ALE charges seven for underage alcohol offenses after fatal crash
On August 12, this blog reported that a 17-year-old Fayetteville woman is facing numerous felony charges and DWI charges based upon allegations of a fatal alcohol-related car accident. Police say seven people were riding in a Nissan Pathfinder that overturned after striking a curb. Two teenagers reportedly died as a result of the roll-over accident. Police claim the 17-year-old driver registered .14 percent blood-alcohol content on the night of the crash.
Law enforcement says as many as seven other people are facing charges related to the incident. Two people who were not at the scene of the accident were charged last week related to the furnishing of alcohol to a minor. Five additional North Carolina teens are facing underage alcohol charges, according to the North Carolina Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE).
Police say the accident occurred when the woman accused of driving the vehicle was on a return trip to a birthday party in Fayetteville. Last week ALE officials charged a convenience store clerk with unlawfully selling a malt beverage to an underage person. Charges were also brought last week against the 20-year-old Fayetteville woman accused of hosting the party where alcohol was served.
Four 18-year-old teens and a 16-year-old have now been charged with North Carolina underage alcohol offenses related to the allegations arising that evening. All face criminal charges on allegations of buying, providing or consuming alcohol while underage.
The young woman accused of driving the Pathfinder at the time of the accident faces two counts each of felony death by motor vehicle and felony assault by motor vehicle. Police allege the woman had left the party to pick up a group of people and was returning when the Pathfinder flipped over.
Source: Fayetteville observer, “Eight charged in underage drinking that preceded fatal Fayetteville wreck,” Aug. 24, 2011
Tags: After, Alcohol, Charges, Crash, Fatal, offenses, seven, Underage