Police say that a 19-year-old man was taken into custody after crashing his vehicle on Sunken Meadow Parkway in Kings Park on March 28. The crash occurred at about 5:30 p.m. near Exit SM5-Route 25A. According to authorities, the man was going southbound in a 2011 Infiniti when he lost control of the vehicle and struck an exit sign, a light pole and a tree.
The man was found to be intoxicated as well as in possession of marijuana. He was charged with felony DWI under Leandra’s Law because he had two 15-year-old passengers in his vehicle at the time of the crash. In addition to the felony charges, he was also charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and marijuana possession. The man was treated at Huntington Hospital while the minors were released to their parents.
Individuals who are charged with DUI could face many serious penalties such as jail time, a fine and a loss of a drivers license. In some cases, they may be sent to prison if there are aggravating factors in a case such as driving drunk while minors are in the vehicle. As a conviction could bring many personal and professional consequences, it may be worthwhile to talk with an attorney.
An attorney may be able to create a defense to the charge such as casting doubt on blood or breath test results. It may also be possible to argue that a driver was under the legal limit at the time of an accident or traffic stop. Furthermore, an attorney may argue that an individual was displaying symptoms of a medical condition that mimicked signs of intoxication. If successful, it may be possible to negotiate a plea bargain or obtain an acquittal.
