January 8, 2023
On October 22, 2022, Michael Hoerig was the victim in a car crash with another driver who left him brain-dead. The surviving family of Michael donated his organs, giving other people’s lives in need a second chance. The driver of the car that hit him, Charles Meininger, was 16 years old when the crash occurred. He is now 17 years of age and is being charged at the adult level. Police state that they arrived on scene to see a Camaro that had hit a truck. Through the investigation, they discovered that the driver of the Camaro, Meininger, was driving at a high speed up and down the street numerous times before impact.
Meininger is being charged with illegal racing due to exhibiting a repeated high rate of speed. A witness attests to seeing the driver go up and down the road while speeding several times before the accident occurred. The collision took place in Lutz on Lake Fern Road, where the speed limit is 45 MPH. Police state that the driver had hit Heorig in his truck going at least 80 MPH. The damage to the truck and Heorig was severe due to the high rate of speed.
Michael Heorig was 20 years old when he passed away. His mother expressed that she found comfort knowing that her son seemingly had done all the right things while on his way home. Heorig had the green light, was wearing his seatbelt, and was going a speed of 11 MPH when the Camaro struck him on the driver’s side. The intersection where the incident took place was less than a mile from Heorig’s home. The crash was so severe that the car door had to be removed in order to get Heorig out of the truck. The total speed at impact was 94 MPH, which caused a broken neck, broken spine, and multiple contusions, leading to brain death. The driver, Meininger, faces both felony and misdemeanor charges.
The family of Michael Heorig hopes that this incident raises awareness for the critical dangers of street racing. Parents must stay alert to their teen’s driving behaviors and frequently remind them of the impact that can devastate so many people through their unsafe choices. Ultimately, obtaining justice is what will provide closure for the family of Michael Heorig.
Victims of car accidents and surviving family members may turn to a lawyer from Tuttle Larsen, P.A. in the aftermath of a crash such as the one described here. Surviving loved ones are by law allowed to seek financial restitution from the at-fault driver on behalf of a beloved family member who was taken before their time. A Palm Bay, FL car accident lawyer has seen the way that victims and their relatives can suffer because someone else chose to drive recklessly that day. While seeking monetary compensation at the civil level from the at-fault driver cannot return a lost loved one, it can at least provide financial support and a sense of justice as the family grieves.