DUI fatalities are always tragic, but when it involves the death of children, it becomes even more heartbreaking. Chandler police have reported that an 11-year-old boy is dead and his little brother is in the hospital after a suspected DUI crash, according to azfamily.com.
"To call it 'unfortunate' is really an understatement," Chandler police detective Seth Tyler said. "If this is the result of impairment, it's just another example of the dangers and the consequences of driving while impaired."
Police allege that David Wiggins was intoxicated and trying to evade police when he slammed into the SUV the boys were riding in at 2 a.m. early Saturday morning. Wiggins was reportedly spotted by an undercover police officer as he was leaving a Chandler bar. The officer involved stated that Wiggins ran a red light and drove into oncoming traffic.
Although officers backed off the chase, Wiggins’ erratic flight shortly ended when he collided with the SUV driven by the boys’ father, a doctor in the Valley. The father was reportedly on call at the time and had his sons in the vehicle because his spouse was out of town.
Both the boys were hospitalized in serious condition. The eldest died Saturday afternoon, while the 7-year-old remains in serious condition.
David Wiggins was also injured in the suspected DUI crash, and police expect to book him on charges of first-degree murder, felony flight from law enforcement and driving under the influence once he is released, according to azfamily.com.
Under Arizona law, if a car accident results in a DUI fatality, the impaired driver could face enhanced criminal charges and additional punishments, such as increased jail time. Drunk driving fatalities typically result in class 4 felonies for causing death by use of a vehicle or, at worst, murder charges, in addition to the criminal DUI charges against them. First-degree murder is the most serious crime a person can be charged with.
Related Resources:
- Find a Phoenix DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
- Chandler Collision Kills Child; DUI Suspected (The Arizona Republic)
- Felony Drunk Driving (FindLaw)
- DUI Crash Leads to Murder Charge (The Phoenix DUI Blog)
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