What is Negligent Homicide with a Motor Vehicle?

 Posted on March 20, 2025 in Criminal Defense

After a warrant was issued for his arrest, a truck driver turned himself in for a collision in 2024 that left another truck driver dead. The accident happened a little over a year ago on I-84 E, near exit 72 in Union, Connecticut. Witnesses to the accident say the man’s tractor-trailer crossed into the right lane from the center lane, colliding with another tractor-trailer, whose driver veered off the road and into Morey Pond, submerging the tractor-trailer.

The man who caused the accident was standing on the side of the roadway when the police arrived, but the other driver was pronounced dead at the scene. After watching dash cam footage from both trucks, the police determined who the at-fault driver was and issued the arrest warrant. After turning himself in, the man who caused the accident was charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, failure to maintain a lane, and providing a false statement.

Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle occurs when a person dies because of another driver’s negligent operation of a vehicle. This means that a driver deviated from reasonable conduct he or she should have exhibited under the circumstances. If you have been charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, it is important that you speak to a knowledgeable Stamford, CT criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after the accident.

What Is the Penalty for Negligent Homicide with a Motor Vehicle?

If convicted of negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, the defendant could spend up to six months in jail and pay a $1,000 fine. Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle is a lesser crime than misconduct with a motor vehicle, which requires that the prosecution show there were gross deviations from the normal standard of conduct that should have been followed.

Misconduct with a motor vehicle requires that criminal negligence is shown, which is above ordinary negligence but does not require recklessness or an intentional act. Criminal negligence does require that the defendant disregarded the risk of harm his or her actions would cause.

In the above example of the truck accident in which a man died, the police could have charged the responsible driver with either negligent homicide with a motor vehicle or misconduct with a motor vehicle. The penalties for a conviction of misconduct with a motor vehicle (a Class D felony) is up to five years in jail, a maximum fine of $5,000, and a license suspension.   

What Are Other Vehicle Charges in Connecticut That Involve a Death?

Manslaughter in the second degree can be charged if intoxication is a factor in a vehicle accident where someone dies. The offense is charged as a Class C felony if the state can prove the defendant’s intoxication caused or contributed to the accident. Manslaughter in the second degree does not require the intent to kill another person or even that the defendant acted negligently or recklessly.

The state must only show that intoxication and the defendant’s impairment were factors in the accident. The penalties for a Class C felony are up to ten years in jail, a maximum fine of $10,000, and the loss of the defendant’s driver’s license for a year. If it can also be shown that the intoxicated driver acted intentionally or recklessly, he or she could be charged with manslaughter in the first degree, which is a Class B felony.   

Contact a Fairfield County, CT Vehicular Homicide Lawyer

If you are facing any of these charges, speaking to a Stamford, CT vehicular homicide attorney from Law Offices of Daniel P. Weiner can significantly affect the outcome. Our attorney has the experience and resources necessary to comprehensively analyze the evidence in your case, identify any mistakes made by the police or prosecution, and fight aggressively for your future. Call 203-348-5846 to schedule your free consultation.