Commonwealth v. Hunte

The defendant was involved in a single-vehicle accident that resulted in significant damage to the vehicle and the death of a passenger. First responders, who transported the defendant to a hospital for medical treatment, reported the defendant admitted to being the driver and that he had been drinking. Upon arrival at the hospital, a state trooper requested hospital staff draw the defendant’s blood while he was unconscious per Section 3755 of the Vehicle Code, which mandates warrantless blood draws from individuals treated in emergency rooms after car accidents when DUI is suspected. The court determined Section 3755 was facially unconstitutional because it authorizes warrantless blood draws based solely on probable cause, without requiring a search warrant or demonstrating an exception to the warrant requirement.