We've all heard the expression "two wrongs don't make a right." Nor do two people accused of driving drunk before a head-on collision cancel out each other's criminal charges. Instead, that scenario can make prosecution more complicated.
A crash involving two vehicles happened in the early-morning hours of July 1. According to a press release from the Portland Police Department, one of the cars was traveling the wrong way on a ramp connecting Interstate 84 westbound to Interstate 5 southbound when it collided with the other car. Both drivers were injured, as was the lone passenger in one of the cars. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
The passenger's driver, a 17-year-old boy, was taken to the Multnomah County juvenile detention center and later charged with second-degree assault, reckless driving and driving under the influence of intoxicants. The driver of the other car, a 36-year-old man, was cited for DUII.
Accidents that occur between two drivers accused of being drunk can make prosecution more complicated because it's more likely that both contributed to the crash. In cases where injuries are involved, it can be difficult to determine which driver is primarily responsible for causing them. In this case, the driver carrying the passenger who was injured is being charged in connection with those injuries. Although the details of the accident haven't been released, we can presume he was the driver heading in the wrong direction and therefore at greater fault.
Investigators are still working on the exact cause of the crash, and their findings could affect the charges and the drivers' possible convictions. Both drivers would be well-served by a criminal defense attorney who not only focuses on drunk-driving cases, but has experience defending drivers accused in crashes where both parties are accused of being drunk. With that added complication, experienced, knowledgeable counsel can make all the difference in the outcome of a case.
Source: KGW.com, "2 DUII suspects in head-on Portland crash," Jeff Thompson, July 2, 2012
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