Many people have made mistakes in their lives. Fortunately for most, a mistake turns into a learning experience, and people make changes accordingly. Despite this, it may be assumed that a person is doomed to repeat such a mistake. In regard to a person who has faced criminal charges, an assumption that a person will repeat a criminal act is not enough to gain a conviction. For example, a man in Tennessee is facing a second drunk driving charge after apparently striking a police car.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of a day in March. A car driven by a 28-year-old male allegedly struck the rear of a police officer’s car. The officer was assisting the Department of Transportation with lane closures. It is unclear whether the officer’s car was stopped in the roadway or how much warning drivers may have been given regarding lane closures. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The officer claims that the driver told him he had been at a party before the crash. Details regarding how the man’s sobriety was determined or his blood alcohol content at the time of the accident are unclear. The man has a prior DUI conviction, approximately nine years ago. A passenger in the man’s vehicle, a 21-year-old female, was also arrested on drug-related charges.

A charge of drunk driving is a serious accusation with serious consequences. In this case, it could simply have been a case of a man driving at night on a road that likely had additional lights along with the road closures that could easily have disorientated a driver. As in all drunk driving cases, Tennessee prosecutors must prove the man’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in order to secure a conviction. In many cases, this standard is difficult to meet.

Source: wbir.com, “THP: 2 cruisers struck by drunk drivers in less than 2 weeks“, March 18, 2015