A 22-year-old Virginia man faces a litany of charges following an accident this past weekend about 200 miles southwest of Leesburg. The man reportedly crashed his sports utility vehicle into an assisted living facility in Roanoke.
He has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving on a revoked license and eluding police, a Roanoke police spokesperson said.
Fortunately, no one inside the facility was injured in the crash and the driver and his passenger also emerged unscathed after the SUV struck the building at about 10 p.m. on Saturday.
After the crash, responding firefighters turned off electricity and other utilities, meaning that the 26 residents of the center had to be relocated. A facility manager said residents were moved to the homes of relatives or placed in nearby hotels.
Law enforcement officials had apparently spotted the driver speeding at approximately 70 mph on a street about five blocks from the assisted living facility. An officer began pursuit but was unable to overtake the vehicle before the crash took place, the spokesperson said.
The SUV passenger was released by officials with no charges filed.
Obviously, the driver is in a much different, more serious situation.
The Commonwealth of Virginia can levy harsh penalties on those convicted of drunk driving. Even a first-time conviction can mean up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. A driver can also see their license revoked for a year.
For those facing those possibilities, it makes sense to discuss with an experienced DUI attorney the best legal options available.
Source: Roanoke Times, “Man charged with DUI after crashing into Roanoke assisted living center,” Matt Chittum, May 11, 2014