Fatal car accidents are devastating to al l involved. One moment, motor vehicles are traveling down the road in a normal manner. The next, something has happened that causes automobiles to collide. There are of course times when these incidents are not due to the behavior of a person behind the wheel. When, however, negligent behavior on the part of driver is to blame for motor vehicle accidents that result in deaths, authorities in the Pittsburgh area take it very seriously. A teenager from Western Pennsylvania recently learned how seriously.
The 19-year-old woman was behind the wheel of a sport utility vehicle that killed two individuals when it struck the car in which they were riding last year. The wives of the men who died were injured in the crash which occurred on Route 79.
The young woman was charged with and pled guilty to the following charges:
- Homicide by vehicle
- Aggravated assault
- Driving under the influence as a minor
- Reckless driving
- Driving at an unsafe speed
The South Fayette teen was recently sentenced to a minimum of three and a half years behind bars for her role in causing the fatal motor vehicle accident. She could spend as long as seven years there.
It is unclear if the woman is also facing civil lawsuits related to the crash. The wives of the men who died could decide to file wrongful death lawsuits. They could also file personal injury lawsuits to try to recoup financial damages for their injuries. The compensation recovered in successful lawsuits of either type could make it easier for the women to recover and move forward with their lives.
Source: The Sentinel, "Teen gets 3½ to 7 years in double-fatal Pa. crash," The Associated Press, June 11, 2012