Woman injured by alleged drunk driver, dies

A Grafton nursing assistant and home health care aid was injured in a car accident on March 4. The crash was supposedly caused by an impaired driver who was on the wrong side of the street and hit the woman’s car in a serious car crash.

The 35-year-old woman from Grafton died while being treated for her injuries at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center. Whether she died of injuries suffered in the head-on collision with the alleged drunken driver, or other unrelated causes, has not yet been determined.

The woman’s injuries were serious although she was reported earlier as being in good condition. She was being treated for broken ribs, lacerated liver, fractured vertebrae and a knee injury.

According to news sources, the crash which resulted in her injuries was caused by a 49-year-old driver who was reportedly drinking at a Grafton restaurant prior to the crash. The 49-year-old man from Northbridge failed the sobriety test according to the police.

He has been charged with drunken driving, drunk driving with serious injuries, failing to keep to the right side of the road and reckless driving. New charges may arise due to the death of the 35-year-old accident victim.

When the negligence of a driver causes a serious personal injury, or death, of another driver or passenger, the negligent driver may be held liable for damages including pain and suffering. In this case, in addition to facing serious criminal charges, the 49-year-old may be held liable for wrongful death should the 35-year-old woman’s family decide to litigate this matter.

Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette, “Grafton woman injured in a March collision with alleged drunk driver dies,” Scott J. Croteau, April 15, 2012