In Georgia, not only can a victim hold an intoxicated driver responsible for injuries sustained in a car accident, but they may also be able to hold the party who served the alcohol liable as well. Georgia, along with several other states, have laws on the books known as “dram laws.” These laws make it possible to hold an alcohol vendor liable if they knowingly provide alcohol to a minor, knowingly serves alcohol to a person who is visibly intoxicated, and the vendor knows that the person will be driving a motor vehicle. The Legal Herald reports on a Webster County DUI accident that killed one woman and injured five others.
On September 6th, 36-year-old Dathard Bailey was arrested for his role in a fatal August 31st crash on Highway 520 in Webster County.
Police believe that Bailey was intoxicated when his vehicle crashed into the back of a van that was carrying six women, including the driver, 43-year-old Agueva Frometa.
Frometa was killed in the accident. She and five other passengers were all ejected during the accident. The five surviving women were brought to Piedmont Columbus Regional for treatment. One of those women had injuries that were so severe she needed to be airlifted to Columbus for further treatment.
Some of the injuries the women suffered included broken bones and spinal injuries.
The Georgia State Police’s Specialized Crash Reconstruction Team are investigating the accident.
Bailey is facing charges of first-degree felony vehicular homicide, DUI alcohol, following too closely, five counts of causing injury, speeding, and reckless driving.
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