According to the Herald-Tribune, 46-year-old James Sellers catastrophically injured a 64-year-old man and a 25-year-old man in an alleged drunk driving crash. Florida Highway Patrol says that Sellers was traveling on State Road 70 when he crashed into two vehicles that were stopped at an intersection.
William Stover, 64, and Trevin Scott, 25, were in the process of towing a vehicle. While stopped at the intersection, both men got out to fix the tow straps. Sellers struck both of them when he plowed into the vehicles.
Sellers is charged with careless driving, DUI causing serious bodily injury, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Unfortunately, the list of charges may increase; on the comment section of the Herald-Tribune page, people claiming to know the two men said that Stover later died in the hospital. As of this writing, Scott is still fighting for his life in the ICU.
What Are the Penalties for a DUI Conviction?
Florida penalties for a DUI conviction can result in a fine as small as $250 to imprisonment. It varies case-by-case.
Possible penalties for first time DUI convictions:
- Fine of $250 to $500
- 50 hours of community service
- Not more than one year of probation
- Not more than six months of imprisonment
- Up to nine months imprisonment for a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher with a minor in the vehicle
- A minimum of 180 days of a license revocation
- Attend 12 hours of DUI school
In this case, Sellers was charged with a DUI causing serious bodily injury, which can result in his license being revoked for a minimum of three years.
Unfortunately, Florida law can allow multiple DUI convictions to accumulate for just one person. It definitely gives DUI offenders “second chances,” but this is done at the expense of public safety. If you have been injured by a convicted DUI offender, hire a qualified law firm that will fight for the damages you are owed.