A Hawthorne man will face manslaughter and DUIfollowing the death of a pregnant pedestrian. The 42-year-old man remains jailed on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He also faces charges of hit-and-run driving causing death and hit-and-run driving causing injury.

According to witnesses, a man and woman attempted to cross Prairie Street in Hawthorne around 1:45 AM on July 14. The driver failed to yield and struck the pair, then fled the scene. First responders took the male victim to the hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. They pronounced the woman, who was pregnant, dead at the scene.

Police found evidence at the scene that indicated the identity of the driver. They went to the man’s home and observed him entering his residence. Nearby, they found the man’s car, which had sustained significant front-end damage. Police arrested the man and lodged him in jail, under suspicion of Drunk Driving.

He remains jailed in lieu of a $360,000 bond and will return to court on September 4 for matters related to his case. He could face 10 years in state prison if convicted.

Hawthorne DUI Lawyer

When you face charges for a DUI in LA County, hire an experienced DUI lawyer like Robert Helfend. Mr. Helfend has 35 years of experience in criminal defense and takes drunk driving cases in Los Angeles County.

Fortunately, most drunk Driving arrests don’t result in serious injuries or felony charges. This case illustrates what can happen when you’re drunk behind the wheel and cause injury or death. The misdemeanor charges you might have faced suddenly accelerate to multiple felony charges. A felony conviction can transform probation or a short jail term into years in state prison.

Regardless of the charges you face, you need the assistance of an experienced criminal defense lawyer in court. Drunk Driving Charges can be serious and can result in felony convictions, jail time, fines, driving restrictions and other sanctions. You can lose your driver’s license, and pay high insurance premiums for years to follow.

Don’t attempt to represent yourself in court against drunk driving charges. Contact Robert Helfend or call toll-free at (800) 834-6434, (310) 456-3317, (818) 591-2809 or (805) 273-5611 for an immediate consultation on your Los Angeles County DUI case.

Photo Credit: Darien Law, via Flickr.com