When it comes to a fatal crash where it is suspected someone was under the influence, that driver may be charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, murder, or perhaps both. The vehicular manslaughter charge may be charged as either a felony or misdemeanor, depending on what the prosecution believes they can prove. For DUI murder, the prosecution must believe that they can prove that the suspect as aware that driving under the influence was a great risk and consciously chose to ignore that risk and drive anyway. NBC Los Angeles reports on a man facing murder as well as vehicular manslaughter charges in the DUI accident that killed his mother.
A man is accused of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, drunken driving causing injury, and murder for a May accident that claimed the life of his mother.
52-year-old Thonglinh Khemphomma must stand trial for these charges, a judge decided on Wednesday.
Khemphomma was driving a 2005 Nissan Sentra that drifted towards the left side of the freeway into a center divider at about 7:20 a.m. on May 21st. The car then went over an embankment and overturned.
73-year-old Sim Khemphomma, Khemphomma’s mother, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Khemphomma was treated for moderate injuries before being booked into Riverside County Jail in Indio.
He is still in custody in lieu of $1 million dollars bail. He is slated for another appearance on July 3 for another hearing arraignment.
