A Polk County driver faces DUI manslaughter charges after hitting a member of a roadside construction crew in the wee hours of October 19, 2006. The driver of a white BMW, Elias Sota, lost control of his vehicle and slammed into a worksite installing traffic signals. Sota hit a young man, 18-year old Michael Gunter, while unpacking a trailer. He suffered from two broken legs and severe internal bleeding.
Gunter died months later as a result of his injuries. This week Sota will head to trial to face charges of DUI manslaughter, manslaughter by culpable negligence and two counts of DUI stemming from the 2006 crash. However, the defendant's blood alcohol content registered below the Florida legal limit of .08 at .051 and .055, at the time of arrest.
Florida Highway Patrol has reported that even though his blood alcohol content registered below the legal limit, Sota allegedly smelled of alcohol and failed roadside sobriety testing. Witnesses stated that the defendant laughed at the crash scene, chatted with by standers and then proceeded to urinate in the street. The prosecution has issued a statement that the breath test results established that Sota had consumed alcohol prior to the accident, even if the result registered below the legal limit.
If you or a loved one has been charged with an alcohol related felony crime, contact a knowledgeable Polk County attorney for a free, comprehensive review of your case. Musca Law has over 100 years of combined legal experience with convenient offices located across the State of Florida. Our attorneys have handled countless alcohol and/or DUI related cases with proven successful results. Contact Musca Law for help with your case today.
