A Florida woman faces vehicular murder charges after killing a motorcyclist while driving drunk. If that wasn’t enough, she allegedly pulled the rider 403 feet before stopping. Now she is pleading not guilty to the crime.
A 62-year-old Florida woman hit a motorcycle rider and dragged him 403 feet to his death
Ann Killough, 62, had no business driving. When Florida Highway Patrol officers pulled her from her BMW following her drunk driving incident, they noted a “strong odor” of alcohol. However, a handcuff ride to jail is preferable to an unfortunate motorbike rider who crossed her path earlier that night.
According to Pensacola Beach, Florida, police, Killough struck a motorbike rider and failed to stop, dragging him about 1.5 times the length of a regular football field. “The defendant did not immediately stop and pushed (the motorcyclist) a distance of 403 feet before coming to a controlled stop,” according to the Pensacola News Chronicle.
The Florida woman even hit a curb and continued driving, bringing the motorcycle with her. The victim was riding beside another motorcycle at the time. According to the cyclist, the motorist arrived from behind and made no attempt to slow down before “slamming” into him.
Killough stopped her vehicle, and the police arrived. In addition to the overwhelming odor of alcohol, officers claimed the Florida woman displayed many of the telltale indications of intoxication, including glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. She admitted to having two beers before driving and declined a standardized field sobriety test (SFST). It is unclear what her blood alcohol content (BAC) was at the moment.
Now she’s pleading not guilty
Despite the facts and witness testimony, Killough pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter. She could face up to 15 years in jail if convicted of both charges.
Unfortunately, drunk driving poses a significant hazard to the Sunshine State’s roads. According to the University of West Florida, drunk driving deaths made up 27% of all road fatalities in the state in 2017. Worse, alcohol was a factor in almost 5,000 crashes that year.
So what can you do? If you ride a motorbike, try to stay alert at all times and ride with a friend. In the event of a collision, a buddy can rapidly notify the authorities, administer first assistance, and recall information on hit-and-run drivers.
Better yet, some modern helmet-mounted Bluetooth devices have accident detection, which can notify authorities if you have a crash. Most essential, avoid drinking and driving. It’s not just your life at stake.
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