Woman Suffers Broken Neck in Car Wreck, Driver Gets DUI
A 22-year-old driver was charged with negligent vehicular assault, criminal endangerment, and a misdemeanor count of DUI following an automobile accident that left a 20-year-old female passenger with a broken neck. Mitchell Lane Ralph was reportedly riding with 4 other passengers in his pickup truck when he lost control of the vehicle and rolled through an embankment.
The 20-year-old passenger was ejected from the truck and a second female passenger also suffered serious injuries in the crash. Two male passengers riding with Ralph suffered less severe injuries. Ralph reportedly admitted to the judge that he was intoxicated and distracted when the car went off the road. Ralph is currently free on a $40,000 bond.
Two very dangerous factors played a part in this accident; operating a vehicle while intoxicated and being distracted on the road. These are two very common reasons why people are involved in very serious automobile accidents. The report states that Ralph had been cited for a misdemeanor charge of DUI in the past prior to this accident. Two other charges were dismissed in this incident including driving without insurance and having an open container in a vehicle.
In the state of Montana where this accident occurred, a driver charged with DUI could face up to 6 months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines for a first offense. This accident could easily have been avoided if the driver of the pickup had not been drinking. Now as a result of his actions, a 20-year-old woman suffered a broken neck and one other person was in the hospital with serious injuries.
