Deadly I-95 Crash Leads to Georgia DUI Charges

Two women from South Carolina are now dead after an accident on Interstate 95 in Georgia. The wreck happened near mile marker 61 in McIntosh County, GA in the early morning of Thursday, June 13, 2019.

According to a Georgia State Patrol Trooper, a Honda Accord driven by a man was traveling in the southbound lanes when it struck a Volvo that had four riders inside. The Volvo was disabled and was left in the left-hand lanes. The occupants exited the vehicle to find safety on the side of the road near the guard rails.

Instead, a Dodge Nitro that had four people inside struck the Volvo. Within a few minutes, a Chevy Cruise with two occupants inside struck both the Volvo and the Dodge Nitro. A Dodge Ram then struck the Dodge Nitro.

Sadly, two women from South Carolina were struck by one of the vehicles. One was taken to Southeast Georgia Health System Brunswick Campus for treatment and later died. The other was pronounced dead at the scene. They were later identified as Julia Brazil and her daughter Tammie Stafford.

Multiple other victims were taken to the hospital as a result of the accident.

The driver of the Honda Accord was later identified as No Jose Guillen-Herrera, age 20, of Rhode Island. He now faces charges of:

• driving under the influence (DUI)
• two counts of homicide by vehicle
• serious injury by vehicle

If you or someone you care about has been arrested for a DUI in Georgia, an experienced Georgia DUI attorney can defend your case and protect your rights.

Serious Injuries or Death as a Result of DUI

When serious injury or death occurs as the result of a DUI related accident, the intoxicated driver faces extreme penalties under Georgia law. Georgia law is strict on DUI's anyway, so when a person is hurt as a result, the resulting felony charge could drastically change the defendant's life forever.

Vehicular Homicide

This is one of the most serious charges anyone can face in the Georgia legal system. The charge can be a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the circumstances.

When a person unintentionally causes the death of another through reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, unlawfully passing a school bus, or fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a vehicular homicide charge is a felony.

When a person is intoxicated behind the wheel, he or she is considered to be driving recklessly for purposes of this criminal offense. That means that an intoxicated driver who accidentally kills someone could face up to 15 years in prison. Because this crime is a felony, it also comes with all of the social stigma and rights restrictions associated with a Georgia felony charge.

Consult an Experienced Georgia DUI Attorney

If you face charges related to DUI, your rights are at risk. You have the right to defend your case and protect your constitutional rights. An experienced Georgia DUI attorney can present a defense in your case to protect you. Contact us today for a free consultation of your case.