There is no question about it. Drunk driving is an issue for communities throughout the nation. The Pittsburgh area is no exception. Most would agree that the worst thing that could possibly happen when someone gets behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated is that a motor vehicle accident that results in death will occur. Sadly, this happens much too frequently.

Because the state of Pennsylvania takes the problem of drunk driving seriously, when caught, an intoxicated driver will usually face consequences of some sort. This is particularly true when the intoxication leads to a motor vehicle accident. A woman from Whitney, Pennsylvania, who was driving a car that was involved in a December 2010 accident where her passenger died, is now dealing with the ramifications.

She was recently charged with several crimes related to the crash including:

• Homicide by vehicle while under the influence of alcohol
• Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Reckless endangerment
• Driving on the wrong side of the highway
• Reckless driving
• Driving at an unsafe speed

The accident reportedly occurred as the woman drove her car with the 31-year-old passenger home from a bar. When she came to a curve in the road, she left the road and crashed into a tree.

The man, who was in the backseat at the time of the crash, survived the accident but died a little over a month later of the blunt force injuries. The woman also hurt in the incident, and she was taken to the hospital where among other things, her blood was drawn. According to state police, her blood alcohol content was 0.146 percent.

Though not definite, there is a strong possibility that in addition to the criminal charges, the woman will face a civil wrongful death lawsuit as well. The man's family could file the lawsuit to try to recover monetary damages from the woman for his death.

Source: Tribune-Review, "Whitney driver charged in fatal DUI," Paul Peirce, May 18, 2012