Wilmington Hit And Run Accident Leaves Bicyclist Dead
In the wake of a recent hit and run accident in Wilmington that claimed the life of a bicyclist, it's important for drivers to understand that fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious crime in North Carolina that could lead to serious legal repercussions.
According to Star News, Zachary Paul Tyler, 27, was riding his bicycle home from work when he was struck and killed by a car. The driver fled the scene of the accident, and minutes later a passer-by attempted to perform CPR on the injured victim. Tragically, Tyler was pronounced dead on the scene in what became a fatal hit and run accident.
Our Wilmington car accident lawyers know that hit and run accidents can be very serious. Often times, drivers flee the scene of an accident because they're wanted by police, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or afraid that they'll be found at fault due to factors such as speeding, texting while driving, or other negligent behaviors. In other hit-and-run accidents involving motorcyclists and bicycle riders, drivers may flee the scene because they feel that the rider won't have a chance to identify them.
Driver Identified In Hit And Run Accident
With the aid of an accident reconstruction team and other investigative methods, police recovered the vehicle involved with the accident shortly thereafter. Days after the accident, a 23-year-old woman turned herself in to police, and, because she fled the scene of the accident, she faces both felony hit and run and misdemeanor death by vehicle charges. The woman could face up to two years of prison time and probation for the fatal hit and run accident.
While the cause of the accident is under investigation, according to police reports, the suspected hit-and-run driver was not impaired at the time of the crash. What's known is that her vehicle crossed over into the bike lane, that the victim was pedaling "entirely" in the bike lane at the time of the accident, and that the driver had decided to leave the scene of the accident. Unfortunately, in many instances, accidents involving bicyclists involve factors such as speeding, distracted driving, the use of handheld devices such as cell phones while driving, or driver fatigue. While it's unfair to say that the driver was guilty of any of these negligent actions, it certainly remains a possibility in this tragic case.
No matter the cause or type of crash, from a minor rear end accident to an accident involving a bicyclist or motorcyclist, it is illegal to flee the scene of an accident. Period. Laws vary from state to state, but when a hit-and-run accident results in severe personal injury or somebody's death, it becomes a criminal charge that could result in prison time. In this tragic case, one life has been lost and another faces criminal prosecution for what she chose to do after being involved in a serious accident.
If you've been injured in an accident through no fault of your own, contact a personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Richard Flexner today. Call 1-800-FLEXNER (800-353-9637) for a free case consultation.
