Sioux Falls – On July 30, 2012, the driver of a Chrysler 300 was heading south on Minnesota Avenue, travelling about 60 mph, it was later revealed that the driver had been texting while driving just prior to the crash. The Chrysler was traveling in the outside lane when it drifted into an inside lane where the Chrysler struck a Nissan Maxima. According to Sioux Falls police, the Chrysler then swerved to the left where it struck a Ford that was travelling northbound in the inside lane.
Sioux Falls police report that the accident did not stop there, the defendant's Chrysler, still heading in the northbound lane continued south where it struck a Ford mini-van. Upon striking the mini-van, the Chrysler then ran into a motorcycle that was traveling southeast towards the intersection and the motorcyclist was killed.
The Chrysler continued across the northbound lane where it hit a light pole located at the southeastern corner of the intersection. From there, the Chrysler drove through a series of bushes and landscaping before finally coming to rest in the Walgreens parking lot.
According to Sioux Falls police, when the Chrysler came to a stop the defendant promptly got out of his vehicle and fled the scene on foot. Eyewitnesses followed the defendant and police were able to apprehend the man at the corner of 1st Avenue and 24th Street.
The driver of the Chrysler is currently facing 1st and 2nd Degree Manslaughter charges for allegedly causing the high speed crash that killed the 33-year-old motorcyclist from Sioux Falls. The Minnehaha County State's Attorney's Office said that 1st Degree Manslaughter is a Class C felony that is punishable with up to life imprisonment, while 2nd Degree Manslaughter is a Class 4 felony, punishable up to 10 years in state prison. The pretrial hearing for the driver of the Chrysler has been reset for November 5th.
Attorney Jim Even of the Even Law Firm has been representing injured victims and their family members in personal injury cases for the past 30 years. Unfortunately texting while driving is a common form of driver negligence that has led to countless deaths and injuries in recent years. If you have been involved in an accident as a direct result of someone else's negligence or recklessness, then you are urged to contact the firm at once to find out if you have grounds to file a lawsuit against the legally liable party.