A death in any DUI accident is tragic, and most can be charged with either vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated or gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Under a set of specific circumstances, however, a death resulting from a DUI accident can be charged as murder. In order for murder to be charged, a person must have a previous DUI. They also must have been warned by the courts that any subsequent death caused by DUI could result in a murder charge or have attended a DUI school, where all students are warned that DUI can be charged as murder. The LA Times reports on a man charged with three counts of murder for his part in a July accident that claimed three lives.
30-year-old Jeremy Greenwood was charged by prosecutors with three counts of murder and other driving under the influence charges.
The charges stem from a July accident where Greenwood ran a green light at the intersection of Harvard Avenue and Michelson Drive. He was traveling at 86 m.p.h. at the time of the accident. He struck the car the victims were traveling in, which spun across the sidewalk.
Witnesses pulled Greenwood from his own damaged vehicle.
23-year-old Kasean Herrera and 24-year-old Jeremy Shankling were pronounced dead at the scene. 19-year-old London Thibodeaux died as a result of her injuries four days later. Another victim, whose name was not released, suffered a severe brain injury.
Greenwood had a previous DUI conviction from 2012. If convicted, he faces 51 years to life in prison.
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