Seattle woman charged after causing a fatal accident while she was drunk

Seattle, WA- A local woman, who cased a fatal head-in collision while she was allegedly intoxicated, has been charged with reckless endangerment and vehicular homicide.

The fatal accident occurred on March 21^st after Maria Hill, 40, met with a friend, Valerie Cartillar, to have drinks after she finished her shift at a local restaurant. Hill and Cartillar drank until the business closed at 11 p.m.

The two women then got into Hill’s car, where she proceeded to drive southbound in the northbound lanes of I-5 at James Street. She accelerated to freeway speeds, going in the wrong direction when she struck a truck head-on.

The driver of the truck, Santanu Mowar, 55, tried to avoid a collision but couldn’t. Cartillar, who was in the passenger seat not wearing her seat belt, was ejected from Hill’s car. Cartillar was pronounced dead on the scene.

Hill was trapped in the car with a broken arm. Mowar sustained minor injuries.

Police stated that Hill had a blood alcohol level of .21, two hours after the accident. In a typical DUI case, a Seattle drunk driving lawyer can challenge the results of a blood alcohol test in court.

Hill has had previous DUI charges and is getting treatment from a methadone clinic. Repeat offenders are encouraged to hire a Seattle drunk driving lawyer to help them build an effective defense.  A Seattle drunk driving lawyer will use their expertise to minimize the penalties associate with a DUI.