Sarasota 12/16/2011 4:52:54 AM
News / Law

Drunken driver in Sarasota collides with pregnant woman

A man who was involved in a traffic accident which killed a pregnant pedestrian has been charged with simple DUI.

The accident happened Sunday night when Crystal Walker, 18, walked in front of pickup truck while she was crossing Swift Road near Hope Street. Florida Highway Patrol said Walker dashed in stepped front of the truck driven by Joe Variot, 69.

Walker died on the scene and her unborn fetus could not be saved. This highlights the need for pedestrians to take extra precautions when crossing the street at night.

Variot has been charged with simple DUI. The Florida Highway Patrol found that he didn’t cause the accident.

Variot will still need to hire a Sarasota DUI attorney to help him with his charges. Courts in all states treat drunken drivers harshly and these charges become part of a person’s permanent record. This could have a negative impact on the accused’s future job prospects.

It may be tempting to think you beat these charges without an attorney, but a DUI carries severe penalties, which may include a loss of driver’s license and possible jail time. The best chance an offender has at keeping some of their freedoms are by retaining a Sarasota DUI attorney to argue for a reduction in charges or leniency.

Your Sarasota DUIattorney will do their absolute best to make certain their clients aren’t subjected to the harshest penalties allowed by law.