Woman Charged in 2011 Fatal Drunk Driving Accident

 Posted on July 18, 2012 in Personal Injury

In December of last year Magali Padilla, 24, of Cicero was driving while intoxicated and caused a rollover crash that "ended with her boyfriend being crushed by the tumbling vehicle," according to the chtribune. At the time her blood alcohol content was measured at more than twice the legal limit at 0.17, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Barry Quinn told the Tribune. Padilla's boyfriend, Cesar Ramirez, 26, was ejected from the car and died from injuries sustained in the crash when the driver lost control of the fast-moving vehicle, struck a curb, and rolled over several times. Padilla was not arrested until mid-July 2012 because it was unclear who was driving. A surveillance video from the restaurant at which Padilla and Ramirez dined that night was released, clearly showing that Padilla was indeed driving the vehicle when it crashed. As a result, Cook County Criminal Court Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. "ordered Padilla held in lieu of $350,000 bail." According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, in 2010, 10,228 people died in drunk driving crashes. That's one every 52 minutes. Nearly 350,000 people were injured in such crashes, and on average one in three people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime. Most of these crashes are minor, but those such as Padilla's carry heavy punishments, sometimes up to life in prison. According to the Tribune, Padilla is being charged with reckless homicide and aggravated drunken driving. If you or someone you know is accused in a drunk driving incident or with negligence in a car accident, don't go through it alone. Contact a dedicated Chicago-area injury attorney today. We can help to get your life back on track.