A suspected drunk driver caused a head-on collision when she drove the wrong way on I-94 in Minneapolis on Monday, December 11, 2017.
At about 2 a.m. Monday morning, a car driven by a 25-year-old woman was traveling north in the southbound lane of I-94 in Minneapolis when it collided with a southbound car (traveling in the correct lane), driven by Andrew R. Witthuhn. The Minnesota State Patrol believes the driver of the wrong-way vehicle had been drinking and that this was a factor in the accident.
Mr. Witthuhn, the 25-year-old driver of the wrong-way vehicle and her passenger suffered life-threatening injuries.
Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a significant problem in Minnesota, with over 20,000 accidents per year. Over 300 of these result in injuries and deaths.
It is against the law to get behind the wheel and drive on Minnesota roads with an alcohol concentration (AC) of .08 or more or within two hours of
doing so. When someone is arrested for a DWI, there may be criminal charges. In cases where there is life-threatening injury caused by this illegal, reckless behavior, the driver may be charged with a felony. It is possible, however, that the driver will be charged with a misdemeanor or not charged at all.
Even if there are not criminal charges, a person injured in the crash has the right to pursue compensation and justice by suing the drunk driver. If the DWI driver was served alcohol at a bar before the collision, that bar can also be sued. This is called a dram shop claim.
Our accident lawyers join the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the CDC in urging people not to drink and drive.