On Tuesday, a woman was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison for driving under the influence of drugs that resulted in the death of an 8-year-old boy. According to accident reports, 39-year-old Kimberly Garrett was operating her vehicle on Darwin when she veered off the roadway and into the yard of the victim. The child, Kayale Fruge, was standing in his yard when he was struck by Garrett’s vehicle. She then continued to drive away from the scene of the accident and returned to her home nearby. A witness followed her to her home and called police resulting in her arrest. Prior to the accident, Garrett had used heroin, cocaine, and Xanax and was driving illegally due to DUI charges she sustained in March. The boy was transported to the hospital where he was placed on life support for several days before he died. Garrett was convicted of second-degree murder.
Auto accidents caused by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol have declined over the past several years, but unfortunately, DUI accidents happen thousands of times a year. DUI accidents are one of the most preventable types of auto accidents, and those responsible will likely receive criminal punishment. If you have been injured or lost a loved on in a DUI accident, you may have grounds to recover compensation for your damages.
The experienced St. Louis DUI accident lawyers at Meyerkord & Kurth will fight aggressively to hold a reckless driver responsible for their negligence. Our attorneys have handled thousands of accident cases and will work to obtain the compensation you deserve. Contact us to speak with an experienced accident attorney today.