Which statement accurately describes the charges for a highly intoxicated driver who kills a pregnant woman?

• A. 1 count of vehicular homicide and 1 count of injury to pregnant woman
• B. Vehicular homicide only
• C. 1 count of vehicular homicide and 1 count of injury to pregnant woman
• D. Involuntary manslaughter

Answer: (C)

When a single act causes more than one form of harm, the law can attach multiple charges to reflect each harm. In this scenario, the driver’s highly intoxicated operation caused the death of a pregnant woman, which justifies a charge of vehicular homicide—the offense that covers causing a death through unlawful or reckless driving.

At the same time, many jurisdictions have a separate statute that protects pregnant women (and often the fetus) and provides for an offense specifically for injuring a pregnant woman. Since the act harmed the pregnant woman and, by extension, the pregnancy, prosecutors can add a second count under that pregnancy-specific statute. So the same conduct can lead to two distinct charges: one for the death under vehicular homicide and another for injury to a pregnant woman.

This combination best fits the scenario because it recognizes both the death caused by the driving and the additional harm related to pregnancy. The option that lists only vehicular homicide would overlook the pregnancy-related harm, while involuntary manslaughter is a different charge that may not fully capture the enhanced risk and statutory protections associated with harming a pregnant woman.