DUI Manslaughter Charges After Fatal Brevard County Motorcycle Accident

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on March 23, 2021

Police in Palm Bay are involved in an investigation into a fatal motorcycle accident that left a single biker dead and is believed to have been caused by an intoxicated driver. According to the reports from the Palm Bay Police Department, it was very early in the morning on Saturday, March 13^th, that a person riding a motorcycle reached a red light governing the intersection between Palm Bay Road and Babcock Street. At this time, a second motorist was traveling through the area and approaching the same intersection. This person, behind the wheel of a car, was in the same travel lane as the motorcyclist and nearing them from behind.

It was shortly after midnight when the two motorists’ paths converged. According to witnesses who were near or at the scene, the car was spotted swerving around the road in a manner that suggested the driver was not fully in control of the vehicle. As this person neared the intersection of Palm Bay Road and Babcock Street, they also neared the rear of the motorcycle, which was paused at the intersection and waiting for the light to turn red. The witnesses told the authorities that it did not appear as though the driver of the car made any attempt to stop or slow the vehicle as they raced towards the motorcycle. The resulting rear-end collision happened while the driver of the car was still traveling at an advanced rate of speed, meaning that a tremendous amount of damage was sustained by both the motorcycle and its rider.

The official report stated that by the time emergency response crews reached the area there was nothing that they could do for the badly injured motorcyclist, and this person passed away at the scene of the crash.

The driver of the car remained at the scene after the accident, and police noted several factors as they interviewed them. They noticed, for instance, the driver’s red eyes, their inability to stand without swaying back and forth, and their muddy, slurred speech.

The driver of the vehicle was arrested following a failed field sobriety test. They are currently facing numerous charges including DUI manslaughter.

Sources:

• DUI driver fatally strikes motorcyclist in Palm Bay, police say

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.