Anyone on the way to work in the early morning may well anticipate traffic jams, slow lines at toll gates and even the occasional crisis such as a flat tire. Few of us, though, expect to encounter a drunken driver.

Unfortunately for one 44-year-old Naugatuck man on his way to work, a car accident allegedly caused by a drunken driver claimed his life.

According to a police report, the father of three had just passed Exit 7 on southbound Route 8 southeast of Trumbull around 6 a.m. when his Toyota Camry was rear-ended by a sports utility vehicle. The impact sent both cars onto the grassy median area and caused the victim’s vehicle to roll over. He was rushed to Bridgeport Hospital where he later died.

The 23-year-old SUV driver suffered only minor injuries. Authorities say he was impaired at the time of the car accident. He was taken into custody and now faces several charges, including second-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence, reckless driving and driving a vehicle with a suspended license. The suspect was later released on a $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court March 10.

Driving under the influence is dangerous to drivers, passengers and other people on the road. Alcohol impairment destroys a driver’s judgment, concentration and ability to respond to both normal and extraordinary driving situations. For this reason, a drunken driver is more likely to cause injuries and deaths that devastate another person’s family.

Losing a loved one due to the negligent behavior of a drunken driver is difficult emotionally and financially, particularly if the victim was a family provider. The family may have trouble meeting funeral expenses and have its financial security threatened due to the accident. Fortunately, certain legal remedies can hold a drunken driver accountable for those damages.

Source: Citizen’s News “Borough man killed in Route 8 crash,” Paul Singley, Feb. 24, 2014