A 49-year-old man was driving a 2013 Toyota Camry north in the southbound lanes of the interstate when he collided with a southbound tractor-trailer, authorities said. The semi-truck, which was hauling food, caught fire as a result. Emergency rescue personnel transported the driver of the semi-truck, the 40-year-old man, to the Medical Center of Central Georgia for treatment of his injuries, which included burns, according to authorities. Officials listed him in stable condition.
Deputies from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office detained the 49-year-old man on suspicion of driving under the influence. He faces charges of driving the wrong way on a roadway, driving without headlights at night, driving while license suspended or revoked and serious injury by motor vehicle, besides DUI.
If a preponderance of evidence from this case were to indicate that one of the drivers was in fact DUI at the time of the accident, that driver may be held responsible for the crash not just criminally but also in civil court. For, motorists who suffer damages in a drunk-driving accident may wish to retain a personal injury lawyer and file suit against the drunk driver. While that civil case would not be affected by any criminal charges stemming from the same incident, the personal injury attorney might adopt the evidence constituting a DUI charge if it helps bolster the injured victim’s claim in civil court.
Source: WMGT, “Traffic accident on I-75 leaves man injured, drunk driver involved”, June 08, 2014
