When drivers decide to get behind the wheel when intoxicated or impaired, they put their lives and the lives of others at risk. That’s what happened in one case in Oregon when a woman smoked marijuana before causing a fatal collision.
The 39-year-old woman pleaded guilty to causing the fatal car crash that resulted in one man’s death and injuries to three others. She pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, DUI and assault.
The woman reportedly used marijuana before driving an SUV to take her children to their father’s house in 2016. She was headed east on Nusom Road NE when she drove into an oncoming lane of traffic after failing to negotiate a right-hand curve. This resulted in a head-on crash with a 52-year-old man’s Geo Metro. Her SUV then went on to hit a second vehicle, a Honda Civic.
The woman, her two children and the driver of the second vehicle were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the Geo Metro was pronounced dead at the scene.
She was arrested on several charges including second-degree manslaughter, reckless endangerment, fourth-degree assault and DUI. Family and friends spoke up for her, attesting to her character and the fact that she had no criminal history. It wasn’t clear if she was as impaired as the deputy suggested but instead of fighting the DUI in court, she pleaded guilty to lesser charges.
Crashes like this take lives and should be prevented at all costs. Those who cannot drive safely should not be able to get behind the wheel.