Suisun Man To Face Charges for Fatal Car Accident
On Tuesday, September 5, 2017, a Suisun resident who is alleged to have caused the death of an 18-year-old woman from San Pablo while driving his vehicle under the influence of alcohol was ordered to stand trial for three separate felony charges.
A Dangerous Driver
According to witness testimony recorded during his hearing for probable cause, Marc D. Crawley had been driving his 1968 Ford Mustang over the speed limit on eastbound highway Interstate 80 close to the Cordelia truck weighing station during the night of March 26, 2016, at around 8 p.m.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigators offered testimony indicating that Crawley’s blood alcohol content was found to be at a concentration of at least .20 percent (over double the legal limit) during this time.
Victim Circumstances
Breanna McKneely had been driving with her sister in the passenger seat when her vehicle got a flat tire, forcing McKneely to pull over to the shoulder of the highway. While she was stuck on the side of the highway, Dujuan Pines, a resident of Fairfield, stopped to help her repair her vehicle on the side of the busy freeway.
Pines had already repaired the flat tire and was recharging McKneely’s battery when Crawley’s vehicle approached. Neither of the McKneely sisters nor Pines saw the vehicle approaching before it struck them.
The Collision
According to CHP officers and third-party witnesses, Crawley lost control of the Mustang and collided into McKneely’s vehicle. McKneely was thrown almost 20 yards away by the impact and suffered fatal injuries. Both Pines and McKneely’s sister received traumatic injuries. The Mustang and allegedly drunk driver ended up wrecked on the highway’s center divider.
Our deepest sympathies go out to the friends and family of Ms. McKneely during this difficult time.
The Hearing
Judge E. Bradley Nelson, who oversaw the hearing, ended by ordering Crawley to stand trial on two felony charges of DUI leading to injury collision as well as a charge of gross vehicular manslaughter.
Crawley has entered a plea of not guilty and will return to court on Monday, September 18, 2017, when the date for his trial by jury will be set. Crawley is currently out of police custody after posting his bail of $105,000.
Driving Under the Influence
As this tragic case has made all too apparent, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs puts lives in serious danger. According to government research, almost one-third of U.S. traffic accident fatalities are caused by drivers who are intoxicated.
Drivers who are determined to have been under the influence at the time of a collision are liable to pay for the damage that they’ve caused. However, the driver isn’t always the only liable party in the case of a DUI accident. Depending on the circumstance, parties who provided the driver with alcohol or access to a vehicle may also be considered negligent and can be held liable as well.
Related Articles by Ed Smith, Suisun car accident lawyer.
Suisun Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Suisun car accident lawyer. Vehicle accidents often leave people seriously injured. If you or a loved one has been hurt or even killed in a crash, please call me by dialing (707) 564-1900 for compassionate, free, and friendly advice. I can also be reached at (800) 404-5400 toll-free, or online at AutoAccident.com.
I’ve helped Suisun families and individuals claim the repayment they deserve in cases of wrongful death and personal injuries for 35 years.
Read my positive client reviews on Avvo, Yelp, and Google.
I’m in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Lawyers belonging to this forum have either won or settled client cases worth over $1 million.
See our Past Settlements and Verdicts here.
Go to AutoAccident.com for valuable and up-to-date info on car accidents and personal injuries.
Photo Credit: Legal Gavel by Blogtrepreneur. CC BY 2.0
:ms rey [cs 675] cv