Vehicular Homicide is a criminal charge that involves the death of an individual other than the driver. This is as a direct result of the driver’s criminally negligent or murderous operation of the vehicle.
A man in Central Florida could be facing a Vehicular Homicide charge shortly. Early this morning, an SUV crossed a highway median and slammed into a shed where a man and a woman were sleeping. The woman was nine months pregnant were sleeping. The crash killed them both, including the unborn child.
It’s still unclear as to how it happened, but police are reporting that the vehicle lost control on a highway and crashed through a fence. The driver was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, but will surely have to answer some serious questions.
He will need a top-notch criminal defense attorney by his side. Best case scenario: he can claim something went wrong with his car. Perhaps, his brakes went out. Worst case scenario: he was drunk behind the wheel. Also, falling asleep at the wheel isn’t going to be a good defense.
The punishment for Vehicular Homicide can be harsh and change your life forever. It’s punishable as either a first degree or second degree felony. If it is a second degree felony, then it is punishable up to 15 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. The fine for a first degree felony stays at $10,000, but the prison time could be bumped up to 30 years.
