Deputies Say Alcohol a Factor in Auto Accident That Killed Three People

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on April 29, 2013

Polk County deputies report that a driver involved in an auto accident that killed three people was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. They say that the accident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on April 28 at the intersection of Shepherd Road and Coronet Road in Lakeland. Accident investigators claim that a Chrysler Sebring driven by 56-year-old woman was traveling on Shepherd Road and was attempting to cross Coronet Road after stopping at a stop sign when it was struck by a GMC pickup truck traveling at a high rate of speed. Deputies say that the 21-year-old driver of the truck made no attempt to stop at the stop sign on Coronet Road before he struck the Chrysler.

The impact threw both vehicles approximately 150 feet from the point of initial impact and fatally injured the driver of the Chrysler and two of her passengers. A third passenger in the Chrysler was rushed to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he received treatment for critical injuries. The driver of the truck was also taken to LRMC, where he received treatment for several broken bones. He is expected to recover from his injuries. The accident is still under investigation, but deputies expect to file a variety of charges against the driver of the truck and are waiting for toxicology test results.

In 2011, (the most recent available drunk driving data from the Florida DMV,) at least 795 Floridians were killed in auto accidents involving at least one legally impaired driver. Thousands more were injured by drunk drivers that year, and our state, along with Texas and California, consistently ranks among the top three for drunk driving accidents, deaths and injuries each year.

If you have been injured by a drunk driver and would like to speak with an Orlando personal injury attorney to learn more about your rights and legal options, call James O. Cunningham today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587) to schedule a free consultation. He has been helping injured clients receive the fair and just compensation they deserve since 1977 and isn’t afraid to take on insurance companies and their legal teams to help injured people. Before you sign anything offered by the driver or his or her insurer or attorneys, call Mr. Cunningham to have it reviewed by your own Orlando personal injury lawyer. It could be one of the most important phone calls you’ll ever make!

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.