On Saturday March 2, a 17-year-old Lowell High School student was crossing at a crosswalk located at Sloat and Vale Avenues when she was struck by a driver who was allegedly drunk; she was dragged a short distance, and pronounced dead at San Francisco General Hospital.
Hanren Chang of San Francisco is the victim. According to police spokesman Officer Gordon Shyy, Change was walking at approximately 11:20 p.m. on Saturday evening when she walked north across Sloat at Vale Avenue. She was struck by a car heading in a westbound direction. According to a news report at The San Francisco Examiner, the driver of the vehicle, 29-year-old Kieran Brewer, was charged with DUI and vehicular manslaughter. He was booked into the County Jail, although he did remain at the scene of the accident and was said to be cooperative with police investigators.
News reports indicate that while a crosswalk is located at the intersection where the accident occurred, there is no stop sign or stoplight for motorists who are driving across Sloat. Pedestrian safety improvements have been planned for the busy east-west thoroughfare; in fact, it was expected that $797,000 in federal funds for the upgrades would be authorized by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Monday.
San Francisco vehicular manslaughter defense attorneys know that in this situation, the defendant will face serious criminal penalties if convicted on a felony charge of vehicular manslaughter. If convicted as a felony, the defendant will face a sentence of 16 months or two or four years in prison, along with fines of up to $10,000. Penalties may be even more severe for individuals with a prior criminal record.
If you or someone you know have been arrested for a serious or violent offense, do not take matters into your own hands. In order to protect your reputation, freedom, and future it is critical that you discuss your situation with a skilled and capable San Francisco criminal defense lawyer. Your attorney will thoroughly review your case in order to determine the most effective legal approach and strategy.
