A 22-year-old man from Baraboo, Wisconsin, has been arrested for driving while intoxicated in connection with a motorcycle accident that killed the driver and severely injured the passenger. The accident occurred on Sept. 1 about 9 p.m. in Baraboo on Steinke Road.
Authorities say the arrested driver was in a Jeep SUV when it rear-ended the motorcycle while it was stopped at an intersection. The impact threw both people off the motorcycle and shoved the motorcycle through the intersection. The Jeep also went through the intersection, left the road and smashed into a retaining wall for a driveway.
The motorcycle driver, age 27, and the passenger, age 23, were both flown by medical helicopter to Madison’s University Hospital. The driver died from his injuries the next day. The passenger is still hospitalized and her condition is listed as critical.
There is no word yet on whether additional charges will be filed against the driver of the Jeep; however, it is likely since one of the accident victims died and he was already charged with DUI.
The families of those who are injured or killed in such accidents do not have to rely on criminal charges to hold someone accountable. A civil lawsuit may be filed against the responsible party, and such a lawsuit requires less of a burden of proof than a criminal charge does for a conviction.
Source:
host.madison.com, “Alleged drunken driver arrested after Sauk County crash kills motorcyclist, critically injures passenger” Bill Novak, Sep. 03, 2013
