West Virginia Deputy Killed by Drunk Driver | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

A West Virginia (WV) deputy’s family is grieving the loss of a loved one after he lost his life to a drunk driver near Morgantown on February 18, 2012.

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the at-fault driver was fleeing police after being pulled ver for suspicion of causing an earlier hit-and-run when he slammed into the rear of the deputy’s parke cruiser on the shoulder of I-79. The officer survived the collision but later succumbed to his injuries at Ruby Memorial Hospital.
 

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The intoxicated driver admitted to arresting officers that he had been drinking and taking controlled substances. He has been charged with several crimes, including homicide by vehicle, murder of a law enforcement officer and driving under the influence.
 
Tragedies such as this accident are horrible, especially because they could be avoided if people did not drink or take controlled substances before driving. As a result of a serious lapse in judgment, one man is dead, his family and friends are devastated, and another man faces murder charges.

A knowledgeable, compassionate West Virginia wrongful death attorney can be invaluable in times like this to help sort out the facts from the emotions the victim’s family is most certainly experiencing. While it is not the first thing on their minds, family members may be entitled to compensation awarded through a wrongful death lawsuit. It will not bring their loved one back, but it may help support them financially as they deal with their grief.
 
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