National DUI Report for the week ending Sept. 26, 2009
This week’s National DUI roundup contains a sobering 59 articles; we cherry picked through what we found to bring only the worst. It’s our commitment on a weekly basis to prove through the simple presentation of the news around the nation that the problem of drunk driving is with us every single week, and we need to pay attention to it. Each year over one forth of all highway deaths are attributed to alcohol impairment; 11,773 died last year alone; and that a 9.7% decrease from the previous year. This is however not a yearly event, it’s hourly, it’s daily, and it has to stop.
Surfer gets 4 years in DUI death
NORTH COUNTY COURTS [CA] — A well-known surfer and Solana Beach resident was sentenced to four years in prison yesterday for driving drunk in a car crash that killed his 24-year-old passenger about 15 months ago in Del Mar. Shortly before the sentencing, Milton Willis, 53, apologized for the death of Bradley Dillahunty, 24, who had befriended Willis as a student at the older man’s surf school. “Something good must come out of this dark, exceedingly dark and cold, tragic event, and I will spend the rest of my life working toward this,” Willis said. Superior Court Judge Daniel Goldstein said Willis’ statement, in which he also asked rhetorically why someone didn’t call him a cab to keep him from driving, was lacking. “I did not hear from him the heartfelt words of remorse,” Goldstein said. In an angry and teary address, Suzan Dillahunty, Bradley Dillahunty’s mother, said Willis betrayed his friendship with her son when he decided to drive drunk. She described her son’s written “life list” of goals, noting that the last one was to “surf Hawaii with Milton Willis.” “You see, he included you in his life list. . . . Instead he got your betrayal and his death,” she said. Willis had been convicted of drunken driving once before. In the death of Dillahunty, he faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence.
DWI charge called risk to homicide case
SANTA FE [NM] (KRQE) — The Santa Fe County sheriff and Santa Fe police chief are defending their tactics against accusations by a state official that they fouled up the handling of two fatal alcohol-related crashes. New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Secretary Rick Homans, who oversees the Motor Vehicle Division, accused both departments of failing to confiscate driver’s licenses fromvehicular homicide suspects Carlos Fierro and Scott Owens. Santa Fe police investigated Fierro, who is currently on trial for a November hit-and-run crash that killed pedestrian William Tenorio, 46. Santa Fe county deputies investigated Owens, accused in the deaths of four teens who were killed in a wrong-way crash with Owens earlier this year. Results of alcohol tests released by investigators indicated both men were well above the legal limit for presumed intoxication. “The law says if you have suspicion that the driver was under the influence, you proceed with the notice of revocation,” Homans told KRQE News 13 on Tuesday. But according to Sheriff Greg Solano and Chief Aric Wheeler, the notice of revocation Homans mentions is physically attached to DWI citations filled out by officers at the scene of DWI arrests. However neither Fierro nor Owens is charged with DWI. Both agencies chose to pursue the tougher charge of vehicular homicide after consultations with the Santa Fe County District Attorney’s Office.
Vehicular homicide case delayed
WORCESTER — A Milford man charged with drunkenly hitting and killing 82-year-old Salvatore “Doody” Crivello with a pickup truck in 2006 was medically unfit to appear in court yesterday as scheduled. James A. Bonati, 42, of 47 Hayward St., is charged with motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of liquor and failure to slow. Prosecutors say he was drunk on Nov. 1, 2006, when he struck Crivello. Crivello was crossing Depot Street in Milford, near his home and family business, Crivello’s Crossing. Bonati, an acquaintance of Crivello’s, was arraigned in Milford District Court in May 2007. He was arrested Friday after he violated the terms of his pretrial release… Assistant District Attorney Joseph Quinlan filed a motion for a warrant on Friday, saying Bonati violated the terms of his court-ordered release by failing a random alcohol test.
School Bus Driver Charged With DUI
Updated 3:30 PM CDT, Wed, Sep 23, 2009 Print Email Share Buzz up! TWITTER FACEBOOK bus driver DUI skokie Skokie PD Police slapped a Skokie bus driver with a DUI after he apparently drove under the influence of drugs, terrifying a score of seventh graders who were yelling out the windows for help. “The children had their heads partially out the window and were screaming,” said the parent of a seventh-grader who did not want to be identified. “It was just terrible. Police were yelling for him to stop.” Brian Skoglund, 40, of 5030 Farwell in Skokie is cheduled to appear in court on Oct. 27. He works for First Student Bus Co. in Northbrook, police said. Police said shortly before 4 p.m. on Sept. 17, a driver notified them that a bus heading south on the Edens was driving erratically, including swerving lanes, slowing down and speeding up. The driver told police he then saw the driver with his head down on the steering wheel as if he were sleeping… Each of the children was regarded as a victim of child endangerment, police said, which accounts for the 41 counts charged against
Editorial: 300,000 repeat DUI offenders? Time to act
California has a major drunken driving problem. More than 300,000 drivers in the state have three or more DUI convictions, and more than 40,000 have had five. The toll is devastating. In 2007, drunk drivers were involved in 53,261 accidents, killing 1,501 Californians. Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, believes there’s a way to dramatically reduce that toll: install ignition interlock devices on vehicles owned or operated by people convicted of drunken driving. The car won’t start until the driver blows into the device and is found to be sober. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should sign Feuer’s bill, AB91, to set up a pilot program in Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare counties to test the system. Seven other states — Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia — require the devices for first-time offenders. The results are encouraging. For example, New Mexico formerly led the nation in alcohol-related crash deaths. The law has helped reduce the number of repeat offenders by 60 percent and the number of alcohol-related deaths by 35 percent.
Santa Rosa woman enters no contest to DUI manslaughter
MILTON [CA] — A woman has pleaded of no contest to two counts of DUI manslaughter in connection to a vehicle accident in April, according to the state attorney’s office. June Coriell, of Milton, also has pleaded no contest to two counts of DUI with serious injury and DUI with property damage. Coriell, then 51, was driving north on State Road 87 in Santa Rosa County on April 4 when her vehicle struck a southbound Chevrolet pickup truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The driver of the pickup, James I. Dixon, 58, of Milton, was pronounced dead at the scene. Passenger Teresa Lunsford, 27, of Milton, was injured and died a little more than a week later. Two passengers in the truck, then 7-year-old Celina Crapps and 8-year-old Melissa Hopkins were seriously hurt. Coriell was arrested and charged April 10 after she was released from Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
BG man charged with manslaughter in fatal accident offered plea
A plea agreement may be reached in the case of a Bowling Green [OH] man who is accused of driving a car that struck and killed the driver of a scooter, with the case potentially resolved as early as tomorrow. Johnny Dwight Roberts, 48, North Campbell Road, Lot 43, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle and being a first-degree persistent felony offender. The charges against Roberts stem from a crash on Veterans Memorial Lane on Sept. 22, 2008. A Warren County Sheriff’s Office investigation determined that Roberts was driving a vehicle that struck a scooter driven by Marricus Cox, 21, of Bowling Green. Cox died from his injuries the following day at the University of Louisville Hospital. The tampering charge originated from allegations that Roberts threw beer cans out of his car after the collision.
Milton woman pleads no contest to DUI Manslaughter
A Milton woman has pleded no contest to charges in relation to an April 9 traffic mishap. June Coriell, 52, of Milton, pleaded no contest to two counts of DUI Manslaughter, two counts of DUI with Serious Bodily Injury, and one count of DUI property damage. Back on April 9, Coriell was driving a vehicle northbound on Highway 87 when her vehicle struck another on vehicle head-on in the southbound lane, according to the Florida Highway Patrol report. The accident claimed the lives of the driver James I. Dixon, 58, and a passenger Teresa Lunsford, 27, both of Milton. Two minor children were also in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Seven-year-old Celina Capps, and eight-year old Melissa Hopkins. According to the FHP report Capps was ejected out of the passenger side window. Judge Gay Bergosh ordered a presentence investigation and schedule a hearing for Coriell on Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. at the Santa Rosa County Courthouse. Coriell could face a maximum of 41 years when she appears for sentencing.
Va Beach DUI officer sentenced for drunken driving
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. — A Virginia Beach DUI enforcement officer is appealing his conviction on drunken driving and hit and run charges. Bryan K. Womble was found guilty Monday following a bench trial in Virginia Beach General District Court. He appealed the verdict to Circuit Court. Substitute General District Court Judge E.L. Turlington Jr. sentenced the 37-year-old Womble to five days in jail and suspended his driver’s license for a year. Womble also must use an ignition interlock device for six months, attend alcohol safety awareness classes and pay $500 in fines. Womble was arrested June 20 while off duty. Prosecutors said his vehicle hit another vehicle and didn’t stop. Womble was part of a team that specializes in enforcing DUI laws. He has been on administrative duty since his arrest.
Woman Faces 2nd DUI After Crash That Injured Son
ORWELL, Vt. — Vermont State Police said a 24-year-old Hinesburg woman is facing a second driving under the influence charge after a crash that severed the spine of her 4-year-old son. Police sid Heather M. Carpentier was headed south on Vermont Route 22A in Orwell on Friday night when she rear-ended another vehicle. Everyone escaped the fire, but police said Carpentier’s son, Maxwell, who was riding in a booster seat, suffered a severed spine. A second child, 1-year-old Matthew Carpentier, was not seriously injured. Carpentier suffered a broken leg. Police say Carpentier’s driver’s license had been under criminal suspension from a previous conviction. She is also facing charges of endangering a child under 10.
Changes to Maryland DUI Laws
The four new DUI laws that become effective October 1 came out of the 2009 legislative session in Annapolis. WBAL reports that one bill mandates a one-year driver’s license suspensions for persons convicted twice of Maryland’s impaired driving statutes. Another bill outlaws the “consumption” of alcohol by those under 21 (law enforcement officials now will be able to charge offenders with consumption if they can prove the youth had possession of the alcohol and is proven to be under the influence) and criminalizes the furnishing of alcohol to minors; There is also bill that prohibits a DUI offender from receiving a Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) more than once in a 10 year period; and a provision for fines and incarceration for persons violating a Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) imposed driver’s license alcohol restriction. Lt Governor Anthony Brown.
New Information In Judge’s DUI Case
EATON, Ohio — Preble County officials are asking for a special judge and prosecutor in the case of a local judge charged with drunk driving. No trial date has been set in Judge David Abruzzo’s case and in the meantime the judge continues to occupy the bench at the Preble County Courthouse, leaving some people questioning his judgement. Judge Abruzzo is charged with OVI and failure to yield to a police officer after his arrest Friday night. Still, Abruzzo continues on with this daily docket of cases while his criminal case moves forward. Is it legal? University of Dayton law and ethics professor James Durham said, “Yes it is. While this is a very serious matter, it’s only focused on one aspect of his life and doesn’t reflect on his ability to do his job overall.” Durham lectures daily on the behavior of lawyers and judges, including former Supreme Court Justice Alice Robie Resnick, convicted of drunk driving in 2005. Durham said while there is nothing wrong with Judge Abruzzo’s decision to continue working, there is a problem when it comes to hearing specific cases like drunk driving. In the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct, rule 211 makes the ethical ramifications clear, saying a judge shall disqualify himself or herself, in any proceeding in which the judge’s impartiality might be questioned. Still, court officials said Judge Abruzzo continues to hear OVI cases and in fact, heard one case on Tuesday. According to legal experts, Judge Abruzzo can be brought to task for breaching the Ohio Code of Judical Conduct if someone challenges him and asks to disqualify him from the case. If Abruzzo refuses, they can appeal to a higher court. In the meantime, the Ohio Supreme Court has appointed retired Kettering Judge Larry Moore to oversee Abruzzo’s criminal case.
Woman, 65, gets 8-year prison term in DUI-related fatal crash
A 65-year-old Upperco [MD] woman, Mary Ann Farevaag, was ordered Tuesday to serve eight years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of auto manslaughter and another count of causing life-threatening injuries while under the influence of alcohol. Baltimore County Circuit Judge Susan Souder imposed a sentence of 10 years on the automobile manslaughter count, but suspended half that term. Souder told the defendant to serve another three years, to be served consecutively, on the charge of causing life-threatening injuries. The charges arose out of a collision Dec. 16, 2008, on Black Rock Road in Baltimore County. Police said Farevaag’s vehicle crossed the road’s center line and struck a car driven by Sara Daniel, 72. Her son, Richard Daniel, 47, was a passenger. Farevaag’s vehicle also struck several other cars before coming to rest in a field. Richard Daniel was pronounced dead at the scene. His mother was badly injured and required extensive medical treatment. Farevaag’s blood-alcohol level was tested about two hours after the crash and measured .25, more than three times the legal limit
Collisions lead to DUI charges for 3 women in Franklin
FRANKLIN [TN] — Three women who hit stopped or parked cars were charged with DUI last weekend in separate incidents. On Friday, police received a report that a vehicle was weaving in and out of traffic near Hillsboro Road and Mack Hatcher Parkway. The vehicle came close to striking a patrol car parked on the shoulder of Mack Hatcher, between Cool Springs Boulevard and Liberty Pike. As officers were in the process of stopping the car, it rear-ended a vehicle stopped at a red light. No one was injured. The driver, Mende Lovier, 34, was charged with DUI and transported to the Williamson County jail, but deputies there felt she was too intoxicated to be safely booked. Lovier was taken to Williamson Medical Center, where she stayed until 7:15 a.m. Saturday, then was brought to the jail. Lovier was also charged with violating the implied consent law. She was released after posting $1,500 bail. Late Saturday night, Jennifer Willingham, 38, was traveling west on Bakers Bridge Avenue when she struck a vehicle stopped at a red light, according to police. Willingham then backed into a second vehicle that had stopped behind her, police said. Investigating officers determined Willingham was under the influence of alcohol. She was booked into the Williamson County jail and charged with DUI and violation of the implied consent law for refusing to submit to a blood alcohol test. She was released from jail after posting $1,500 bail. Early Sunday morning, Angela Simms-Garrett, 40, struck a parked car in front of Dolan’s bar, according to police. A witness to the 1:18 a.m. crash said Simms-Garrett left the scene of the accident. Police were given a description of the vehicle and the license plate number. An officer spotted the Simms-Garrett parked at a Cool Springs gas station and determined she was under the influence of alcohol. She was charged with DUI, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report an accident. Simms-Garrett was taken to jail and released after posting $2,500 bail. Franklin Police plan to conduct sobriety checkpoints Saturday night on Hillsboro Road, Murfreesboro Road and Columbia Avenue.
Mayoral candidate arrested for DUI says she passed breathalyzer
A candidate for Myrtle Beach mayor who was arrested for driving under the influence says she may talk to NewsChannel 15 about the incident on Wednesday. A Catalano spokesman says she passed a breathalyzer test, but those results have not yet been released to us. NewsChannel 15 broke the story Monday night that Myrtle Beach Police arrested 70-year-old Beatrice Catalano on Friday night. They charged her with DUI, driving on the wrong side of the road, and having an unlicensed or unregistered car. It happened around 9:00pm Friday night on Robert Grissom Parkway. Catalano is expected in court on October 2.
Milton-Freewater man facing vehicular homicide
PENDLETON [WA] — A Milton-Freewater [OR] man faces charges of vehicular homicide after he drove his SUV head-on into another car Sunday, killing two people. According to the Washington State Patrol, Victor J. Marly, 38, of Milton-Freewater, was driving a Chevy Trailblazer south on State Route 127 in Washington when he attempted to pass another vehicle. According to the WSP, Marly crossed double yellow lines. That’s when Marly’s SUV smashed into a northbound Toyota Camry. The head-on crashed killed the driver, Ronald G. West, 64, and his wife, Frances M. West, 72. The Lewiston, Idaho couple were dead at the scene. An aircraft ambulance flew Marly to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. News reports Sunday said Marly was in stable condition, but today a hospital spokesman said he couldn’t find a patient there with that name. Vehicular homicide is a Class A felony in Washington. A conviction for the charge carries a maximum sentence of life in a Washington state prison.
Homicide charge filed in crash that killed motorcyclist in Cedarburg
Cedarburg — Police Chief Tom Frank is crediting a city resident with using his own vehicle to block a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run crash Sunday from fleeing the scene until police arrived. A motorcycle driver, Donald P. Lalonde Jr. of Mequon, died in the crash, Frank said. John M. Kastelic, 59, of Richfield was charged Monday in Ozaukee County Circuit Court with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and a hit-and-run resulting in death in the Sunday afternoon crash. Kastelic was driving northbound on Wauwatosa Road about 4:47 p.m. Sunday when he turned his vehicle into the path of the motorcycle driven by Lalonde, Frank said. Lalonde, 37, was driving southbound on Wauwatosa Road at the intersection of Sherman Road when the suspect failed to yield the right-of-way, Frank said. Lalonde was pronounced dead at the scene. Lalonde was a full-time master sergeant with the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 128th Refueling Wing in Milwaukee, where he had been a member for about 18 years, according to 128th Staff Sgt. Nathan Wallin. Lalonde was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and worked in the base’s finance office, Wallin said. “We took it very hard. We’re all shocked and saddened,” Wallin said. “He was just a great guy, a fun guy.” Keith Wischer was driving to a church concert in Mequon on Sunday afternoon when he came upon the aftermath of the crash and made the split-second decision to drive after the suspect’s vehicle.
Man charged with vehicular homicide in Pembroke car crash
Pembroke [MA] — Police arrested Timothy J. George, 32, 27 Farnham St., Brockton, on charges of vehicular homicide, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle after his car struck another vehicle in a head-on collision, killing one woman, and injuring two teenagers in Pembroke on Saturday, Sept. 19. According to police reports, George was driving toward the center of town on Saturday night around 8:20 p.m. when he crossed over the yellow lines on Barker Street to pass a vehicle, striking an oncoming car and killing 47-year-old Elizabeth Oldrid and injuring two teenagers in Oldrid’s vehicle. Police say speed and alcohol played a role in the accident, and George was found in possession of a Class B substance. According to police reports, George was “passing vehicles unlawfully, and lost control of his own vehicle.” Oldrid was pronounced dead on arrival, and reports indicate that the Jaws of Life was used at the scene of the accident. The teenagers were brought to Brockton Hospital to be treated for injuries. One of the teenagers was later transported to a hospital in Boston for further treatment. George was arraigned Monday morning at Plymouth District Court on multiple charges.
Police trainee gets jail, not prison, for vehicular manslaughter
A former police officer-in-training escaped a prison sentence for driving drunk and killing his passenger after the parents of his victim begged a judge for leniency today in Stanislaus County Superior Court. Ryan Honnette of Denair was a probationary police officer in Stockton when he lost control of his SUV outside La Grange, killing Matthew Miller, 25, of Turlock. Judge John G. Whiteside sentenced Honnette to one year in jail. He faced up to five years in prison, Deputy District Attorney John R. Mayne said. “The judge thought it was justice,” Mayne said. “I wanted prison. I know the judge did what he thought was right.” Miller’s parents, Patricia and David, said they didn’t want to see Honnette punished. Patricia Miller said Honnette knelt by her son’s side after the accident until help came. He also asked permission to attend Miller’s funeral, she said. “We grieve for Matt but we also grieve for Ryan,” Patricia Miller said. “We want him to get on with his life and to have a good life.” “Ryan made a mistake that thousands of people make every day,” David Miller said. “Fortunately, most of the time without consequences.”
Woman in DUI case who killed friend on birthday gets six years
FULLERTON, California – Driving while impaired caused a crash in which Lynette Ann Hunt ended up killing two friends, incluing one whose birthday they were out to celebrate. Hunt was sentenced to six years in jail Monday for killing her best friend, Maria Zamarripa who turned 30 on the day she died. A third friend who was with them was also killed. Hunt, 32, of Fullerton, pleaded guilty in court on Aug. 3, 2009, to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter by unlawful act with gross negligence while intoxicated, one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license, and sentencing enhancements for causing great bodily injury and having a blood alcohol level of .15 percent. On July 11, 2008, Hunt and two friends, 28-year-old Vanessa Herrada, of Fullerton, and 30-year-old Maria Zamarripa, of Fontana, were celebrating Zamarippa’s 30th birthday at California Girls Gentleman’s Club in Santa Ana. The three left the club in Hunt’s 1993 Honda sedan. “At approximately 6:35 p.m., Hunt, who was driving recklessly and weaving in and out of lanes on westbound State Route 91, hit her brakes and locked all four tires, causing the car to skid and the tires to smoke as she approached the East Street exit. She then accelerated and suddenly veered across several lanes of traffic,” according to details of the case presented in court. “Hunt’s vehicle flipped down the freeway embankment, rolled over, and ejected Hunt and Zamarripa from the car,” said the prosecutor. California Highway Patrol officers responded to the crash and investigated the case and observed that Hunt emitted a strong odor of alcohol, slurred her speech, and had bloodshot and watery eyes. Approximately two hours after the crash, Hunt had a blood alcohol level of .15 percent, almost two times the legal limit.
Driver charged in accident that killed her daughter
GOSHEN—State Police at Middletown have charged the mother of a three-year-old child for the June 2009 automobile accident that took the life of that child. Kim Gore, 40, formerly of Cuddebackville, was arrested Friday evening for aggravated vehicular homicide, second degree manslaughter, first and second degree vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, driving while ability impaired by drugs and reckless driving. All charges are felonies with the exception of the reckless driving charge. It is alleged that on June 23 Gore was operating a 2003 Toyota Camry on St-209 in the Town of Deerpark when she ran off the roadway. Her daughter, Sierra Gore, 3, who was not secured in a child safety seat, died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Subsequent investigation found that Kim Gore was operating the vehicle with prescription drugs and illegal drugs in her blood at the time of the accident. Gore was arrested at a private residence in Pearl River and transported to Orange County jail. She was arraigned Monday, entered a plea of not guilty and was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Records indicate that Gore has two previous convictions for driving while ability impaired.
Virginia Beach officer guilty of DUI and hit and run
Known for enforcing laws relating to driving under the influence, Virginia Beach police officer Brian Womble has been convicted of driving under the influence and hit and run. He’s the officer who arrested former Redskin Bruce Smith for driving drunk. The Virginia Beach officer isn’t the confident police officer anymore. Officer Womble was in tears through out much of his trial. Judge E.L. Tellington found him guilty of both driving under the influence and hit and run. The victim’s name is Erricka Brown. She and three others were driving at the oceanfront on June 30th when Womble, driving almost two times the legal limit smashed into her. “He looked at us.. He looked at us and said oh “s***”.. He cussed, he reversed and he went around my car.” Womble said before that night he hadn’t been much of a drinker. In fact before he was at the bar at Rudee Inlet, he had only started drinking about a month ago. He blamed it on problems at work and at home. His father was in a hospital over seas and Womble had no passport but both the judge and the witnesses say that’s no excuse for what he did. “How could you be out doing something on a late night that you are against and arrest people for?” The officer who arrested Womble testified his speech was slurred and he smelled of alcohol. He also registered a blood alcohol level of .15 which is almost twice the legal limit. He did have a cell phone that night but still chose to drive. Erricka Brown says Womble of all people should have known better. “You hit somebody and you didn’t even stop to see if he was okay and you know you are in the wrong.” Womble’s DUI conviction carries automatic jail time but Womble is appealing the conviction. The jail time and his job as a police officer will not be decided until after that trial in circuit court.
Drunken driver kills Uniondale man in 2-car crash
A drunken driver killed a Uniondale man in a two-car accident early Sunday, Nassau police said. Jonathan Davis, 23, of Hempstead was driving a 1998 Buick Regal west on Jerusalem Avenue in East Meadow when he struck a 1999 Land Rover being driven south on Hawthorne Avenue by Kenneth Noel of Uniondale, at 1:10 a.m., police said. Noel, 48, was thrown from the Land Rover and died at the scene. Davis, who declined a breath analysis, is charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment and refusing to submit to a breath test, police said. His arraignment is scheduled for today in First District Court in Hempstead. It was unclear whether Noel was wearing a seat belt, Nassau Det. Gary Ferrucci said, because his vehicle was too damaged to tell. Ferrucci said investigators also do not yet know how fast Davis was driving
Maine man charged in death of camp counselor from Seattle
AUGUSTA, Maine — A 35-year-old central Maine man faces manslaughter and other charges for allegedly being drunk when he struck and killed a camp counselor as she walked along a country road in July. Joseph Rouleau of Fayette was indicted Friday in the death of 21-year-old Corrie Lazar. Lazar, of Seattle, was a college senior and working as a counselor at Camp Laurel in Fayette. Police said Rouleau’s blood alcohol content was 0.23 percent, nearly three times the legal limit, when his vehicle went off the road and struck Lazar and another counselor on Route 41 in Mount Vernon. The Kennebec Journal says Rouleau turned himself in at the Kennebec County jail Friday and was released after posting bail of $60,000 worth of real estate.
Marina woman pleads no contest to vehicular manslaughter
Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo announced today that on Friday, Marina resident Kim Ngoc Nguyen, 28, pled no contest before Judge Adrienne Grover to Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated for causing the death of Jeanete Martinez, 20, of Greenfield. Nguyen faces 10 years in state prison. On March 3, 2009, Ms. Nguyen drove her vehicle across the center line head-on into a vehicle driven by Jeanette Martinez. Nguyen had been drinking at Mortimer’s Card Room in Marina. She was driven home from Mortimer’s by a friend because of her level of intoxication. Nonetheless, she thereafter got into her sister’s Toyota Camry and left her residence. First she hit a parked car while backing out of the driveway; then she hit a curb on Brostom Drive; moments later while driving on the wrong side of the road she collided with the right rear panel of a moving car and fled the scene. Nguyen then continued on Imjin Parkway until she collided with the Acura Jeanette Martinez was driving. Jeanette Martinez died at the scene. Nguyen’s blood alcohol level was .12% four hours after the incident. Marina Police Department led the criminal investigation, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Allen Rowe. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 12 in front of Judge Adrienne Grover.
Fierro’s trial to begin Monday
SANTA FE (KRQE) — A high profile DWI hit-and-run homicide case will go to trial on Monday, almost 10 months after a man was hit and killed in a Santa Fe Street. Carlos Fierro, 36, will stand trial in New Mexico District Court for vehicular homicide and causing a fatal accident. Judge Michael Vigil will preside over the trail. Fierro is accused of hitting William Tenorio as he stepped off a curb on Guadalupe Street last November, and then driving off. Tenorio was 46. He had been drinking when he was killed. Fierro is a politically connected attorney in Santa Fe. Just two years ago, he was named the New Mexico Bar Association’s Outstanding Young Lawyer. He now faces nine years in prison if he’s convicted. The trial is expected to last a couple of weeks. Fierro’s passenger that night was New Mexico State Police Officer Alfred Lovato. The 17 year veteran was assigned to Gov. Bill Richardson’s security detail. Lovato is also charged with vehicular homicide.
Man charged in fatal DUI crash in Heart of Chicago
A 35-year-old man who police said was drunk behind the wheel was charged with reckless homicide in connection with a crash that killed another man Saturday in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood, police said this afternoon. Roberto M. Torres, of the 2000 block of West 21st Street, was also charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in an injury or death and was ticketed for driving under the influence of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle without insurance and failing to stop at a red light. Carlos Chavez, of the 1600 block of West 21st Street, was pronounced dead at 6:30 a.m., said a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The crash happened about 2:30 a.m. Saturday at West Cermak Road and South Damen Avenue, involving a truck and another vehicle, police said. Torres and a female passenger, 20, were in the truck, and both were treated for minor injuries.
No second chances in old DUI cases
SARASOTA COUNTY [FL] — The breath-alcohol tests used for years to help convict tens of thousands of DUI defendants across the state might not have been as reliable as prosecutors portrayed. Two top experts have said that the Intoxilyzer 5000 breath-test machines — used for about two decades before the state changed to updated machines in 2006 — could not meet today’s scientific requirements for ensuring accurate results. The Intoxilyzer 5000 was only checked once a month to see if the machine was working properly. The state’s newest machine, the Intoxilyzer 8000, runs two control tests during every alcohol breath test — one right before and one right after. The testimony of those experts means prosecutors cannot present the Intoxilyzer 5000 breath tests in court in the small number of remaining cases where that older machine was used. As a result, dozens of DUI defendants in Sarasota and Manatee counties have had charges dropped or reduced to reckless driving. But it is too late for anyone already convicted with results from the Intoxilyzer 5000 to benefit from the situation. Prosecutors say the Intoxilyzer 5000 machines were reliable, even if the scientific community now calls for better safeguards to make sure the machine is accurate.
California DUI checkpoint a failure
Fairfield, CA — A local DUI checkpoint at the 1400 block of Travis Blvd., was, but objective standards a miserable failure. According to reports, 776 cars were stopped and the drivers screened for DUI. Out of the 776 vehicles stopped, no drivers were cited for DUI. However, 20 were cited for various license infractions, including 11 citations for driving with a suspended license, and 9 for driving without a license. These people had their vehicles towed. For the resources it took to stop 776 vehicles looking for DUI suspects to net no DUI arrests, the exercise can be classified as an objective failure.
OpEd: That’s good news! The attorney writing this article seems miffed, perhaps because the checkpoint didn’t net him any dough (clients). No arrests means compliance with law, and that’s a bad thing? This article takes a different tact on the nights “spoils”
Lewes man charged with 5th DUI
MILLSBORO [DE] — A Lewes man was charged with a fifth DUI offense following an accident Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Longneck Road and the entrance road (Cove Drive) to Mariners Cove. Delaware State Police said Thomas Albanese, 48, was driving a a 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck pulling a boat trailer when he hit another vehicle that he tried to pass as it was turning onto Cove Drive. Albanese then allegedly fled on foot. He was later found hiding in nearby bushes and police said officers detemined that he had been drinking and was under the influence. A routine computer check showed that Albanese had four previous convictions for DUI. Additionally, the trailer Albanese was pulling was not registered properly and the he was driving on a suspended license. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured, police said. Albanese was charged with 5th Offense DUI, leaving the scene of a property damage crash, driving while suspended, failure to provide information at a collision scene, failure to have insurance, expired tags and improper passing. He was released on a $6,900 unsecured bond early this morning, police said.
Vehicular homicide defendant waives
COURTHOUSE — A Spring City man accused of driving drunk and speeding when he crashed a van into a tree in Upper Providence, killing his passenger friend, will avoid a court appearance next month by waiving his arraignment on vehicular homicide charges. Dustin J. Jones, 26, of the 100 block of Hall Street, on Thursday waived his scheduled Oct. 28 formal arraignment in Montgomery County Court on charges of homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI, careless driving and speeding in connection with the 2 a.m. July 28 one-vehicle crash in the 1000 block of Lewis Road in Upper Providence. Killed in the crash was Richard Holloway Jr., 26, of Collegeville. Holloway was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined Holloway died of head injuries. By waiving his arraignment, Jones pleaded not guilty to the charges. An arraignment hearing marks the first time a defendant has the opportunity to enter a plea to criminal charges. Jones’ case will now be scheduled for trial. Jones, who is represented by defense lawyer Joshua E. Scarpello, remains free on $100,000 unsecured bail while awaiting trial. Assistant District Attorney Brett Buick is prosecuting the case. If convicted of the homicide by vehicle while DUI charge, Jones could face a mandatory three-year prison term.
Drunk barely hurt in wreck, but pal dies
A boozed-up Staten Island man lost control of his car and crashed into a utility pole on Saturday, killing his 41-year-old passenger, police and witnesses said. Christopher Garfman, 39, survived the 2:15 a.m. wreck in Woodrow, Staten Island, and was charged with driving while intoxicated, manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, police said. He had pot on him too, police said. His passenger, David Zimmer, died instantly after the 2000 Ford Focus careened out of control, bounced off a tree and exploded into the pole on Drumgoole Road E. The crash sent the car’s engine flying 20 feet down the street. Cops found a half-empty bottle of Ouzo in the vehicle, a source said.
Rankin County jury awards $3.3 million in DUI Homicide case
The jury’s verdict was for $3,333,189.00. It was a general verdict form, so there was no break-down of the verdict into separate categories. The judgment states that $612,500 was previously paid to the plaintiff on behalf of the losing defendants (Joe Ed Carter and M&A Trucking, Inc.). Therefore, the Court reduced the verdict to $2,720,689 and the judgment was for that amount. The case was filed in 2000, so the tort reform caps do not apply to the judgment. I do not know what any potential appeal issues are, but Judge Samac Richardson is not reversed often and the plaintiff’s attorney (John Toney) is very respected in the legal community. Also, Rankin County juries are as conservative as they get. I would be very surprised if this case is reversed on appeal. Here is a link to the Mississippi Department of Corrections’ profile on Mr. Carter. It states that Mr. Carter was sentenced to 20 years in prison for vehicular homicide and 15 years for aggravated assault.
Naked Biker Busted For Fifth DUI
OCALA, FLA—There’s no law in Florida that dictates that you have to wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle. But the law says that you have to wear clothes. A Florida man has been charged with his fifth charge of driving under the influence after police saw him riding his motorcycle naked on Interstate 75 earlier this week. When Dante Krauss, 45, stopped at a red light, police pulled him over. Police said Krauss didn’t know where he was coming from and couldn’t explain why he was naked. When asked if he had been drinking said he had. He registered a blood alcohol content of more than .08%, the state’s legal threshold of intoxication. He’s was released from custody, with clothes on, after posting $20,000 bail. 9–18-09
Avon assistant fire chief arrested for alleged DUI
AVON [OH] — A minor fender-bender Thursday evening led to the arrest of an assistant fire chief after police say he smelled of alcohol. Assistant Fire Chief Tom Golay, a 22-year veteran of the Avon Fire Department, was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence, police Sgt. Robert Olds said. Golay was released on a personal bond and is due to appear in Avon Mayor’s Court on Wednesday to answer to the charge. Golay, who heads the department’s Fire Prevention Bureau and training program, told police he was leaving his home just before 7 p.m. Thursday when a car turning left onto Nagel Road cut him off. Olds said Golay, who was driving a 1993 Chevy Corvette, hit the right rear panel of a 2007 Subaru Tribeca driven by 26-year-old Travis R. French of Avon. No one was hurt in the crash, including French’s two passengers… The test registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.159, Olds said. Ohio law deems a driver impaired at 0.08.
N.M. Fire Capt. Demoted After Off-Duty DUI Arrest
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A captain for the Albuquerque Fire Department is arrested for alleged drunk driving. Josh Ortega-Scheiner was pulled over near Interstate 40 and Carlisle Blvd. Thursday night for speeding. State police said he had slurred speech, and his blood alcohol content was .26, more than three times the legal limit. Friday, AFD officials demoted the 16-year veteran from captain to firefighter, which is the lowest rank. “He feels terrible, he feels like he let the department down and himself down,” said deputy fire chief Craig Sadberry. Ortega-Scheiner was not fired because he has no prior record.
‘Real’ Husband Charged with Felony DUI
Matt Keough from “The Real Housewives of Orange County” is in a real deep mess, he was just charged with two felonies following his DUI arrest on August 15. Keough — who was busted in Coto de Caza, CA driving three times over the legal limit — was charged with “one felony count DUI with a prior felony DUI conviction within 10 years” and one felony count driving with a BAC of .08 or higher. According to the Orange County D.A., “Keough was also charged with sentencing enhancements for having a blood alcohol level of .20 percent or more and a prior 2005 felony DUI conviction.
Spring City man waives arraigment in fatal crash
NORRISTOWN [PA] — A Spring City man accused of driving drunk and speeding when he crashed a van into a tree in Upper Providence, killing his passenger friend, will avoid a court appearance next month by waiving his arraignment on vehicular homicide charges. Dustin J. Jones, 26, of the 100 block of Hall Street, on Thursday waived his scheduled Oct. 28 formal arraignment in Montgomery County Court on charges of homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI, careless driving and speeding in connection with the 2 a.m. July 28 one-vehicle crash in the 1000 block of Lewis Road in Upper Providence. Killed in the crash was Richard Holloway Jr., 26, of Collegeville. Holloway was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. An autopsy determined Holloway died of head injuries… Upper Providence police were able to speak to Jones at the scene of the crash and they detected an odor of alcohol on his breath, prosecutors alleged. Blood tests subsequently determined that Jones had a blood-alcohol level of 0.138 percent. The legal blood-alcohol level for driving in Pennsylvania is 0.08 percent. Authorities alleged Jones was impaired beyond the point of rendering him unfit to safely operate a motor vehicle. Jones’s “alertness, judgment, perception, coordination and sense of care and caution were also impaired,” authorities alleged in court papers.
Driver In Fatal Crash Convicted Of Manslaughter
EL CAJON, Calif. — An El Cajon man who was drunk when he caused a crash on State Route 78 near Ramona that killed two men and injured a woman was cleared Friday of murder charges but convicted on two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter. Shannon Shimp was also found guilty of DUI causing injury; driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent or more and causing injury. Each charge was attached with allegations he personally inflicted great bodily injury, and caused death or injury to three or more victims. A passenger in Shimp’s truck, Joseph Edwards, 52, and Ian Kinney, 19, who was driving a Lexus, died in the crash. Kinney’s girlfriend was injured. A test nearly two hours after the collision found that Shimp had a blood-alcohol level of .19 percent, which is more than twice the legal limit. Witnesses testified that Shimp was driving eastbound when he tried to pass several vehicles, but lost control and skidded into the Lexus, which was pinned underneath the pickup. Edwards, of Ramona, and Kinney, of Julian, both died at the scene.
See also outrage from from a sister-in-law of one of those murdered
White gets prison time for drunken driving deaths
JEFFERSON [WI] — Jefferson County Branch II Circuit Court Judge William Hue ordered Lucas White, 23, of Fort Atkinson to 30 years in prison Thursday for killing a father and son who were on their way to a Milwaukee Bucks basketball game while he was operating while intoxicated earlier this year. White will serve an initial prison term of 14 years, with the remaining 16 years on extended supervision. White had entered into a plea agreement with the state in early August. He had originally been charged with two counts each of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle and homicide by use of a vehicle with a prohibited blood-alcohol content after the crash Feb. 7 that resulted in the deaths of Eleno (Alan) J. Calvillo, 41, and his son, Bailey A. Calvillo, 11, of Fort Atkinson. The collision occurred on state Highway 106 in the town of Koshkonong, just east of Curtis Mill Road. White failed three field sobriety tests after the crash, according to the criminal complaint. He was operating left of the center line before the head-on collision occurred. His blood-alcohol content was .241 and he had evidence of marijuana in his bloodstream.
Man sentenced in vehicular manslaughter case
SANTA BARBARA [CA] — Fabian Maduena, 21, pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter and received a 21-year sentence following three felony and two misdemeanor charges connected to events leading to the death of a mother of five children. Rosario Silvestre, 41, was ejected from her Volkswagen Jetta when Maduena’s speeding vehicle clipped her car on the 101 freeway. Maduena fled the scene, was subsequently apprehended and failed a field sobriety arrest, leading to charges of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, possession of marijuana for sale, and flight from the scene of a fatal accident. Maduena was also found to have been driving with a suspended license without proof of insurance.
Frostproof Man Charged with Vehicular Homicide on ‘America’s Most Wanted’
AVON PARK | A man facing charges in a crash that killed an Avon Park couple will be shown on “America’s Most Wanted” at 9 p.m. tonight on Fox. Brian Dale Andrews of Frostproof was driving north on U.S. 27 just north of County Line Road about 5:35 p.m. on June 30, 2007, when his vehicle crossed the grass median into the southbound lanes, according to Florida Highway Patrol. Danny and Pat McCown, both 59, were returning home from shopping when Andrews smashed his vehicle into their car, killing them. Andrews was treated for injuries and charged with driving with a suspended license and careless driving resulting in death, FHP said. He was released from Polk County Jail on July 21, 2007, but authorities haven’t seen him since. A warrant was issued for Andrews’ arrest on Sept. 21, 2007, for two counts of DUI manslaughter after Andrews failed to appear at a hearing.
Man Convicted Of Manslaughter In DUI Tragedy
RIVERSIDE (CBS) ― A Riverside jury spent just under three hours deliberating Friday before convicting 24-year-old Javier Hernandez of gross vehicular manslaughter in the Aug. 4, 2008, death of Gloria Rodriguez, a 20-year-old mom. Hernandez had been charged with second-degree murder but jurors acquitted him of that count, preferring the lesser charge of manslaughter. “We certainly respect the right of the jury to arrive at their determination,” Riverside County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Michael Jeandron said in response to the verdict. Jurors also convicted Hernandez of three counts of inflicting injury while driving under the influence, as well as multiple great bodily injury allegations and being an unlicensed operator of a motor vehicle. Sentencing is expected on Nov. 20. According to Riverside police, on the night of the fatal crash, Hernandez was speeding north on Tyler Street when he veered his Ford Explorer off the road near Robinson Avenue, plowing through a utility pole and onto the sidewalk.
Roseville Man gets jail in DUI Death
Twenty-year-old Brandon Mark Moreno of Roseville was given a county jail term of 240 days with a suspended sentence of seven years in state prison today for causing the death of his friend, Brandon Keith, in a drunken driving collision. Described by the prosecutor as a “partygoer” who couldn’t refrain from alcohol or drugs, Moreno was placed on five years of formal probation and ordered to serve more than 21 months in jail by Placer County Superior Court Judge Larry D. Gaddis. Since the defendant, who has been in custody since the fatal incident, was given credit for serving 408 days in jail, he will need to serve 240 more days behind bars, the judge ordered. If Moreno violates any of the terms of his probation while in jail or after his release, he could be sent to prison for seven years to fulfill the suspended sentence. Among other conditions imposed on Moreno are 200 hours of community service, abstinence from drugs and alcohol, counseling and payment of $3,220 for various fines, fees and restitution programs. The fatal incident occurred Dec. 20, 2008, when Moreno’s vehicle, carrying four occupants and being driven at an estimated 85 mph in a 45-mph zone, left the roadway on Foothills Boulevard and smashed into a tree. Keith, a 20-year-old Roseville resident, died. Another passenger, Joseph Castillon, was injured. The third passenger was not hurt.
Driver charged after fatal crash in Swansea
SWANSEA, MA. — A 21-year-old woman has died from the injuries she suffered in a one-car accident early Friday morning, and the police have charged the driver with motor vehicle homicide. The Swansea police charged Justin Nunes, 22, of Swansea, with motor vehicle homicide by operating under the influence and failure to stay in marked lines. Nunes was driving a 2003 Ford Escape on Gardners Neck Road around 1:48 a.m. when his SUV left the paved roadway and struck two utility poles, according to a preliminary investigation by Swansea Patrolman Christopher Ball. His female passenger suffered major injuries and was taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River then transferred to Rhode Island Hospital. The police said that she died at 6:30 a.m. The police have not named the Swansea woman pending notification of her family. Nunes had originally been charged with operating under the influence of liquor resulting in serious bodily injury, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and marked lanes violation, but the charges were upgraded when his female passenger died.
Driver Charged with Homicide, DUI
Prosecutors in Lackawanna County added additional, more serious charges to the complaint against a man accused in a deadly hit and run crash. They said his actions killed another Matthew Garofalo, 54 of the Mount Cobb area last week. Alfred Atsus, 33, of Moscow had nothing to say Thursday about the new charges against him which include homicide by motor vehicle while driving drunk and involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors said they consider Atsus a danger to the community. “He left the scene early in the morning, and his blood alcohol level was a .23 at just before 6 a.m. which compounded the situation,” said Assistant District Attorney Corey Kolcharno. Police said it was more than a week ago when Atsus ran a red light at the intersection of Routes 307 and 690 near Moscow, hit another car, then kept driving. Police found Atsus about an hour later at his home where he admitted he’d had 11 drinks. A test showed his blood alcohol was almost three times the legal limit.
Nebraska man gets prison for vehicular homicide
A Grand Island [NE] man convicted of driving drunk and killing a woman will spend nearly 2 decades in prison. Documents in Hall County District Court show 40 year old Troy Nehls was sentenced to 19 and a half years behind bars. He has been given credit for nearly a year of time already served. Last October, Nehls was arrested after he crashed into a car driven by 60 year old Cynthia Collins of Grand Island. Collins died at the scene. Authorities said Nehls had been drinking. He was charged with Motor Vehicle Homicide.
Woman Dies After Suspected DUI Crash
BOSTON [MA] — A 22-year-old Swansea man faces motor vehicle homicide and drunken driving charges after a crash that left a woman dead. Justin Nunes, 22, crashed his 2003 Ford Escape into two utility poles on Gardners Neck Road in Swansea early Friday morning, police said. A female passenger was seriously injured in the crash and taken to Rhode Island Hospital. She died Friday morning. After the crash, Nunes was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of liquor resulting in serious bodily injury, reckless operation of a vehicle and a marked lanes violation. The charges will be upgraded to motor vehicle homicide by operating under the influence of liquor. The victim’s name has not been released.
Johnigan found guilty of murder, vehicle manslaughter, DUI
A 24-year-old woman learns her punishment in the death of a longtime Santa Barbara County [CA] District Attorney investigator. A jury found Ashley Johnigan guilty of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter, and two misdemeanor charges of DUI for the May 1, 2008, crash that killed Laura Cleaves. Cleaves had worked with the DA’s investigation unit since 1984. The courtroom was packed, mainly filled with Cleaves’ family, friends, and co-workers from the DA’s office. Johnigan could face 15 years to life when she is sentenced next month. She sat quietly as her fate was read. Outside court, Cleaves’ family and friends comforted each other in what was a bittersweet moment.
Charles Rogers Charged With PUI?
Total Pro Sports — Driving under the influence is nothing new to sports athletes. In this year alone we have seen the likes of WNBA star Diana Taurasi, former WWE wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper, and retired NBA star Charles Barkley arrested for DUIs. Even Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth was recently sentenced to 30 days in prison for vehicular manslaughter after driving while under the influence and killing a pedestrian. All the aforementioned had received bad publicity for their stupidity, but Charles Rogers is about to do them one better. You see, driving while under the influence has been played out by athletes. Rogers was looking for something new, and he got it… Parking Under the Influence. The former first round pick of the Detroit Lions was arrested Wednesday night after officers in Novi, Michigan found him “unresponsive behind the wheel of his still running, and in gear, Mercedes on Meadowbrook Road.” After failing a roadside sobriety test, Rogers was arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated and Operating a Motor Vehicle While License Not Valid.
Woman gets 10 years in manslaughter
A Cherokee County [OK] woman charged with first-degree manslaughter drew a 10-year prison sentence after entering a plea. Janet Kaye Ingram, 46, will undergo a therapeutic program while incarcerated. The length of the program is usually 18–24 months, said Assistant District Attorney David Pierce. Ingram was charged in September 2006 with manslaughter, stemming from a crash on Indian Road in August 2006 that killed James Caldwell. Reports state Ingram ran off the road and overcorrected, veering into Caldwell’s lane. Pierce said Ingram’s blood alcohol level was .19 when her blood was taken by an emergency room nurse. He said it also showed marijuana and benzodiazepine, a mild tranquilizer.
Sheriff seeks captain’s firing after DUI arrest
MOUNT VERNON [IL] — Jefferson County Sheriff Roger Mulch has asked for the termination of a department captain following an August DUI arrest in Washington County. A merit commission will make a decision on that request. Court records show Randall R. Nadolski of Scheller was cited with driving under the influence in Washington County Aug. 17 and also received a citation for failure to reduce speed. He was suspended without pay Sept. 2 and a letter of resignation was requested, according to a news release by Mulch, who declined further comment Wednesday. Nadolski did not submit a resignation letter and was scheduled for a disciplinary investigative interview Monday. Information from Washington County was used in that review process, according to the release, and Nadolski was notified that the Jefferson County Merit Commission would be informed of the department’s request for his continued suspension without pay, demotion from a captain’s position to patrol and termination of employment.
Neb. man accused of 4th DUI after pursuit
LINCOLN (AP) — A Nebraska man has been arrested on suspicion of his fourth drunken driving offense after a short chase at speeds over 100 mph. The Nebraska State Patrol says the pursuit began shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday after a trooper spotted a Cadillac Escalade with stolen license plates on Interstate 80 in Lincoln. The Escalade exited I-80 at 56th Street, but then crossed the street and re-entered the Interstate. A trooper tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop. Stop sticks were laid out near Waverly, and they deflated the SUV’s tires. The driver was arrested a short time later. The Patrol says 40-year-old Michael McGinn Sr. of Bennet will likely face several charges, including his fourth DUI, reckless driving and fleeing to avoid arrest.
Charges sought against parents after Orinda teen party and DUI crash
ORINDA — Police are seeking charges against the parent of a teenager who hosted an alcohol-fueled party and against a partygoer’s parents who tried to cover up a DUI crash that followed, police said. Seven Miramonte High School students were arrested and cited after Orinda and Lafayette police responded about 12:30 a.m. Sunday to a house party in the 4100 block of Happy Valley Road. Four of the teenagers, including the party host, were arrested on suspicion of public drunkenness; two on suspicion of driving while intoxicated; and one on suspicion of possessing marijuana. The host also was cited for holding an unruly party. All were released to their parents. Orinda police Chief Bill French said one of the teens arrested on suspicion of DUI also is suspected of hit-and-run after striking a parked car and then shearing a telephone pole while leaving the party.
AB mayor facing DUI charge, released on PR bond
MARION, SC (WMBF) — Atlantic Beach Mayor Retha Pierce was released from jail Thursday on a personal recognizance bond. Pierce faces charges in Marion County for allegedly driving under the influence. Troopers with the South Carolina Highway Patrol arrested Pierce Wednesday on suspicion of DUI, adding yet another incident to a growing number of run-ins with the law. Pierce will face a judge on the DUI charge on Oct. 6. The Rev. Windy Price, a long-time friend of Pierce, says the Atlantic Beach mayor is an evangelist, a woman with strong morals who doesn’t even take aspirin, let alone drink and drive. “It’s crazy. When I heard the charges I was very perplexed,” she said. “People that know Mayor Pierce [know] that’s a strong lady, and she would never resort to alcohol. That’s not her, I know that for a fact.” Price says Pierce was taking a nap at a fast food restaurant parking lot off of Highway 76 when troopers approached her car. In April, Atlantic Beach Police Chief Randy Rizzo says Pierce was arrested on hit and run and failure to provide proof of insurance charges after side swiping a car and driving away.
Center man charged with DUI, vehicular homicide
CENTER TWP. [PA] — A Beaver man has been charged with killing the passenger of another car while driving drunk in a wreck in Center Township late Thursday. Michael Anthony Kowal, 52, of 205 First St. is charged with plowing his pickup into the back of a car that was waiting for a light at Route 18 and Old Brodhead Road around 11:55 p.m. Thursday. One person in the car, Scott M. Boyd, 31, of Midland, was killed; the driver and two other passengers were injured… Kramer said Kowal, who was released from the Beaver County Jail Monday after posting $50,000 bond, is charged with homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, three counts of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle while driving under the influence, involuntary manslaughter, five counts of reckless
Trooper man sentenced for Schwenksville crash death
NORRISTOWN [PA] – A Trooper man’s decision to drive under the influence of cocaine, marijuana and alcohol was “a mixture for disaster” that claimed the life of his passenger and best friend, according to prosecutors. “It was the deadliest cocktail one can be served. It was a mixture for disaster,” Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Nathan Schadler said Wednesday after Joseph Thomas Cornog pleaded guilty to charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of a combination of drugs and alcohol and DUI in connection with the July 11, 2008, one-vehicle crash that claimed the life of Eagleville electrician Adam P. Hunsberger. “He played Russian Roulette,” said Schadler, comparing Cornog’s vehicle to a “fully loaded gun.” “It was a certain outcome and that outcome was Adam Hunsberger’s death.” President Judge Richard J. Hodgson sentenced Cornog, 30, of the 2900 block of Fourth Street, to a total of 4-to-8-years in a state correctional facility in connection with the vehicular homicide charge and a probation violation. Cornog was on probation for a 2004 drug conviction at the time of the Schwenksville crash and the vehicular homicide charges represented a violation of the previous probation.
Pre-trial hearing set in fatal hit-and-run case
BRISTOL [CT] — Robert Park, who is charged with several crimes involving the hit-and-run accident that killed 14-year-old Henry Waye Jr., is scheduled for a pretrial hearing Oct. 14. Park, 44, of 132 George St., appeared in court briefly Wednesday morning when the pretrial date was scheduled. Pretrial hearings include discussion on what will be covered during a criminal trial. Park is charged with second-degree manslaughter, misconduct with a motor vehicle, second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, evading responsibility for death or serious injury, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to drive right. * Park turned himself into police on June 1 after hearing about a warrant for his arrest. His charges stem from the March 5 accident in which he allegedly struck Waye with his pick-up truck while the boy was walking his bicycle up George Street.
Woman gets 10 years for manslaughter
A Cherokee County [OK] woman charged with first-degree manslaughter drew a 10-year prison sentence Tuesday after entering a plea to the charge… Ingram was formally charged Sept. 16, 2006, with manslaughter, stemming from a crash on Indian Road in August 2006 that killed James Caldwell. Reports state Ingram ran off the road and overcorrected, veering into Caldwell’s lane. Ingram was traveling 41 mph at impact with the Caldwell vehicle, according to previous testimony.Pierce said Ingram’s blood alcohol level was .19 sometime after the crash, when her blood was taken by an emergency nurse at the hospital. He said it also showed marijuana and benzodiazepine, a mild tranquilizer. Pierce said a charge of actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, filed in July against Ingram for an incident in Tahlequah, was dismissed as part of her plea deal.
