a driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash, they may administer field sobriety tests and a breath test to determine whether to arrest the driver for a DUI. However, not everyone accused of a DUI is guilty of drunk driving. Without reliable evidence, a judge may decide to dismiss your case entirely. A Fairfax criminal defense attorney may be able to get your charges lessened or dropped, if your test results are proven to be unreliable or inaccurate.

Source: Daily Press, “State police: Driver who crashed going wrong direction on interstate was intoxicated,” Josh Reyes, March 18, 2018