A man in Huntington WV stands accused of hitting two women with his Ford Expedition in front of a Walmart at US 60 on Oct. 14. He now is facing upgraded felony DUI charges after one of his victims died.
The SUV driver was charged with felony DUI causing death and DUI causing serious bodily harm.
Both victims were taken to the hospital after the accident. One of them died the next day, while the other is still recovering in the hospital. The woen were both 60 years old and were sisters.
The SUV driver has a criminal history and witnesses say he was driving too fast in front of the Walmart, was talking on the cellphone and looking into the store while driving. He told the state police he heard a noise and realized he hit the two women.
The responding officer stated that the driver acted aggressively and then ‘retreating into a mellow state’. He also reported that the driver’s pupils were dilated and he was sweating in an air conditioned environment. He resued a field sobriety test, but the officer got a warrant to take the man’s blood for testing. Those results are pending.
Our View
Our hearts go out to the family in this terrible DUI accident in front of a Walmart. How tragic that this foolish man would be driving fast in front of a Walmart, not paying attention and apparently under the influence of something. Most of us have driven in front of a Walmart at some point, and there is nearly always pedestrians going in and out of the store. A reasonable person would be driving slowly and cautiously in that situation.
As the criminal case is under way, the family should consider filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver. A wrongful death lawsuit can provide the family with essential compensation for replacing the income of the deceased, and also help to pay for their emotional pain and suffering, as well as any funeral expenses.
