SJAFB Airman’s BAC Twice the Legal Limit Prior to a Deadly Drunk Driving Crash?

Per a WRAL-TV report, a teen was the victim of a deadly drunk driving crash in Goldsboro in mid-December. A Seymour Johnson Air Force chief master sergeant is facing driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges in connection with the tragic incident. The SJAFB airman was also charged with failing to reduce his speed following the fatal crash, which took place on a Saturday night around 7 pm.

The SJAF sergeant, who is 47 years old according to a report in the Goldsboro Daily News, was reportedly driving his Hyundai 70 mph in a 35-mph zone on George Street when he crashed into a 17-year-old man’s Jeep. After the initial collision, the SJAF airman pushed the Jeep another 159 feet in his Hyundai until the teen’s vehicle crashed into a utility pole. The 17-year-old driver of the Jeep was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital with head injuries. Following that, he was airlifted to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, where he later died.

A passenger in the Jeep was asleep leading up to the incident and does not remember many details about the wreck. The driver of the Hyundai told police that the Jeep was parked in the road with its lights off before the crash. However, an investigation discovered that the Jeep was moving and did have its lights on at the time of the deadly collision. According to a police report obtained by the Goldsboro Daily News, the SJAF sergeant had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .16, which is double the legal limit in North Carolina.

What Should I Do If My Loved One Is the Victim of a Fatal Drunk Driving Crash?

It’s important to remember that even if a drunk driver is arrested, charged and convicted, that does not help injury victims and the families of wrongful death victims with the financial burdens they will face as a result of the incident. However, filing a civil claim can help victims and families hold those at fault for their pain and suffering accountable financially. Recoveries in civil lawsuits can provide families with the financial help they need to cover hospital bills, rehabilitation expenses, loss of income (including future estimated earnings) and funeral costs.