A Grand Rapids woman who allegedly caused a serious car crash by driving the wrong way on US-131 in August now faces additional drug charges in connection with a minor car accident she was involved in earlier the same day. She was already charged with reckless driving causing serious impairment and driving with a suspended license causing injury stemming from the wrong-way accident.
According to Michigan State Police, the 36-year-old defendant drove her SUV north on southbound US-131 around 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 5 and crashed head-on into another car. The car’s driver, a 49-year-old Grand Rapids man, was severely injured in the collision. The defendant was also hurt in the crash and now uses a wheelchair.
Eight hours prior to the US-131 accident, the defendant was allegedly involved in another minor car crash. Deputies from the Kent County Sheriff’s Department responded after she hit a pole in a drug store parking lot and found her in possession of pills in unmarked bottles. The deputies drove her home and told her not to drive again. The pills were later tested and found to be prescription drugs for which she allegedly had no prescription.
The defendant has a previous criminal record of DUI and driving with a suspended license. She paid a $20,000 bond and was released.
A drug crime, such as a prescription drug charge, often carries serious criminal penalties. If someone is accused of felony drug possession, they could be fined, jailed and even lose their right to vote or own a firearm. An attorney could work to protect a defendant’s rights in a criminal case. It is possible, for example, that a defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure were violated as authorities gathered evidence, which may lead to a reduction or dismissal of charges.
Source: MLive, “Alleged wrong-way driver charged with having drugs in her car eaerlier the same day”, Barton Deiters, November 12, 2014
