Former NBA star Dennis Rodman has been charged with hit-and-run for an alleged wrong-way driving crash on a Southern California freeway.
Orange County prosecutors filed misdemeanor charges against Rodman on Monday for a July 20 accident on Interstate 5 in Santa Ana.
Prosecutors believe Rodman’s SUV was traveling north in a southbound carpool lane around 12:30 a.m., forcing a sedan to swerve into a dividing wall to avoid a collision.
Rodman’s attorney argues that the incident occurred on a poorly signed exit ramp. He says Rodman corrected the driving error without the cars touching, then stopped and spoke to people in the other car.
Rodman has also been charged with driving across a dividing section without a valid license and giving police false information.
He could face two years in county jail if convicted.
Wrong way driving accidents can arise for many reasons, although the most common is impaired drivers. However, this is not always the case. With the rising number of wrong way driving-related incidents, the state of Florida is seeing that these crashes can be chalked up to many other factors, including, poorly lit/visible signs, missing signs, poorly lit areas, interchanges under construction, confusing interstate entrance/exit ramps, and more.
If you have been charged with a criminal offense related to a wrong way driving incident, our Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help. Call us today at 866-608-5529 for a free consultation or contact us online. We can begin helping you establish a strong defense from the start, so do not delay!