07/01/2011 // New York City, New York, USA // New York City Accident Lawyer // Jonathan C Reiter
New York City (Staten Island auto accident attorney news) – On Tuesday, June 14, 2011, a Staten Island court sentenced Gypsy Porfirio, 36, of Brooklyn, to six years in prison for her role in a Staten Island crash that lead to the death of a 23-year-old man, as reported by Staten Island Live. According to Staten Island auto accident attorney, Jonathan C Reiter, Porfirio was under the influence of prescription drugs when she crashed her car into the man while he was jogging in Annadale.
New York City injury attorney Jonathan C Reiter explains that Porfirio pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault and criminal drug possession in April 2011. The Staten Island crash occurred January 5, 2011, according to Staten Island auto accident attorney Jonathan C Reiter.
It was reported that Porfirio claimed she blacked out while driving after she took oxycodone, a painkiller, and Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication, as stated by New York City injury attorney Jonathan C Reiter. It was reported in court that Porfirio took four to five Percocets, a painkiller that contains oxycodone, and two Xanax, the antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication before the Staten Island crash.
Staten Island auto accident attorney Jonathan C Reiter points out that police reportedly found 45 pills of the painkiller and 15 pills of the other when searching her car after the Staten Island crash.
While the defense claimed psychological issues, including bi-polar disorder and clinical depression, as well as addiction, the judge deemed the case “a tragedy, a senseless taking of a life,” explains Staten Island auto accident attorney Jonathan C Reiter. The judge also articulated that Porfirio “had no business driving,” driving, and that her actions displayed a “selfish, callous indifference.”
New York City injury attorney Jonathan C Reiter explains that the judge sentenced the woman to six years for vehicular manslaughter, one to three years for vehicular assault and one year for criminal possession of a controlled substance, to be served concurrently.
The victim of this tragic accident was 23-year-old Daniel Kelley, a special education teacher at PS 16 in Tompkinsville. Kelley was jogging with his fiancée along a wooded stretch of Hylan Boulevard near Blue Heron Park at 4:45 on January 5 when the woman struck him, according to reports received by Staten Island auto accident attorney Jonathan C Reiter. Kelley suffered severe head and chest trauma and died of his injuries five days after the Staten Island crash.
Staten Island auto accident attorney Jonathan C Reiter points out that while DUIs (involving alcohol) are easier to spot and prosecute, impairments by prescription drugs are not as simple as conducting a breathalyzer. The New York City injury attorney explains that law enforcement officials say the problem is growing so quickly that states have provided special training to spot signs of drug impairment and have begun searching for better technologies to detect it.
Staten Island auto accident attorney Jonathan C Reiter also explains that true statistics on drug-related car crash fatalities are unreliable, because many states combine arrest data with those charged with drunk driving. Thanks to the growing awareness of drug-induced driving under the influence, cases such as Porfirio’s can come to a just end, with charges pressed and sentences served.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident that was caused by another person’s negligent behavior or reckless driving, you have legal rights that entitle you to financial compensation for your injuries, lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. As an experienced and skillful Staten Island auto accident attorney, Jonathan C Reiter can inform you of your rights, discuss your legal options and prepare a strong personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. To contact the Staten Island auto accident attorneys of Jonathan C Reiter, call (212) 736-0979 to schedule a consultation.
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