A North Carolina woman responsible for the deaths of three people has made a plea deal in her case. The car accident that led to the charges against her occurred three years ago when the woman was allegedly street racing. Three people were killed when her vehicle struck a Mercedes driven by a mother traveling with her 2-year-old daughter. The accused is believed to have been racing with another car; a 13-year-old passenger in that vehicle also died. It was not immediately clear if wrongful death actions have been commenced to seek monetary damages though our state court system as a result of the devastating tragedy.
The woman pleaded guilty to three counts of involuntary manslaughter. She will spend up to 40 months in jail for her role in these deaths. The woman did not address her crimes in court or speak to the affected families, perhaps adding to the difficulty of them coming to terms with what occurred.
The mother of the 13-year-old killed in the crash called the woman “heartless and soulless,” and claimed the woman did not contact 911 after the crash. The woman responsible for the car accident had multiple speeding convictions on her record.
Drivers in North Carolina assume a duty of reasonable care for their passengers and others on the road. When that duty is not taken seriously, serious accidents or even deaths can occur. A car accident like this and the reasons behind it can be difficult to fathom, especially by the affected families. Although this woman will spend time in jail for her actions, the family retains the legal right to pursue a civil case against her. While such a case won’t diminish the tragic circumstances, a successful result could help the family feel as if an additional measure of justice was taken and could potentially help provide some closure for those involved.
Source: wbtv.com, “Woman makes plea deal in deadly street racing crash,” Esther Hou, Aug. 28, 2012
