Sarasota, Florida - 70-year-old Audrey Kramer Killed, Infant Critically Injured in Suspected DUI Crash

David Buncik Charged with DUI Manslaughter, Related Offenses After Fatal Crash at University Parkway and North Lockwood Road

Police believe that alcohol was a factor in the fatal crash that left a 70-year-old woman dead and an infant critically injured in Sarasota on Sunday, September 8.

70-year-old Audrey Kramer was killed and an infant in her vehicle was critically injured in the four-vehicle crash at the intersection of University Parkway and Lockwood Ridge Road. According to ABC 7 WWSB, neighbors say that the infant was the woman's grandson.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a car driven by 34-year-old David Buncik drove through a red light at University Parkway before striking three vehicles that were turning left onto Lockwood Ridge Road from the other direction on the Parkway. Buncik then fled the scene on foot but was eventually tracked down by police.

State troopers say that Buncik was driving under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested on drug charges in Anjalih. In May, the terms of his bond were amended to allow him to drink alcohol.

Buncik has been charged with DUI Manslaughter, Leaving the Scene with Death and Serious Bodily Injury, and several counts of DUI with Property Damage.

Both Kramer and the infant were passengers in one of the three vehicles Buncik hit. The driver of their vehicle and one of the other drivers suffered minor injuries. The third driver and Buncik both escaped injury.

Legal Options for People Injured by Drunk Drivers in Florida

Attorney contributor Michael Haggard represents drunk driving crash victims and their families in civil lawsuits, helping them fight for financial compensation. Michael has offered to add some information regarding the legal options available to victims of drunk driving crashes in Florida:

When a drunk driver causes a crash that injures or kills others, the victims and their families should be aware of their legal rights. As in other type of car accidents, these victims and families may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit (or wrongful death for fatal crashes) against the drunk driver. But in Florida and many other states, there are also situations where alcohol vendors can also be sued for injuries or deaths caused by their customers.

This second type of lawsuit is called a dram shop claim. Dram shop laws differ from state to state. According to Florida's dram shop law, people injured by drunk drivers (and the families of fatal DUI crash victims) may have grounds for a dram shop claim against an alcohol vendor if:

• the vendor provided alcohol to someone who was under age 21, or
• to someone who was "habitually addicted" to alcohol, and
• the customer's intoxication resulted in injuries or death to someone else.

Each DUI crash case has unique circumstances. In order to fully understand your family's rights after you or a loved one was hit by a drunk driver, we advise discussing your case with an experienced drunk driving injury victims lawyer.

Sources:

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-sarasota-manatee/man-accused-of-driving-drunk-killing-woman-and-injuring-her-5-month-old-grandson-in-crash

https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20190910/alcohol-ban-lifted-for-driver-in-deadly-dui-crash