Manhunt for Driver in Fatal Philadelphia Drunk Driving Car Crash
Police are looking for Kenney Bellegarde, a 21-year-old from Philadelphia accused of vehicular homicide for the death of Vanessa Tomlin of New Jersey in a car crash in October. Tomlin was a passenger in the vehicle Bellegarde was driving while intoxicated and was killed in the car accident. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Bellegarde was drinking at a wedding prior to the crash and had a BAC almost double the legal limit at the time of the Pennsylvania car accident.
Anyone with information regarding Mr Bellegarde’s whereabouts is urged to call the local police department or the Crime Commission tip line at 215-546-8477 or 877-345-8477.
In the United States, about a third of all car crashes are alcohol-related. In 2009, 10,839 people lost their lives because of an accident that involved a driver with a BAC of .08 percent or higher. In Pennsylvania, there were 406 deaths that year from alcohol-related car accidents.
In Pennsylvania car crash cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, the family of a deceased auto accident victim can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages. Not only is Mr. Bellegarde both criminally and civilly liable, but an experienced wrongful death attorney will also investigate if anyone serving him alcohol at the wedding reception was aware that Bellegarde was beyond the legal limit. They could also be held legally responsible for the fatal car accident.
In Pennsylvania, there are dram shop laws in place to hold restaurants, bars, or other establishments that sell alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person accountable for injuries or fatalities caused by a person who chooses to drive drunk following heavy drinking at an establishment. Because these laws are complicated, it’s recommended that an experienced PA liquor liability lawyer conduct a thorough and independent investigation following a car crash in Pennsylvania involving a drunk driver.
Bar and restaurant owners must train their staff so that they can identify intoxicated patrons and stop serving them when they see visible signs of intoxication. If you are dealing with the aftermath of a fatal DUI car accident, please call the Pennsylvania car accident lawyers at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP to find out more information about how to pursue your legal rights as a victim.
