The Courier Express has reported that a DuBois woman has been found guilty of DUI, assault and other charges in regards to a drunk driving incident in which she crashed head-on into another vehicle and caused injuries.
K.B., 31, was found guilty of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, DUI and recklessly endangering another person.
Judge Paul Cherry presided on the case in Clearfield County Court. The jury took one hour to deliberate before reaching a verdict.
On October 14, 2012 K.B. drove head-on into another vehicle driven by A.M., 27, causing A.M. to sustain hip injuries. K.B. failed field sobriety test and was presumed to be under the influence of alcohol.
According to K.B.'s attorney Ronald Collins his client had the accident due to being in an unfamiliar vehicle that failed to have panel lights, and as she tried to adjust the car's heater she swerved into oncoming traffic.
District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. asked that a bail amount be set after the verdicts were read. Judge Cherry said that K.B. was not at risk for fleeing before her sentencing. Shaw then argued that K.B. was still a threat to the community and he needed to have some stipulation set to make sure she complied with her bail conditions – including prohibiting K.B. from consuming alcohol.
Judge Cherry ruled that the bail remains unsecured at $25,000, however, K.B. is to be monitored by the probation office.
Shaw said that the victim will have life-long problems due to the accident while K.B. will only serve time in jail, and later, probation.
Sentencing will occur within the next 60 days. K.B. faces a minimum of nine months in prison, and a maximum of 10 years.
On the morning of the accident in Sandy Township, A.M. was headed for work in DuBois at about 5:45 a.m. via Route 119. She was near Stanley Bottom Road when she spied headlights coming toward her, and as the lights drew closer A.M. realized they were directly in front of her – in her lane.
A.M. braked hard as K.B. drove into her. The impact caused A.M.'s car to roll and then come to rest on the passenger's side. As A.M. was not secured by a seatbelt she was flung into the passenger side of her car and was trapped. With her arm outside of the vehicle, she waited nearly 90 minutes to be rescued from her vehicle and taken to a trauma center in Altoona Hospital.
While in the hospital, and having her dislocated hip put back into place, it was determined that A.M. would require surgery to repair the damage. Following surgery, she went though 18 weeks of physical therapy.
K.B. admitted to drinking with friends, falling asleep, and then waking up a short time later in a home that wasn't hers and alone with a man she didn't know. After making the decision to flee, K.B. got no more than 4 miles before plowing her car into A.M.
K.B.'s blood alcohol percent proved to be 0.217 percent.
Facing jail time for DUI charges? Contact a DUI attorney for help right away! Don't accept a plea deal until you have the opportunity for your DUI attorney to explain what may happen if you do.