Taylors Woman Faces Charges For DUI Resulting In Death

Drunk driving is always a crime under South Carolina law, even when the driver does not cause an accident, but the penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) vary according to the damage that the driver caused by driving drunk.  The worst-case scenario is DUI resulting in death, when the drunk driver causes a fatal crash; the penalties for this charge are similar to those for involuntary manslaughter, namely a decade or more in prison.  Even though the incidence of drunk driving has decreased dramatically nationwide since every state enacted laws against it in the 1980s, alcohol is still a contributing factor in about a third of fatal traffic accidents, and South Carolina’s rates of DUI have consistently been higher than the national average.  A woman from Taylors is currently facing criminal charges for a drunk driving accident that killed one person and seriously injured another.  If you have suffered serious injuries in an alcohol-related collision, contact a Columbia car accident lawyer.

Defendant’s Blood Alcohol Content Was Four Times the Legal Limit at the Time of the Accident

The accident took place on February 20 in Greer, a suburb of Greenville.  Kara Reynolds was driving the wrong way on West Hampton Boulevard after a night of drinking.  She collided with an oncoming car, and the driver, John Ford, suffered fatal injuries.  Ford’s wife, who was a passenger in the car, was also seriously injured.  The Greenville News website did not specify Mrs. Ford’s first name or the victims’ ages; the news report indicated, however, that they have a daughter named Mary, who is an adult.

At the time of the accident, Reynolds’s blood alcohol content was 0.36, which is more than four times the legal limit of 0.08.  She is currently facing criminal charges for DUI resulting in death and DUI resulting in great bodily injury.  Reynolds, 29, also suffered injuries in the accident and was walking on crutches at a court appearance.  She is being held without bond while the charges against her are pending.

If convicted of the charges, Reynolds could face a long prison sentence.  The Greenville News website did not say how long of a prison sentence prosecutors are recommending or whether Reynolds has entered a plea.  Her sentence will depend on several factors, including whether she has any prior criminal convictions, DUI-related or otherwise, and whether she pleads guilty or not guilty.  Defendants who are convicted at trial usually face longer prison sentences than those who plead guilty, because prosecutors and the defendant’s lawyer can often negotiate a plea deal when the defendant pleads guilty.

Let Us Help You Today

The car accident lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you recover damages if you were injured in an accident where a drunk driver engaged in extraordinarily reckless behavior, such as driving in the wrong direction or driving at a very high speed.  Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.

Source:

greenvilleonline.com/story/news/crime/2022/04/19/taylors-woman-charged-felony-dui-4-times-legal-alcohol-limit/7368728001/