Man Says Dog Caused Fatal Crash

A 22-year-old Westport man is accused of causing a car crash in April that took the life of a 70-year-old man.  He is blaming the accident on his Staffordshire terrier mix that was in the front passenger seat at the time of the crash.

He turned himself in over the weekend and was released on $10,000 bond, police said.

He told police that his dog jumped into his lap whereby causing him to lose control and then collide head-on with a car driven by 70-year-old Geoffrey Reynolds of Westport on April 29.  Reynolds suffered severe leg injuries and died on May 9.  The dog was also hurt and had to be euthanized.

The accused is charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle and is due back in court on Oct. 20.

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Murder and manslaughter are both forms of criminal homicide. Criminal homicide occurs when a person unlawfully takes the life of another person. Criminal homicide may stem from negligence or intentional wrongdoing. For example, a drunk driver who causes an auto accident may be charged with vehicular manslaughter if his or her actions lead to the death of another driver, passenger, or pedestrian. A person who intentionally assaults another with a deadly weapon, with the intention to take their life, will likely face attempted murder charges.

A highly experienced Westchester County criminal lawyer can explore different options in regard to your defense in the face of manslaughter or murder charges. For example, an act committed in self-defense would not be murder. The incident may have been entirely accidental, or you may have been framed or wrongfully accused. A thorough investigation may uncover evidence of wrongful charges in this way.