There are many good Samaritans in the world — people who are willing to stop and help a stranger simply out of the goodness of their heart. Unfortunately, one man in Missouri suffered serious injuries when he stopped to help another man, who was also injured. Police have now accused a woman of driving under the influence as a result of the accident that injured the men.

The accident happened in the early morning hours of a day in August. Reports indicate that a horse trailer had become detached from a pickup truck. One man parked his truck behind the trailer and was attempting to move it when the second man stopped to help him.

Even though the truck’s hazard lights were engaged, police claim that a 38-year-old woman did not see the stopped vehicles and slammed into the back of the pickup. The men were thrown into a ditch. One of the men required heart surgery to repair a torn aorta. He also suffered severe broken bones. The second man suffered a broken pelvis, internal bleeding and broken ribs.

An investigation allegedly shows that the woman was speeding and did not attempt to brake before the accident. Police claim that a test administered two hours after the accident revealed that the woman’s blood alcohol content was over double the legal limit. She now faces criminal charges.

Even if the woman is not convicted of the criminal charges, the two men have the option of filing a personal injury case in a Missouri civil court. If they can successfully argue their respective cases, they could each receive a monetary award to help with expenses stemming from the accident, including medical bills related to the treatment their serious injuries required. Such an outcome would allow the men to focus on their long-term recovery instead of concerns over their financial situation.

Source: demo-mo.com, “Woman charged with hurting two in drunken-driving crash“, Bethany Bashioum, Dec. 3, 2014