Shastina Lapping, a 24 year-old woman from Battle Ground, Washington, had her arraignment date set for December 8th for multiple charges, including a Washington DUI and Vehicular Homicide. The arraignment for her WA State drunk driving charge is in Clark County Superior Court.
Last May, Ms. Lapping was driving her Buick when she lost control around a curve, went off the road, hit a tree and flipped the vehicle. She was treated and released from Southwest Washington Medical Center. As result of the accident, a Washington DUI investigation was initiated. Tragically, a passenger in the vehicle, Ms. Emily Buck, died on July 3rd of blunt-force injuries as a result of the accident.
The two women and some other friends went out for dinner and drinks at the popular Brush Prairie bar and grill, which is located in the state of Washington. At around 1 a.m. on May 9th, Ms. Lapping lost control of her vehicle and was involved in the single car accident.
It was reported that she was driving 78 mph in a 50 mph zone, when the accident occurred. At the hospital, the WA State DUI investigation revealed through an alleged blood sample that Ms. Lapping’s blood-alcohol content was 0.13, this was an hour and a half after the crash. The Washington State police report inidciates that Ms. Lapping admitted to having several shots of hard alcohol and a beer while at the bar and grill.
Washington’s DUI laws are swift and punishing when someone is injured as a result of an accident caused by a drunk driving. Ms. Lapping will need an experienced Washington DUI attorney to assist her. At this point, she has been appointed a Public Defender for her case, and a pre-trial date will be set after her arraignment on December 8th, assuming that she pleads not guilty at her arraignment. Ms. Lapping is currently on a supervised release while the case is pending.