Man arrested over drug-driving fatal crash on Soroksári Road
The Central District Court of Buda ordered the remand in custody on Saturday of a 34-year-old man who caused a fatal accident while under the influence of drugs. According to the court, the suspect's inclination to comply with norms is extraordinarily low.
Suspect in Soroksári Road fatal crash held in remand
The Central District Court of Buda on Saturday ordered the remand in custody of a 34-year-old man who caused a fatal traffic accident in Budapest's ninth district on Thursday morning at around six o'clock, the court said, as reported by 24.hu.
The suspect crossed from the inner lane of Soroksári Road towards oncoming traffic and then collided with a personal vehicle travelling in the outer lane. Following the collision, the victim's car struck the roadside and a bollard preventing parking. The driver of the other vehicle died at the scene, and its passenger was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Following the accident, a rapid drug test performed at the scene showed a positive result. The investigating authority informed the accused of well-founded suspicion of the criminal offence of causing death by operating a vehicle while impaired. The suspicion is also corroborated by the scene inspection report, scene plan, photographs and autopsy documents, according to the court's statement.
According to the court's findings, on the basis of the accused's previous convictions relating to drugs and the positive rapid test at the time of apprehension, it is probable that his drug use has existed for an extended period. It may therefore be concluded that the man's inclination to comply with norms is at an extraordinarily low level, the court stated.
The criminal offence in question is punishable by imprisonment of between two and eight years. According to the court, the potential sentence is of a magnitude that in itself presents a flight risk.
The court viewed as an aggravating circumstance the fact that neither previous sentences nor ongoing criminal proceedings had deterred the suspect from committing further offences. Little more than four months after the expiry of his conditional release and just one week after the cessation—according to his account—of a coercive measure applied in parallel criminal proceedings, the man became the subject of well-founded suspicion of a further serious criminal offence.
The court noted that the suspect is deliberately defying legislation and traffic regulations, and his conduct presents heightened danger to the life and physical integrity of other road users. Should he be released, it may reasonably be assumed that he would commit further offences punishable by imprisonment.
The suspect and his counsel have appealed against the court order, which is therefore not final.
Source: 24.hu