Police say alcohol likely involved in July hit-and-run death on Maryland highway

A truck driver was killed recently in a Maryland hit-and-run crash on Interstate 95, several news outlets reported. According to a report by the Maryland Transit Authority, the 57-year-old man was struck and killed by a passing vehicle while working on his truck just before 11:30 a.m. on July 25, 2013. The crash took place in the northbound lane of I-95 near the Locust Point area of Baltimore.

CBS News reported that the driver of the other vehicle failed to stop after striking the man. Within a few minutes, however, police located the alleged driver, a 45-year-old woman, about three miles away from the crash site. Investigators say they believe that alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

The hit-and-run accident on I-95 was not the first of its kind to occur on Maryland roads this year; in March, a 62-year-old woman was killed in a hit-and-run crash on I-695. Authorities say the alleged driver in the July hit-and-run has been charged with driving under the influence in the past and will most likely face criminal charges in connection to the truck driver’s death.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

In Maryland, as in all other U.S. states, a person whose blood alcohol content measures 0.08 or above is automatically considered too drunk to drive and can be charged with Driving Under the Influence or DUI.

Maryland law also prohibits driving under the influence of drugs. This restriction applies to illegal drugs as well as some legal drugs, including prescription medications.

A driver in Maryland can be charged with driving under the influence of drugs if there is any trace of certain substances in his or her bloodstream, such as:

• Illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine or methamphetamine.
• Certain prescription drugs such as Vicodin or OxyContin.

It is possible for drivers to be charged with Driving Under the Influence of drugs in Maryland even if the driver was prescribed the medication. In addition, because there is no objective standard for determining whether a person is under the influence of drugs, charges for a drug DUI in Maryland rely largely on the subjective judgment of an arresting officer’s observations.

Aggravated DUI charges in Maryland

The penalties for any DUI conviction in Maryland can be harsh, including steep fines, potential jail time and lengthy license suspension periods. However, the consequences can be even more severe in cases involving certain other factors, such as:

• DUI crash involving injury or death of another person.
• DUI hit-and-run.
• DUI with a child passenger.
• Multiple DUI convictions.
• DUI with a BAC of 0.15 or higher.

In cases involving any of the above circumstances, the intoxicated driving offense may be prosecuted as an aggravated DUI. Drivers convicted of aggravated DUI in Maryland face additional fines and longer jail times, in addition to other penalties.

Call a lawyer if stopped for DUI in Maryland

If you happen to be stopped by police for suspected drunk driving in Maryland, you can help protect your rights as well as your legal options by insisting on talking to an attorney right away. A skilled lawyer with an extensive background in Maryland DUI defense will help ensure that you are treated fairly and will advocate vigorously on your behalf for the best possible resolution to your case.