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The suspect responsible for the ordeal, 27-year-old Maximilano Chavez, was reportedly driving under the influence when the accident occurred and is currently in police custody.
According to police reports, the accident happened at around 2:20 P.M. The suspect’s Jeep Grand Cherokee drove up to the intersection on West Blue Diamond Road and Las Vegas Boulevard, where the light was red for the approaching vehicle.
The driver of the Jeep allegedly sped through the red light and smashed into a Subaru Forester carrying the family of four. Both of those two vehicles then collided with two additional vehicles that were attempting to turn left onto Las Vegas Boulevard.
Nine individuals spread out in four different vehicles were injured. When police arrived at the scene of the crash, Chavez was subject to a field sobriety test, which he failed. He was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries. After being treated, he was charged with six felony counts of DUI and reckless driving. He was booked into the Clark County Detention Center and faces a $250,000 bail amount.
The pregnant woman was rushed to the University Medical Center. The day after the crash, she needed to undergo emergency surgery. Her child was successfully delivered but tragically did not survive.
Driving while under the influence is a serious offense in Las Vegas, especially when people get injured or fatally wounded as a result of the driver’s intoxication.
As a stand-alone offense, a felony DUI is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Typically, this offense is leveraged when someone has a third DUI offense within seven years or the DUI led to a death or substantial bodily injury.
Felony reckless driving is a separate criminal offense. In Las Vegas, this crime carries a penalty of up to six years in prison and fines of up to $5,000. Per the law, felony reckless driving happens when someone operates a vehicle with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others, and this behavior leads to someone else’s substantial bodily harm or death.
Even as a first-time offense, a DUI will be very serious when it causes a substantial accident. The best thing you can do in this type of situation is to contact an experienced DUI attorney. The right lawyer will help you better understand your options, rights, and potential defense strategies. Depending on your situation, a lawyer might recommend preemptively going into alcohol rehabilitation treatment to demonstrate your genuine remorse.
If you’ve found yourself struggling after being charged with a DUI or similar offense in Las Vegas, then our team can help. Leave your contact details on our online form to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our top Las Vegas criminal lawyers.
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