The driver involved in a December Federal Way drunk driving accident has been sentenced for vehicular homicide. 35-year-old Legrant Pegram will spend 12 years and 3 months behind bars for the fatal drunk driving accident that claimed the life of 21-year-old Emmanuel Franco on December 29^th.

The main evidence used to convict Pegram in the case was security camera footage which showed Pregram was driving recklessly at the time of the accident. Pregram  drove around two vehicles as they were stopped at a red light then ran through the red light-crashing his SUV into the Driver’s side of Franco’s Acura Integra. The accident occurred around 2:30 a.m. at the intersection of South 320^th Street and Pacific Highway South  in Federal Way, Washington.

Franco was killed instantly in the collision and police discovered Pegram’s blood alcohol content was three times the legal limit at 0.242. This, however, was not Pegram’s first drunk driving offense; in 2006 he was convicted with a DUI and in 1992 was convicted of vehicular assault after a drunk driving accident.

This accident illustrates how big the drunk driving problem is in the United States. Not only do fatal drunk driving accidents contribute to nearly half of all fatal auto accidents- 2/3’s of all DUI arrests are repeat offenders. These outrageous numbers go to show that our current laws are not adequately addressing the drunk driving problem and need to be reformed.

I offer my condolences to the Franco family and all others affected by the carelessness of a drunk driver. If you have been affected by a drunk driver the best thing you can do is speak with a knowledgeable Seattle auto accident attorney and figure out the best way to handle your case.

A Sumner man pleaded guilty this week to vehicular homicide for a drunk driving accident that took the life of a youth pastor. September 6^th, 2010 30-year-old Joseph Patrick McNeil of Sumner, Washington was driving west on Stewart Road Southwest shortly before 2 a.m. when he crossed the center line. His 4×4 struck a small sedan head on killing 24-year-old Samuel Stephens at the scene.

Police reports from the scene of the fatal drunk driving accident claim that McNeil displayed signs of intoxication when they arrived on the scene. Reports indicate McNeil’s eyes were watery and bloodshot, his speech was slurred and alcohol was on his breath. McNeil had also admitted to consuming beer at a local bar before the accident and had told police he was driving eastbound on Stewart before the accident which was not what witnesses claimed.

In a hearing on Tuesday, March 15^th McNeil pleaded guilty to the vehicular homicide charge in the fatal drunk driving accident he will be sentenced in court on March 31^st.

The man killed in the fatal drunk driving accident, Samuel Stephens, was a youth pastor at EastPointe Church in Bonney Lake. He died just two weeks before his wedding day.

Our hearts go out to the Stephen’s family and the finance of Samuel Stephens- it is never easy to lose a loved one so suddenly and under such tragic circumstances.

Please do not drink and drive- it is not worth the risk to yourself or others.

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The driver that caused a fatal drunk driving accident near Eatonville, Washington faces vehicular homicide and vehicular assault changes.  The November 11^th accident occurred when 56-year-old Dana C Boyer was driving a 2002 Ford Ranger intoxicated on Alder Cutoff Road by the intersection with Mountain Highway. Boyer crossed the center line causing a head-on collision with a 1996 Mazda pickup truck. The Mazda spun out of control from the impact, flipped and caught on fire in the accident leading to severe injuries of both Bruce Cromoga, the 61-year-old driver and his young grandson. Cromoga succumbed to his injuries in December. The boy suffered a forehead laceration, glass in his eyes and a concussion in the incident and Boyer suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Boyer told police he didn’t remember the crash and had only two beers before the accident. Upon further investigation, however, police discovered that Boyer was significantly intoxicated. In fact, four hours after the fatal auto accident Boyer’s alcohol level was still 0.14- twice the legal limit.

Drunk driving has been a very serious problem since cars first hit the market, but sadly, there are few things you can do to truly protect yourself from a drunk driver. Your best defense against a drunk driver is simply noticing them before they strike. If you see a driver displaying erratic behavior make sure you keep your distance and call the police to report them and get them off the road. Our article “Top Ways to Spot a Drunk Driver” has a list of drunk driver signs that can help you identify and avoid drunk drivers- click on the previous link for more information.

results from a teen drunk driving under the legal drinking age.

Sunday, September 26^th, a fatal drunk driving accident took the life of a 17-year-old boy. Four 17-year-old boys were driving in a 1989 Ford Bronco when the vehicle left the roadway hitting several trees and rolling over. The fatal auto accident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on D-Line Road in Capitol Forest. Passenger, Michael Conine of Centralia was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center, but sadly died from injuries sustained in the accident. The three other boys involved in the accident were treated for injuries at the scene, one had serious injuries.

Blood tests have confirmed that alcohol was involved in this fatal auto accident the 17-year-old driver has been arrested with vehicular assault and vehicular homicide.

Being a parent as well as an auto accident attorney I fear for the day when my two young boys will receive their licenses and drive themselves. Though the teen auto accident statistics are a little disheartening we can help protect our children by simply parenting. According to studies teens that have a strong no alcohol message while growing up are less likely to use alcohol. To learn more about how to help protect your teen from drunk driving accidents and to learn how to start the conversation read the article: Talking to Your Kids About Drunk Driving.

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In Long Beach California on Sunday, August 22^nd a fatal car accident occurred just after midnight. A Ford Taurus and Mustang were racing eastbound on Ocean Boulevard at speeds over 100 mph when the two cars collided. The collision spun the Mustang off the road where it was crushed into a concrete sign along the median.

Three of the Mustangs four passengers flew out of the vehicle. An unidentified female along with a 32 year old woman and the 18 year old driver, Jesse Heredia, were pronounced dead when rescue crews arrived.  The other passenger, a 19-year-old male was rushed to the hospital where he died the following Tuesday from his injuries.

Ford Mustang Crashed Into a Cement Sign

The Damage from the Taurus and Mustang Colliding

The Taurus was beat up from the collision with the Mustang, but the occupants suffered little injury and attempted to flee the scene on foot. When caught by police the driver was found to not have a license and the vehicle was stolen.

The 17-year-old boy driving the Taurus has been placed in police custody and now faces charges for four deaths.

It is horrible incidents such as these that make the car accident fatality rate for teens so high. As a parent this can be disconcerting and stressful- but there are steps you can take to help make your teen a better and safer driver the article: Top Teen Driving Tips is a useful tool for parents in teaching their child the ways of the road and preventing accidents like this through proactive measures.

It is irresponsible behavior such as this that leads to teens fatal car accidents. For parents this can make it difficult for you to hand over your keys to your teenage driver- but there are things you can do to take control and make your teen a safer driver. In our parent resource section of our website we have a variety of articles giving parents tips on teaching your teen to drive, teaching teens highway safety and talking to your teen about drunk driving.

Monday night, a man driving in Milton had his car t-boned by a suspected drunk driver, killing the driver, and leaving the passenger in serious condition. After receiving a 911 phone call, police pursued a driver that they believed to be under the influence of alcohol. The vehicle, driven by a woman believed to be in her 40’s, took off at high speed away from the cops for two miles. The accident occurred at about 6:30 P.M on Pacific Highway East at Porter Way. The suspected drunk driver is in serious condition.

Our condolences go out to the family of the man who died in this car crash, as well has the passenger who will hopefully make a full recovery. Losing a loved family member or friend is an incredibly painful experience. Whether it be in a car accident or not, the last thing that you and your family want to have to deal with or worry about is legal issues and complications. You deserve to know that the legal situation will be taken care of with professionalism and respect. Because I believe so strongly in this, I co-authored a book with attorney Patrick J. Kang entitled ‘In Case of Death: Straight Talk on Washington Wrongful Death. We have made this book available free of charge to Washington residents and it can be found by clicking the preceding link.