A 35 year old Omaha man was recently charged with fleeing the scene of an accident – for the third time – according to news reports. This time, the man is accused of striking a pedestrian who was knocked about 20 feet into the air as a result of the impact. As is often the case, the driver was not supposed to be driving since his driving privileges were revoked for 15 years back in 2006 when he pleaded guilty to felony motor vehicle homicide for a fatal drunk driving collision.
The latest collision occurred on September 30th near 36th Street and Hickory at around 8:00 p.m. The 33 year old victim states he was loading something into his parked vehicle when he heard a “revving” engine and noticed a Chevrolet Blazer heading straight for him. Although the victim tried to run out the vehicle’s way, he was struck before he was able to reach safety. The vehicle then sped away.
Interestingly, the defendant apparently proceeded straight to his residence whereupon he promptly called the police and reported the collision. Law enforcement officers followed up and arrested the defendant within a couple of hours of the incident. He has been charged with failing to stop and render assistance and driving while his license was revoked. In this accident the police do not suspect drugs are alcohol played a role in the defendant’s actions; however, he was sentenced to 24 to 36 months after a 2006 drunk driving crash that killed one of his friends. In that crash, the defendant admitted to drinking fours beers as well as smoking marijuana prior to getting behind the wheel of his SUV and ultimately causing the fatal collision. In that collision, the defendant’s blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, was 0.125, 50 percent higher than the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Amazingly, the same man was also involved in accidents in 1993 and 1998 in which he was also accused of leaving the scene of an accident. In the 1998 collision the defendant was also charged with driving under the influence, of DUI, but the charges were dismissed.
If you have been charged with an alcohol or drug related driving offense in Nebraska it is critical that you consult with an experienced Nebraska criminal defense attorney right away to ensure that your rights are protected throughout the prosecution of your case and to discuss possible defense strategies. Contact the Omaha, Nebraska law office of Petersen Law Office 24 hours a day at 402-513-2180 to discuss your case with an experienced DUI defense attorney.