A Northern Virginia man was charged with driving under the influence, refusal to submit a blood or breath test and felony manslaughter in the accident that claimed the life of a 19-year-old Virginia Commonwealth University student from Virginia Beach.
According to reports, 23-year-old Varinder Chahal of Springfield, Va. was driving his 2004 Mazda westbound on Canal street just after midnight Wednesday morning when he ran a red light and t-boned a Toyota Yaris heading northbound on 2nd street. The Yaris then hit a nearby building and 19-year-old Caroline Perez, who was a passenger in the Yaris, was killed in the crash.
Two others in the Yaris suffered non-life-threatening injuries and the four people in Chahal’s vehicle were uninjured. An article on ibtimes.com said an officer in a nearby parking lot who was catching up on paperwork witnessed the crash.
If convicted of his charges as they stand, he faces severe penalties of at least one year in prison and up to 20 years in prison. You can read more about specific penalties for driving under the influence here>>.
If you are facing drunk driving charges, we understand the importance of your situation. Contact our Virginia DWI attorneys today and find out how our experienced lawyers can assist you and fight on your behalf.
