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Drunk-Driving Mother Charged with Murder

On November 25, Brittany Dawn Burton allegedly drove the wrong-way on I-35 with a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit and with her 6-month old daughter in the back seat. Two vehicles swerved and collided to avoid her reckless driving, leading to the loss of one man’s life.

Jeffery Hogan, 47 years-old, was driving one of the cars that had to change course to avoid her SUV. After a collision with a Honda Civic, which was also reacting to Burton’s driving, Hogan got out of his pickup to look at the damage to his car. Once out of his car, Hogan was killed by a third vehicle also swerving to avoid Burton.

Almost three months later, 25 year-old Burton faces charges of murder, speeding and child endangerment. She may not have physically struck Jeffery Hogan, but she allegedly put events in motion that led to his death while committing a felony. This may be the first time that a felony murder charge has been handed out for a defendant whose vehicle didn’t directly hit the deceased or his vehicle.

Juan Mandujano, the father of Burton’s infant, was surprised by the whole series of events. The Star Telegram reports that Mandujano knew Burton as a loving mother who had not had a drink since she became pregnant with their daughter. He said, "She's a good person. I don't know what happened."

The public has been horrified by the deadly consequences of this accident, and by the report that Burton may have even been driving with her hands behind her head. While imprisoned in Tarrant County, she has offered an apology to the Hogan’s family, “I’d like to tell them I’m sorry for ruining everybody’s life. I wish I could take it all back,” she said.

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