In the News (DUI, Drunk Driving, Driving under the influence, and similar stories) - September 13 and September 14

There are repeats in the list (quite a few about George Michael) but I have not decided how to deal with them since different articles read differently. I figured, at least for now, I would let you choose which, if any, you want to read.

I have highlighted those that appear to include fatalities or appear truly egregious in red and have highlighted articles involving high ranking officials and other "high-profile" people - like parents (like law enforcement officers, principals, parents with children) in blue. In the end, they are all egregious...but as with many things...there are degrees.

Please feel free to share this blog, post comments, and let me know of additional articles, blogs, etc. I should share.

I wish I had time to read every article...there just don't seem to be enough hours and minutes in the day. Too many articles...maybe one day, I won't have any to read...here's hoping...

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http://www.shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/the-way-we-grieve-now-2389801/

The way we grieve now

by Piper Weiss, Shine Staff, on Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:37pm PDT

Patrick Swayze and wife Lisa Niemi in 2005 (Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images for AFI)

Boarding a flight, Lisa Niemi pulled out her phone and texted "I love you” to her husband. It was a sentiment she'd often shared with her partner of 34 years, actor Patrick Swayze. And even though he'd lost his battle to pancreatic cancer a year ago this week, she wasn't ready to give it up. “Either somewhere out there he received [the message], or someone's going, 'Somebody loves me!' And you know what? I figured it was a win-win situation,” revealed Niemi in an interview with People Magazine.

While sending text messages to a deceased loved one may not seem like a standard part of the mourning process, there’s no guidebook for grief.

“I have a client who never turned off her husband’s cell phone after he died. She takes comfort in calling his voice mail to hear him speak,” says Claire Bidwell Smith, M.A., L.P.C., a hospice and bereavement specialist. “Rituals and routines like that are actually healthy in confronting your emotions and can hold a person in a secure place for longer.”

Actress Michelle Williams echoed the sentiment in the months after Heath Ledger’s death. "I wish we had rituals about grief," she said in an interview with Vogue. "I wish it were still the Victorian times, and we could go from black to gray to mauve to pink, and have rings with hair in them.”

Instead, Williams found some solace in her upstate New York garden. "[A friend] got me gardening in the spring, and that's when it started to turn around...I remember being on my hands and knees. The ground was cold and muddy. I pushed back the dead leaves and saw the bright green shoots of spring. Under all this decay something was growing,” she said. “Caring for the garden reminded me to care for myself."

That was something Williams had neglected to do in the weeks after Ledger's fatal overdose, "I was severely accident-prone...I fell downstairs, broke a toe, put my fingers in a blender," she confided. "I was holding it together by a string and a paper clip...I didn't know if I could keep it all together."

Jennifer Hudson described a similar fugue state after the grave murder of her mother, brother and nephew in 2008. “It’s all a blur, it was surreal,” Hudson explained in a VH1 interview. “It was like I was outside of myself.” To cope, she took to routine prayers. ”I prayed when I’d get up in the morning and prayed before I laid down at night."

For Gwyneth Paltrow her own hair became a way of coping with the loss of her father in 2002.

"When my dad died I didn't want to cut it off. I think it was because it was the hair he knew,” she divulged in a 2008 press interview. "One day I was on a shoot and I just suddenly said, 'I need to cut it now.' It was almost as if it was part of the grieving process. I just had to let something go." Her impulse decision took six years to make.

Part of the struggle comes from the fact that there's no time-line for the pain. Secret habits and rituals born out of loss can carry over for decades, even to the point where it becomes second nature.

"After a while you worry that the pain will pass and you'll stop missing them, so you keep these connections," says hospice and bereavement specialist Smith.

Smith’s familiarity with the process is more than clinical. When her mother, a talented chef, passed away, the Chicago native taught herself to tackle her mother's recipes.

"Cooking was a big part of her physical presence so when she was gone, so were the wonderful smells that reminded me of her. It was like losing one of my senses,” says Smith who now features her mother's dishes on her blog.

Brooke Berman, author of the new memoir “No Place Like Home,” found similar solace through her mother’s passion for clothes. "She kept everything in remarkable condition -- sweaters in sweater bags, shoes in boxes, jewelry tucked away in Tiffany's boxes.” After her death, Berman spent a year dressed in her mother's belongings. “I had a pair of her sunglasses adapted with my prescription lenses. I wore her socks every day. I wore scarves and gloves, to keep warm that winter. I'd tell myself it was my mom keeping me warm. It completed my relationship with her, or possibly continued it."

In the wake of Brittany Murphy's death, her grieving mother, Sharon, admitted to sleeping in her daughter's marital bed every night, beside Murphy's widower, Simon Monjack. The unconventional arrangement may have seemed bizarre, but it wasn't all that different from Berman inhabiting her mother's wardrobe.

Unfortunately, these cathartic gestures are often partnered with shame. On one online grief forum, members anonymously share their unusual habits: buying annual Christmas presents for a deceased father, doing word puzzles once relished by a mother, calling non-working numbers just to go through the motions of contacting a lost friend. All members then pose the same question: “Is this normal?”

But nothing is normal in grief and no two mourners are the same. Some people find it helpful to broadcast their memories to a wide audience. YouTube is flooded with memorial montages. Even Angelina Jolie and her brother, James Haven, created a web video tribute of their mother three years after her death. Others would rather pay tribute in private. Kelly Preston, who planned to participate in a recent panel discussion on grief, canceled at the last minute, releasing the statement: "I am still deeply in the process of healing, and it's just too soon."

There is no uniform approach to loss. “The only thing that's common is the feeling you're losing your mind," says Smith. "But once you share your coping rituals, however odd they may feel, you'll find you're not alone and not crazy at all. Then, you can start moving forward."

***

http://alaynabowman.com/

Memorial site for young woman (girl) killed in June of 2010.

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http://www.ksat.com/video/20912142/index.html

DUI kills couple. (Florida)

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http://www.vancouversun.com/life/RCMP+officer+caught+sneaking+teen+girl+into+beer+garden+photos+posted/3514884/story.html

RCMP s sneaks underage girl into beer garden, operates police vehicle while DUI.

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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/09/13/bc-cloggedcourts.html

Outrage after twice-accused drunk driver walks

(This is so upsetting!)

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http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2010/09/10/15303716.html

Charges laid in fatal hit and run

Teen’s body found hours after suspected drunk driver arrested

(17 years old…heartbreaking – the woman may have been able to save him!)

***

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Road+safety+program+targeting+impaired+drivers+announced+Regina/3496567/story.html

Road safety program targeting impaired drivers announced in Regina

Read more: http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Road+safety+program+targeting+impaired+drivers+announced+Regina/3496567/story.html#ixzz0zZXdjKV2

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http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/773114

Disqualified driver, suspended five times, caught driving

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http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100912/bc_madd_event_100912/20100912

MADD reminds drivers about new drinking penalties

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http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=OTg5MjcyNQ%3D%3D

Repeat St. John's impaired driver guilty

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http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/husband-sacrifices-life-for-his-pregnant-wife-saddest-story-of-the-day-2390035/

(does not appear to be DUI…but incredibly sad and did not have to happen)

Husband sacrifices life for his pregnant wife (saddest story of the day)

by Jennifer Romolini, Shine staff

Erin and Brian Woods Photo: CBS News

This is one of those stories that's so sad, it's almost hard to read.

Last Friday night, Vancouver couple Erin and Brian Wood were on their way to visit family in Washington state when an oncoming Chevy Blazer swerved directly in front of their car. Brian Wood slammed the brakes and turned the vehicle sharply to the right. Seconds later, when the Blazer crashed into the Wood's car, Brian, 33, was killed instantly. His wife, who is seven months pregnant, survived.

“It’s pretty obvious if you look at the car that if it would have been a head-on crash, we both would have been killed, right along with our baby,” Erin told the TODAY show yesterday. “He definitely saved us. He made that choice, and I’m thankful for that.”

According to several reports, the driver of the Blazer, Jordyn Weichert, was trying to remove her sweater when the crash occurred. Police found heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and syringes in her car, along with a gun and two men in the Blazer's the backseat were ejected and killed during the accident. Weichert is in custody, charged with three counts of vehicular homicide. The arrest is little comfort for Erin Wood, whose baby is due November 5:

"I’m just trying to draw a lot of strength right now knowing that [Brian] made that choice to save me and the baby, so I can’t waste that gift," she told TODAY. "He wouldn’t want me to.”

***

News results for "DUI"

George Michael wafts off to jail for 2nd marijuana DUI [poll] Los Angeles Times (blog) Michael, whose lawyer said he felt "profound shame and horror" over the incident, had been ... ... popped for DUI in 2006 also, getting off that time with ... See all stories on this topic »

West Virginia DB Hogan suspended after DUI arrest Greenwich Time MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia starting cornerback Brandon Hogan has been suspended after a drunken driving arrest — his second run-in with ... See all stories on this topic »

Crash closes Highway 9; DUI suspected San Jose Mercury News By Jennifer Squires BEN LOMOND -- A man suspected of driving drunk crashed into a power pole on Highway 9 in Ben Lomond on this morning, shutting down the ... See all stories on this topic »

Pitt football player charged with Pennsylvania DUI hit-and-run DUIAttorney.com A Sunday morning traffic accident on Pittsburgh's popular South Side lead to a DUI charge for a University of Pittsburgh football player. ... See all stories on this topic »

Horace Mann CEO On Leave After DUI Charge Wall Street Journal The accident, in Vero Beach, Fla., led to the DUI charge. The company said the crash didn't require hospitalization of any of the parties involved. ... See all stories on this topic »

Checkpoint Strikeforce nets 26 more DUI arrests WGMD Radio Police in Delaware made 26 arrests for DUI last weekend as part of the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign. Numerous other arrests were made as well for other ... See all stories on this topic »

Man In Double Trouble For Driving Off In Cop Car After DUI Bust KWTX GREELEY, Colo. (September 13, 2010)—A Colorado man has been arrested for drunken driving twice, first for driving his own car under the influence and the ... See all stories on this topic »

Ronnie Brown gets another continuance in Georgia DUI case Sun-Sentinel Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown recently received another continuance on his DUI case in his home state of Georgia, per his attorney's request. ... See all stories on this topic »

Burp adds a hiccup in Kentucky DUI case USA Today By Andrew Wolfson, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal LOUISVILLE — If you burp when taking an alcohol breath test, does it invalidate the test? ... See all stories on this topic »

David Lawrence Center now offers DUI treatment services Naples Daily News These new DUI Treatment Services are now available to Collier County citizens due to a recent strategic move approved by the Board of Directors to ... See all stories on this topic »

State custody ordered for repeat DUI offender Billings Gazette He has previous DUI convictions in 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2005. Blumenshine will go through a state alcohol treatment program and will likely be placed on ... See all stories on this topic »

State Trooper Arrested for DUI Fired Immediately News Channel 7 An off-duty state trooper was arrested for DUI early Sunday morning and immediately fired. (more) The head of the South Carolina Highway Patrol says he ... See all stories on this topic »

Trial begins in fatal boating DUI case Northwest Herald More than two years later, McGuire is standing trial this week on a felony DUI charge alleging his drunkenness caused the early-morning accident that killed ... See all stories on this topic »

Traffic stop results in DUI arrest and five illegal consumption citations. Canton Daily Ledger He was placed under arrest for consumption of alcohol by a minor and was transported to the Canton Police Department where he was given a DUI. ... See all stories on this topic »

Duke driver DUI trial starts Nov. 3 Cincinnati.com By Barrett J. Brunsman • bbrunsman@enquirer.com • September 14, 2010 BATAVIA - A village police officer acted correctly when he arrested the driver of a ... See all stories on this topic »

LI Man Faces Prison Term After Fatal DUI CBS New York NEW YORK (CBS 2) – A man from Long Island will be spending time in prison after a deadly DUI accident. Shea Rosen, 20, pleaded guilty last May to vehicular ... See all stories on this topic »

Suspected Pennsylvania DUI driver faces 16 counts DUIAttorney.com Heise has been charged with fleeing the police, aggravated assault, DUI and driving with a revoked or suspended license. He faces 16 counts total. ... See all stories on this topic »

LAWMAKER WANTS STRICTER DUI BOATING LAWS KOKC A Republican Lawmaker wants stricter penalties for operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both. Senator Bill Brown of Broken Arrow ... See all stories on this topic »

Funkstown man sentenced on eighth DUI offense The Herald-Mail By DON AINES A Funkstown man who pleaded guilty to his eighth alcohol-related driving offense was sentenced Monday in Washington County Circuit Court to ... See all stories on this topic »

Colo. man gets DUI in car and then in squad Police News PoliceOne joins with officers, departments and agencies across the nation in the shared mission of ensuring officers have the tools and information needed ... See all stories on this topic »

Minor traffic violation results in DUI arrest Canton Daily Ledger Worlow failed the sobriety test on the scene and was placed under arrest for DUI, DUI over .08, no insurance and no valid license. ... See all stories on this topic »

Borland pleads guilty to manslaughter, DUI charges Sand Springs Leader Borland pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree manslaughter and DUI in a personal injury accident. She pleaded no contest to another charge, ... See all stories on this topic »

ESCONDIDO: One driver arrested in DUI enforcement North County Times ESCONDIDO ---- One person was arrested and three vehicles were impounded during a sobriety enforcement operation Sunday afternoon, Escondido police said. ... See all stories on this topic »

Va. Beach woman pleads guilty in fatal DUI wreck The Virginian-Pilot Natasha Herzog, 29, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence and other charges in Virginia Beach. ... See all stories on this topic » The Virginian-Pilot

Monday felony, DUI arrests Pensacola News Journal The following suspects were charged with felonies Monday at Escambia County Jail. Names, ages and addresses were provided by the individuals. ... See all stories on this topic »

Prescott enforcement detail nabs 30 speeders, 1 DUI ABC15.com (KNXV-TV) ... who police say “exhibited signs of impairment” and had .6 grams of cocaine in his possession. He was arrested for DUI drugs and possession of narcotics. See all stories on this topic » ABC15.com (KNXV-TV)

Snohomish County troopers arrest 281 drivers during DUI emphasis patrols HeraldNet OLYMPIA -- Snohomish County came in third place for drunken-driving arrests in this years Drive Hammered, Get Nailed campaign. The emphasis patrols began ... See all stories on this topic »

From the Police Log: Arrests for DUI, Petty Theft Corona del Mar Today Newport Beach police arrested a 43-year-old Costa Mesa man on suspicion of DUI at 11:42 pm Sunday at Goldenrod Avenue and East Coast Highway, reports state. ... See all stories on this topic »

Ag commissioner keeps low profile after DUI, resisting arrest case Santa Rosa Press Democrat By DEREK MOORE Sonoma County's agricultural commissioner kept a low profile Monday following her arrest over the weekend on suspicion of drunken driving and ... See all stories on this topic »

Red Lion man cited with DUI, speeding in motorcycle crash York Daily Record Southern York County Regional Police have filed DUI and other charges against a Red Lion man related to an Aug. 30 motorcycle crash in Glen Rock. ... See all stories on this topic »

Blogs results for "DUI"

George Michael To Serve 2 Months For DUI, Drug Possession ... George Michael has been jailed for eight weeks for driving under the influence of drugs and possessing cannabis. The former Wham! singer was warned last month that he faced a possible prison sent... Starpulse Entertainment News - http://www.starpulse.com/news/

404 suspected DUI drivers arrested in Pierce County during recent ... Law enforcement officers arrested 404 people on suspicion of driving under the influence during a recent enforcement campaign that stretched over nearly four weeks. The Olympian Online -- Breaking News - http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/

Man charged with sixth DUI offense Funkstown man sentenced on eighth DUI offense: A Funkstown man who pleaded guilty to his eighth alcohol-related driving offense was sentenced Monday in Washington County Circuit Court to five years in prison. Rodney Lynn Williams, 51, ... Drunk Driving & Underage Drinking... - http://www.centurycouncil.org/inthenews/feed

FWCS School Board Member Arrested for DUI Indiana's NewsCenter ... FWCS School Board Member Arrested for DUI. By WISE Web News. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player. September 14, 2010. FORT WAYNE, Ind (Indiana's NewsCenter)-Indiana's NewsCenter has learned that Fort Wayne ... INC - News - Local - http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local

Herzog pleads guilty to DUI wavy.com Virginia Beach A judge denied bond for a woman accused of driving drunk and killing 23-year-old Hunter Richardson last month., Local News WAVY TV - http://www.wavy.com/subindex/news/local_news

Trooper fired after being charged with DUI : News ... A South Carolina trooper has been fired after he was charged with drunken driving following a single-car crash. Midlands Connect - WACH News - http://www.midlandsconnect.com/news/

Ag commissioner keeps low profile after DUI arrest- Watch Sonoma ... By Ted Appel In a news conference following her DUI and resisting arrest charge, she claims credit for increasing her budget by $2 million and hiring 20 more employees. She doesn't apologize or express remorse for driving drunk, being arrested, ... Watch Sonoma County - http://www.watchsonomacounty.com/

George Michael Jailed For DUI Conviction : dBTechno By admin George Michael Jailed For DUI Conviction. September 14, 2010. Singer George Michael has been sentenced to 8 weeks in jail stemming from a DUI arrest. The arrest stemmed from an incident that took place back on July fourth when the ... dBTechno - http://www.dbtechno.com/

George Michael gets jail-time for latest DUI crash Hot Momma ... By Austin We reported in August that former 'Wham' singer, George Michael could face jail time for his latest display of bad driving, and it's come true – A British. Hot Momma Celebrity Gossip Blog - http://www.hotmommagossip.com/

SC trooper fired after being charged with DUI : News ... No one was injured in the crash and Lott says Buchwald was off-duty at the time of the accident. Carolina Live - Local News - http://www.carolinalive.com/news/

Web results for "DUI"

FARK.com: (5610887) DA busted for DUI after resident calls 911 to ... Bonus: It's his second DUI and he's also been arrested for embezzlement. Fark: Resident who called ... "Fark: Resident who called cops has prior DUI arrest" ... www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=5610887

Report: Bremner called cop a 'Nazi' during DUI arrest Prominent attorney Anne Bremner called a police officer a "Nazi," smelled " overwhelmingly" of alcohol during a DUI arrest and started banging her head ... www.seattlepi.com/local/426176_bremner.html?source=mypi

Three parents charged with DUI while driving with children in car ... Three people were arrested over the Labor Day weekend in separate incidents after they allegedly drove drunk with their children in their cars, according to ... articles.sun-sentinel.com/.../fl-holiday-dui-child-neglect-arrests...

Assistant Principal Arrested On DUI Charges - News Story - WFTV ... A spokeswoman told WFTV, unlike other egregious offenses a DUI does not lead to an automatic firing. The spokesperson also said, "Legally we are not allowed ... www.wftv.com/news/24953102/detail.html

News results for "Drunk Driving"

Horace Mann Retaining CEO In Spite Of DUI Incident National Underwriter Property And Casualty Insurance News By NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE Horace Mann Educators Corp. said it plans to keep its chief executive despite a drunk driving conviction that will keep him in ... See all stories on this topic »

Woman arrested on suspicion of drunk driving The Record-Courier A 45-year-old Gardnerville woman was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving Monday night with an alleged blood-alcohol content of .155, nearly twice the ... See all stories on this topic »

Montana Tackles Drunk Driving JoinTogether.org In 2008, Montana had 229 drunk driving deaths -- more such deaths per miles traveled than any other state, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety ... See all stories on this topic »

Outrage after twice-accused drunk driver walks CBC.ca She was with her friend Jessica Van Ruyven when their car collided with a truck driven by a man accused of drunk driving in August 2007. ... See all stories on this topic » CBC.ca

"Drunk" driving demonstrates message University Daily Kansan By Justine Patton Drinking and driving don't naturally relate to school. But, today the Kansas Union is hosting the Save a Life Tour, which interactively ... See all stories on this topic »

Cops: Public helping to crack down on drunk drivers TheChronicleHerald.ca Every day, four Canadians die in crashes related to drunk driving, according to statistics from MADD Canada. Hutchinson said Cumberland District RCMP laid ... See all stories on this topic »

Steering clear of drunk driving NorthernLife.ca (From back left, clockwise) Ron Roy, chairman of Action Sudbury, Natasha James, event planner, and Tylor McNair and Chris Vitiello, co-owners of Cousin ... See all stories on this topic » NorthernLife.ca

Police: Drunk drivers cause crashes Langley AdvanceNews Drunk driving isn't confined to the evening hours, and Marks encouraged members of the public to report dangerous or suspicious drivers to the police. See all stories on this topic »

Deadly past for crash victim South Bend Tribune Bjornstad, who is involved with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said the court system needs to do more. "We have to step back and ask the question, ... See all stories on this topic »

Cuffe, Linehan in race for House District 2 in Lincoln County The Missoulian Cuffe: Drunk Driving - Educate & Enforce. Enforce the laws we do have. Focus on repeat offenders. Get the courts to follow through. Educate youth and adults ... See all stories on this topic »

Brady resignation resolution fails Mankato Free Press Councilman Mark Frost had little sympathy for the notion that addiction is an explanation for drunk driving. He said some alcoholics — like the one who ... See all stories on this topic »

MMDA wants to limit liquor sales of bars, clubs ABS CBN News He said the government should have “some kind of control” over the liquor-serving establishments to boost the MMDA's campaign against drunk driving. ... See all stories on this topic »

Cops: Dad drove drunk with child Cincinnati.com He was booked Monday on several counts: drunk driving, refusing to take a breathalyzer test, driving under a suspended license, child endangering, ... See all stories on this topic »

Putting the brakes on highway deaths Grand Junction Sentinel Still, law enforcement agencies deserve credit for the tough enforcement of drunk-driving laws over the past decade and more, measures that have helped ... See all stories on this topic »

The long haul Baltimore Sun (blog) In Maryland, lawmakers this year shamefully rejected efforts to require drivers found guilty of drunk driving to have ignition interlock systems (breath ... See all stories on this topic »

Crown seeks long-term offender status St. John's Telegram A man facing his 14th drunk-driving conviction hasn't been sentenced yet, but the Crown is already looking to protect the public from him long after he gets ... See all stories on this topic » St. John's Telegram

Cushing Man on Probation for Manslaughter Charged with DUI KUSH Radio A Cushing man -- who is on probation for manslaughter in the 2003 drunk driving death of a teenage relative in a one-car crash -- has been ordered to appear ... See all stories on this topic »

State Fair administrator nabbed for DWI KRQE ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - One of the New Mexico State Fair's leading administrators was picked up late last night for drunk driving on a street just off the ... See all stories on this topic » KRQE

DWI Crackdown Nets 1800 Impaired Drivers KEYC Nearly 1800 drivers were arrested for DWI in the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's most recent crackdown on drunk driving,The 18-day End-of-Summer ... See all stories on this topic »

Soldier given discharge The Barrie Examiner A young Base Borden soldier was discharged from the army following his criminal behaviour connected to a drunk driving incident last January. ... See all stories on this topic »

Number of highway deaths decrease over Labor Day weekend Brookneal Union Star There were also fewer drunk driving arrests on Virginia's highways by state police during this past holiday weekend. In 2009, 164 impaired drivers were ... See all stories on this topic »

Carpentersville man charged in fatal hit-and-run Chicago Breaking News - Tribune ... "but we have his blood-alcohol analysis being worked on and we expect charges to be upgraded to aggravated drunk driving resulting in a death, ... See all stories on this topic »

Maniac driver caught, charged Shanghai Daily Afraid he would be caught for drunk driving, Ren backed his car and tried to make his escape. He caught the eye of a police officer surnamed Zhang, ... See all stories on this topic »

Crash suspect granted bail next day Daily Dispatch Online The accident occurred at about 10pm after Zako allegedly fled police, who had pulled him over on suspicion of drunk driving. Toughey, who had been driving ... See all stories on this topic »

Funds to help family of teen killed on bike Ottawa Citizen Larabie said she expected the family would donate some of the money to charities such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving. A 40-year-old woman has been charged ... See all stories on this topic »

Parker County REACT hosting golf tourney Weatherford Democrat After the tragic drunk-driving accident in 1998 that killed four Brock girls, counselors from the Parker County Co-Op contacted the executive director of ... See all stories on this topic »

Blogs results for "Drunk Driving"

Repeat drunk-driving offender crashes into South Brunswick cop ... By Gene Racz SOUTH BRUNSWICK — A 43-year-old East Brunswick man - with a history of four prior DWI arrests - was driving while intoxicated when he crashed into an. East Brunswick - http://eastbrunswick.injersey.com/

Lowell Man Arraigned in Drunk Driving Death of Off-Duty Lowell ... By Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq. Theary Chan, 26, of Lowell, Massachusetts, was arraigned this morning in Lowell District Court on Drunk Driving Charges in connection with the death of Sgt. Patrick Johnson, an off-duty Lowell Police Officer who was struck and killed ... Boston Criminal Lawyers Blog - http://www.bostoncriminallawyersblog.com/

Drunk Driving Trial Starts for Man Accused of Killing Star Rookie ... Save Email Print. Posted: 6:25 PM Sep 13, 2010. Drunk Driving Trial Starts for Man Accused of Killing Star Rookie Pitcher. Opening statements to begin in Adenhart case. width:275 and height: 198 and picwidth: 222 and pciheight: 159 ... WTVY - Sports - Headlines - http://www.wtvy.com/sports/headlines

Warrensburg woman charged with DWI after collision Casper man arrested twice in one night for drunk driving: CASPER — A Casper man racked up two driving under the influence arrests in the same night last weekend after authorities say he bonded out of jail on the first one, ... Drunk Driving & Underage Drinking... - http://www.centurycouncil.org/inthenews/feed

WVU's Hogan charged for DUI - Daily Athenaeum - Drunk Driving ... By Latest News Pittsburgh Post Gazette WVU's Hogan charged for DUI Daily Athenaeum West Virginia's starting cornerback Brandon Hogan was arrested early. Drunk Driving Forum DUI DWI... - http://www.forum.drinkdriving.org/

Drunk Driving News for September 14, 2010 By Darbi Here are some trending topics about drunk driving. 1800duilaws.com - http://blog.1800duilaws.com/

TBI Warrior: Sultan Against Drunk Driving: TBI Warrior By TBI Warrior Sultan Against Drunk Driving: TBI Warrior. Happy Tuesday. This is my first video blog. This is the result of many thoughts and emotional challenges. It is still painful to watch and hear myself. I will use this as a motivation to work ... TBI Warrior - http://tbiwarriors.blogspot.com/

Web results for "Drunk Driving"

FARK.com: (5610892) Drunk driving pirates gets a hole-in-one. The ... Drunk driving pirates gets a hole-in-one. The Sun is there (thesun.co.uk), divider line, 21 .... And that completes the Drunk Driving Trifecta. Huzzah! ... www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink...hl...gets...

Drunk driving cop pleads guilty to running down minister's ... A drunken Bay Ridge cop who mowed down a 33-year-old woman in Mill Basin last year has pled guilty to vehicular manslaughter charges, but the hardest thing ... www.nypost.com/.../drunk_driving_cop_pleads_guilty_YZS9...

- Mothers Against Drunk Driving - Media Center - Press Releases Statement from MADD National President Laura Dean-Mooney on New National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Drunk Driving Fatality Data ... www.madd.org/Media-Center/Media.../PressView.aspx?press...

Teen drunk driving any help please? - Yahoo! Answers How is this problem being addressed? I mean I know… answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid...

Police Blotter: Five Drunk Driving Charges, And Graffiti ... The Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 Police Blotter features five counts of drunk driving, including an instance where the driver was asking police for directions. southbury.patch.com/.../police-blotter-five-drunk-driving-char...

News results for "driving under the influence"

George Michael Receives 8 Week Jail Sentence for Driving Under the Influence ... TheCelebrityCafe.com George Michael receives a jail sentence for driving under the influence of marijuana and crashing his Range Rover into a North London shop this past July, ... See all stories on this topic »

Horace Mann Chief Jailed After Driving Under the Influence, Insurer Says Bloomberg ... to public-school employees, put Chief Executive Officer Louis Lower on leave after he was sentenced to 60 days in jail for driving under the influence. ... See all stories on this topic »

Prison after man's 8th alcohol arrest Washington Post (blog) He pleaded guilty in April to driving under the influence after he struck a pickup truck. Assistant State's Attorney Michele Hansen said Williams has ... See all stories on this topic »

George Michael Go-Going to Jail for Pot-Powered Driving E! Online (blog) ... at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court to learn his fate, a month after pleading guilty to cannabis possession and driving under the influence of drugs. ... See all stories on this topic » E! Online (blog)

Trial in death of Angels' Nick Adenhart gets underway Los Angeles Times (blog) Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, is charged with three counts of murder and individual counts of driving under the influence, hit-and-run and driving with a ... See all stories on this topic »

Simulator Warns of Dangers while Driving Under the Influence KPTH FOX 44 An eye-opening experience to catch drivers' attention at a Siouxland college. Students at Morningside took the seat in a driving simulator that mimics ... See all stories on this topic »

On the Record for Sept. 14, 2010 Craig Daily Press Trista Kay Hoth, 35, of Craig, was booked into Moffat County Jail on suspicion of compulsory insurance, driving under the influence and careless driving. ... See all stories on this topic »

Search the Archives K-State Collegian Alvie Ray Morton II, of the 6000 block of Tuttle Terrace, was booked for driving under the influence. Bond was set at $750. Michael Joe Pratt, of the 2200 ... See all stories on this topic »

Prosecutor: Pajak on drugs during crash WWLP 22News The state Department of Motor Vehicles records show Pajak has twice been charged with driving under the influence, and has had his driver's license ... See all stories on this topic »

Stewart: "Hogan suspended indefiniely" Pittsburgh Post Gazette (blog) West Virginia starting senior cornerback Brandon Hogan, arrested over the weekend for driving under the influence, has been suspended from the Mountaineers' ... See all stories on this topic »

Police report...Sept. 14 Bristol Press Roslyn K. Valentine, 42, of 152 N. Main St., Terryville, was charged Friday with driving under the influence and failure to have lights lit. ... See all stories on this topic »

Driver in fatal crash who challenged charge of driving under influence because ... The Grand Rapids Press - MLive.com GRAND RAPIDS -- After earlier citing Michigan's medical marijuana law in seeking to fight a charge of driving under the influence causing death, ... See all stories on this topic » The Grand Rapids Press - MLive.com

News of Record: Police Log, Bend fire runs, Pets Bend Bulletin DUII — Mikhail V. Gordeev, 23, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants at 2:38 am Sept. 11, in the area of Northwest ... See all stories on this topic »

Public safety report-Sept. 14 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Katelyn Michell Aragon, 18, of Fairbanks, was charged with driving under the influence after Fairbanks stopped her for weaving early Sunday morning on the ... See all stories on this topic »

The record Sept 14, 2010 Lincoln Courier A Logan County deputy arrested Kimberly A. Huyah of Lincoln a 3:06 am Sunday on Illinois Route 10 on a charge of driving under the influence. ... See all stories on this topic »

Tausha Borland pleads guilty Examiner.com Tausha Borland pleaded guilty on Monday to two counts of first-degree manslaughter and one count of driving under the influence. In June of 2009, ... See all stories on this topic »

Broken Arrow arrests and police incidents, September 14 Broken Arrow Ledger 13 at 2100 W. Pittsburg Place for driving under the influence of drugs, driving left of center and no security verification. •Cullen Croft Swanson, 34, ... See all stories on this topic »

Metro Police Continued the Fight against Drugs and Drunk Driving Cape Gateway During a roadblock in Philippi on Saturday, Metro Police officers arrested five motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol and one driver for ... See all stories on this topic »

Children Unattended in Car and an OnStar Success Story Patch Alberto Castro-Velazquez, 34, of the 400 block of Comanche Trail, Wheeling, was charged with driving under the influence, driving without insurance, ... See all stories on this topic »

UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News UPI.com 14 (UPI) -- British pop star George Michael has been sentenced to eight weeks in jail for driving under the influence of cannabis, court records show. ... See all stories on this topic »

Rullman sentenced for DUI, battery Shoshone News Press Rullman was sentenced to four years, two fixed and two indeterminate, for the felony driving under the influence case. That sentence was suspended for two ... See all stories on this topic »

Fatal Fullerton DUI crash case trial begins abc7.com Prosecutors say Leal has two prior convictions for driving under the influence in 2005 and 2007. He was driving on a suspended license at the time of the ... See all stories on this topic »

Michigan Finally Happy With Its Offense New York Times Douglas faces a preliminary hearing Thursday on charges of drunken driving, aggravated assault with a vehicle while driving under the influence and being ... See all stories on this topic »

Man receives hard-hitting Oklahoma welcome Durant Daily Democrat A man who plowed his vehicle into the Oklahoma welcome sign Saturday evening at the state line was driving under the influence, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol ... See all stories on this topic »

Daily Record: Arrests/Citations/Bookings Yankton Daily Press • Cory Armstrong, 27, Norfolk, Neb., was arrested Saturday for driving under the influence (first), a stop sign violation and a lane driving violation. ... See all stories on this topic »

Blogs results for "driving under the influence"

George Michael jailed for driving under influence of cannabis Tampa - Driving under the influence has another Hollywood star in the spotlight this week. Joseph Gannascoli, who played a gay mafia character on the Sopranos' was allegedly drinking and driving when he was stopped by police officers in ... RSS Feed - Latest Digital Journal News - http://www.digitaljournal.com/rss/?feed=latest_news

George Michael Gets 8 Weeks for Driving Under the Influence ... By josefranco A judge at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court sentenced pop star George Michael to eight weeks in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of driving under. Showbiz News - http://showbiznewsblog.com/

timesofmalta.com - George Michael jailed for driving under ... George Michael jailed for driving under influence of drugs. A British court has jailed pop singer George Michael for eight weeks after he admitted driving under the influence of cannabis when he crashed his car into a shop. ... timesofmalta.com - http://www.timesofmalta.com/

George Michael jailed for driving under influence of drugs - MashCeleb By MashCeleb LONDON (AFP) – A British court jailed pop singer George Michael for eight weeks on Tuesday after he admitted driving under the influence of cannabis when he crashed his car into a shop. The 47-year-old "Freedom" and "Careless Whisper" ... Celebrity News & Gossip / Latest... - http://www.mashceleb.com/

George Michael To Be Sentenced For Driving Under Influence Of ... By Access Hollywood - Latest News The singer pleaded guilty last month to driving under the influence and possession of cannabis following an incident on July 4 when his Range Rover crashed into a photo shop in north London. ... Gossip Blender US - http://us.gossipblender.com/

George Michael facing jail term as he attends court on driving ... By The Daily Record - Home - Showbiz George Michael in dock to admit possessing cannabis and driving under influence; SINGER George Michael pleaded guilty today to driving under the influence of drugs and possession of cannabis when he appeared at Highbury Corner ... Gossip Blender - http://gossipblender.com/

Mesa, Arizona Father Drives under the Influence of Marijuana with ... Driving under the influence of any drug or illegal substance, including alcohol, prescription drugs, or marijuana, is not only dangerous for all drivers on the roadways, but for the actual driver and any passengers in the car as well. ... Phoenix Car Accident Attorney Blog - http://www.phoenixcaraccidentattorneyblog.com/

George Michael gets 8 weeks jail for drug driving Washington ... The singer pleaded guilty last month to driving under the influence and possession of cannabis following a July 4 collision between his Range Rover and a Snappy Snaps store. Michael was sentenced Tuesday at Highbury Corner Magistrates' ... World - http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/rss/?section=%2Fworld

George Michael jailed for driving under influence of drugs ... Yahoo! News LONDON (AFP) – A British court jailed pop singer George Michael for eight weeks on Tuesday after he admitted driving under the influence of. Celebrity News - http://celebrities.mybloogs.com/

Web results for "driving under the influence"

STRATEGIES TO REDUCE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL ... STRATEGIES TO REDUCE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. William DeJong, Ralph Hingson. Annual Review of Public Health. Volume 19, Page 359-378, 1998 ... www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/.../annurev.publhealth.19.1.3...

South Australia - Your Views on Driving Under the Influence of ... Hi I would like to get a broad view from an onlin… answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid...

Man allegedly hits stop sign while driving under the influence ... WHITTIER - Police arrested a man Friday morning on suspicion of hit-and-run and driving under the influence. www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_16039522

[UK] George Micheal Jailed for driving under the influence of ... After the great coverage we had yesterday in support of the legalisation of Cannabis, ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11287130 ), forum.grasscity.com/.../666056-uk-george-micheal-jailed-driv...

Singer George Michael given 8 weeks punishment for driving under ... Singer George Michael given 8 weeks punishment for driving under the influence of cannabis. By Iti Shree Misra, Lucknow via mobile Share on Twitter Share on ... timesofindia.indiatimes.com/rawnewsshow/6554720.cms

Mesalands president found guilty of driving under influence ... 14 for Mesalands Community College President Phillip Barry, who on Thursday was found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. ... www.qcsunonline.com/.../barry-8527-guilty-albuquerque.html

George Michael jailed for driving under - One News Page Africa A British court jailed pop singer George Michael for eight weeks on Tuesday after he admitted driving under the influence of cannabis when he crashed his ... www.onenewspage.com/.../George-Michael-jailed-for-driving-...

George Michael to be sentenced for driving under influence of drugs The singer pleaded guilty last month to driving under the influence and possession of cannabis following an incident July 4 when his Range Rover crashed ... www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=cp_TE02.xml&show...

5th District Court news Enrique Gonzalez-Eustaquio; driving under the influence, driving without ... Dalene Marie Studyvin; driving under the influence, 180 days in jail, ... magicvalley.com/.../article_179e5bd4-bede-11df-a2f0-001cc4...

Time to restrict driving under influence of cell phones ... Great Falls has no direct law regulating driving under the influence of a cell phone, but City Attorney Jim Santoro said Tuesday that "we need to take a ... www.greatfallstribune.com/.../Time-to-restrict-driving-under-i...

Aiken Standard Aiken, SC Jacob Ray Swartzlander, 29 -- possession of a suspended driver's license, driving under suspension, driving under the influence, operating an uninsured ... www.aikenstandard.com/Bookings/0907-Bookings

Arroyo files bill vs drunk driving “While other countries have institutionalized their policy regarding driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA), the Philippines has seemingly remained ... www.asianjournal.com/.../6887-arroyo-files-bill-vs-drunk-driv...

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Apparently I missed a few articles...I have now customized a program on my internet search engine to provide me with articles related to DUI, Drunk driving, and driving under the influence. As always, please share these stories and/or this blog with anyone and everyone...together...maybe we can make a difference. Riverside man beat DUI charge with bowlegs defense Press-Enterprise The headline in the Riverside Daily Press article that reported the case read, "Bowlegs Free Man on Drunk Driving Trial." Guidelines: We welcome your ... See all stories on this topic »

DUI enforcement nets 66 motorists The Wenatchee World Online By Dee Riggs WENATCHEE — Sixty-six motorists were arrested for DUI in Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties Aug. 12 through Monday, the Washington State ... See all stories on this topic »

Offenders get choice through DUI/drug court Leagle.com It is a program that he entered after getting another DUI ticket on his record. "It was either jail or enter the program," Mock said. ... See all stories on this topic »

Stats show drop in California traffic fatalities Visalia Times-Delta BY ERIC WOOMER • ewoomer@visalia.gannett.com • September 11, 2010 State DUI grants, motorcycle training and a downturn in the economy are being credited as ... See all stories on this topic »

9 arrested Friday in Lake Elsinore during DUI/driver's license checkpoint Southwest Riverside News Network By Maggie Avants, SWRNN Lake Elsinore Police screened more than 1335 vehicles Friday during a DUI/Driver's License checkpoint, resulting in two arrests for ... See all stories on this topic »

Steve May on probation for DUI conviction Arizona Republic Court documents obtained by The Arizona Republic show that May was arrested on June 26, 2009, and charged with the most extreme possible DUI while driving ... See all stories on this topic »

NY police arrest 93 in DUI crackdown Bennington Banner There were 17 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol, 545 speeding violations, 20 seat belt violations, and 182 motorist assists. See all stories on this topic »

Drunk driving arrests in Potsdam, Massena North Country Now Motorists in Potsdam and Massena were charged with drunk driving early this morning, according to state police. Bradly J. Chaffee, 27, Barton, ... See all stories on this topic »

Mother charged with DUI istockAnalyst.com (press release) 11--With her 9-month-old son in the vehicle, a 29-year-old woman was arrested on a DUI charge after being pulled over for driving 30 mph over the speed ... See all stories on this topic »

Flossmoor man's court date set in aggravated DUI case Kankakee Daily Journal Jacob Brunner, 24, pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI during his arraignment in August and was in court Friday for a status hearing, ... See all stories on this topic »

Local man accused of DUI following Thursday crash Carmi Times The driver of this Cadillac was booked on a preliminary DUI charge after a Grayville officer was dispatched to a report of the car being in the ditch at ... See all stories on this topic »

LaPorte judge rejects plea in DUI crash South Bend Tribune By STAN MADDUX A LaPorte judge was outraged that a plea agreement for a man who badly injured himself and his passenger in a drunk driving accident called ... See all stories on this topic »

Emphasis patrols make 178 DUI arrests Yakima Herald-Republic A special crackdown netted 178 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Yakima County, according to the Washington Traffic Safety ... See all stories on this topic »

Trentonian Daily Police Blotter 9-12 The Trentonian * DUI: Police stopped and aressted Joseph Labanoski, 26 of Newtown, PA, on 95 North in Bensalem Twp. for a traffic violation and found him under the ... See all stories on this topic »

Dangerous Zylstra Road curve claims another crash Seattle Post Intelligencer However, she was arrested for suspicion of DUI following a field sobriety and a mechanical breath test. DUI is a misdemeanor offense. See all stories on this topic »

19 cited for DUI Omaha World-Herald Douglas County sheriff's deputies cited 19 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during a special enforcement paid for by a grant from ... See all stories on this topic »

Couple Jailed after DUI, Drug Arrest Bay Net The driver, Chloe J. Collins, 22 of Loveville, was arrested for DUI. A search revealed Marijuana in the vehicle. The passenger, Teffran T. Jones, ... See all stories on this topic »

New Publication by Insure4USA.com Details How Long Does a DUI Affect Auto ... PR.com (press release) Columbus, OH, September 11, 2010 --(PR.com)-- DUI or driving under influence of alcohol or drugs is unfortunately the number one cause of traffic related ... See all stories on this topic »

Woman Crashes Car, Allegedly Omits Hitting Victim KTLA HOLLYWOOD -- A San Leandro woman is under arrest Saturday for DUI and is expected to be charged with vehicular manslaughter after she reported to 9-1-1 that ... See all stories on this topic »

Trial set for FWB man charged in father's dragging death (MUG) The Northwest Florida Daily News Joseph P. Schumacher, of the 100 block of Woodbine Circle, was charged with DUI manslaughter last December after his father fell out of his sport utility ... See all stories on this topic »

San Diego County Leads Assault On Drivers Under the Influence Release-news.com (press release) As you can see, these DUI checkpoints offer far more legal dangers than simply driving under the influence charges. Additionally, repeat DUI offenders might ... See all stories on this topic »

TX Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Former Chief Justice, Wife Sued for Fatal DUI Crash NewYorkInjuryNews (press release) Austin, TX– The former chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court and his wife have been accused in a wrongful death lawsuit of allowing teenagers to drink at ... See all stories on this topic »

Reinhart, Thompson running for House District 97 seat in Missoula The Missoulian Reinhart: I concur with recommendations for more serious chemical dependency treatment requirements for misdemeanor DUI offenders, including second and ... See all stories on this topic »

MADD Colorado's Youth Volunteers Choose 9/11 to Recognize Lifesaving Efforts ... PR Newswire (press release) MADD's Mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and prevent underage drinking. MADD is a 501 c3 charity with ... See all stories on this topic »

Drinking & Driving Maryland Gazette Angalena Hutchins, 36, 697 Willowby Run, Pasadena; charged October 20, 2009; pleaded guilty DUI; bac .27; jail 60 days, suspend all but 2 weekends, ... See all stories on this topic »

Driver arrested after officer notices 'overwhelming odor' of marijuana Sun Shopper By Lisa Irish Prescott police arrested a man Wednesday on charges including DUI drugs after an officer stopped him for a traffic violation, ... See all stories on this topic »

For the Record 9-12-2010 Verde Independent Tyler Lee Wade Briggs, 19, Rimrock, Aggravated Driving Under the Influence (3 counts), Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation, Bond $7500. ... See all stories on this topic »

Drunk driver faces 'Three Strikes' law The Turlock Journal According to the prosecution, Wood hit a parked truck in Ceres and a garage door in Turlock while driving under the influence. She failed to stop for either ... See all stories on this topic »

Grant County Sheriff's deputies issue 36 citations Dubuque Telegraph Herald The Grant County Sheriff's Department deputies issued 36 citations to drivers and passengers during the annual Drunk Driving under the Influence Under ... See all stories on this topic »

Off-Duty Police Officer Killed In Crash WCVB-TV BOSTON -- Police in Lowell are investigating a drunk driving accident that killed an off-duty officer Saturday morning. Authorities said they responded to a ... See all stories on this topic »

Police Log Arizona Daily Sun -- Andrea Jackson, 32, 109 S. Dunnam St., was arrested by Flagstaff police and charged with extreme DUI at 2:24 am Thursday. -- Clark A. Dyer, 48, ... See all stories on this topic »

2 cited after Labor Day boating incidents WGMD Radio No one was injured, but the operator, 47 year old Scott Douglas is charged with DUI and several other charges. DNREC Enforcement Agents say the boat was ... See all stories on this topic »

Leandra's Law suspect enters a guilty plea Buffalo News Julie A. Haas faces a possible prison term on her guilty plea Thursday to a felony count of driving under the influence of drugs with her infant son in her ... See all stories on this topic »

Arroyo wants drink driving criminalised GulfNews Arroyo lamented that these road accidents are attributed to several factors, a significant percentage of which include driving under the influence of ... See all stories on this topic »

Marysville man convicted of vehicular homicide HeraldNet The drunk's driving must be a proximate cause of the accident, otherwise there's no vehicular assault / homicide. Example, a person falls off of an overpass ... See all stories on this topic »

Colleges Need to Work with Communities on Curbing Student Alcohol Abuse ... Benzinga The site also tracks developments in local and national efforts to prevent drunk driving and DUI/DWI accidents. “The consequences of student drinking aren't ... See all stories on this topic »

Writer: Redskins owner encouraging extra drinking before Cowboys game Dallas Morning News (blog) Drunk driving continues to be a problem in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. In 2008, there were 92 fatalities according to the Washington Regional ... See all stories on this topic »

Drunk driver arrested after hitting a police cruiser NewsNet5.com CLEVELAND - A 49-year-old man was arrested for drunk driving after striking a police cruiser early Saturday, a Cleveland Police Department spokesman said. ... See all stories on this topic »

Decisions of the Westmoreland County judges Pittsburgh Tribune-Review By Tribune-Review The following is a list of defendants charged with a first offense of driving under the influence in Westmoreland County criminal court. ... See all stories on this topic »

Three arrested for car break-ins Brookings Register The woman was also arrested for DUI-first offense and other alcohol violations. The investigator said several electronics were found in the suspects' ... See all stories on this topic »

The long term effects of drunk driving wrecks

http://www.thedestinlog.com/news/wrecks-32805-nwfdn-lasting-angerman.html

'A new reality:' Effects of DUI wrecks long-lasting

September 11, 2010 7:01 AM

Angel McCurdy

Daily News

Every now and then, Roy Angerman will go into his daughter’s closet and look at the clothes and knickknacks stored there. He will study and read the notes, scribbles and dates written on the walls.

He remembers what his life was like before his daughter, Allison, was killed by a drunken driver on June 30, 2006.

She would have been 24 this year.

“I’m living in a new reality,” Angerman said. “My daughter, Ashley, just got married. Alli was supposed to be the maid of honor. She was supposed to pick out the wedding dress.”

The 20-year-old Fort Walton Beach woman was in her car at a stop light on Eglin Parkway when Sharon Martin hit her head-on while being chased by Okaloosa County sheriff’s deputies. Martin, whose blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, was convicted in May 2007 of DUI manslaughter and eluding police. She was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

“It’s something you think will never happen, but it happened to me,” Angerman said. “The whole thing was surreal. It’s refocused my life. I now know what it feels like to lose a child.”

Stories like Allison’s are not uncommon.

Last year, there were more than 21,000 alcohol- or drug-related accidents in Florida, according to the Florida Crash Records database.

Driving drunk

A 45-year-old Navarre man, who asked not be named because of the stigma of driving drunk, could have been one of those statistics.

“I used to drink and drive a lot,” he said. “I was in the Navy and it seemed to be ingrained in the culture in the military. It’s just what we did.”

He recalled driving a friend home shortly after drinking a pitcher of white Russians. They got into his car and drove an hour to the beach just because they wanted to see it.

He left the beach, burning rubber and holding a six-pack of beer for the drive back. In a matter of minutes, he was pulled over by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper.

After convincing the trooper not to ticket him and promising to push his car to the side of the road, he and his friend went to a nearby bar and drank for several hours before he got back in the car to head home.

“You think, ‘I shouldn’t be doing this,’ ” he said. “But you’ve got to remember there’s that other guy on your shoulder saying, ‘I’ve got to get home.’ ”

When the man was in the Navy in his 20s, his feeling of invincibility behind the wheel was bolstered with each drink. He didn’t worry about getting a DUI, and neither did his friends.

“That’s the price you pay for a good time (and) that wasn’t a deterrent for me,” he said.

Drinks after work were a part of the culture.

“It’s just what you did,” he said. “You worked hard and you played hard.”

In those days, he didn’t make enough money to afford a taxi and no one wanted to be the designated driver, so they all drank and they all drove.

He didn’t stop drinking and driving until he came across an article about drunken driving when he was 27.

“It wasn’t a special day,” he said. “And it wasn’t the idea of how much it would (monetarily) cost me, but the idea of the lives I could alter with doing what I was doing. … (That) ultimately made me stop.”

Patrolling the streets

Okaloosa County Deputy Harold Mason can still hear the screams of a 21-year-old man who was crushed between the driver’s seat and the dashboard of his car after he wrecked while driving drunk. The young man died from his injuries.

It was one of the first DUI cases Mason handled after starting to work solely on driving crimes four years ago.

“Everyone thinks they won’t get caught, they won’t cause a wreck,” said Mason, a nine-year law enforcement veteran. “They think it won’t happen to them. I always hear, ‘I thought I knew my limit.’ ”

In his years of patrolling the north county, Mason has issued more than 300 drunken driving tickets.

In 2009, more than 1,300 DUI citations were issued in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties, according to the Florida Crash Records database.

The consequences of driving drunk come with hefty fines and court appearances. Those convicted could be sentenced to four to 15 years in jail for DUI alone, Mason said.

“It’s a mess,” he said. “What’s scary is it can happen to anybody. It knows no one type of person. We’re all humans, we all make mistakes. But this mistake could cost someone their life.”

Todd Rosenbaum with Mothers Against Drunk Driving said the consequences of a DUI can be just as detrimental to the accused as to the victims of DUI-related wrecks.

“I’ve seen cases where individuals are in prison for 15, 20 years,” Rosenbaum said. “Take a 20-year sentence and if they have a 5- or 7-year-old child, you’ve ended up killing someone and ruining your life.

“The risk is far greater than you realize,” he added. “Folks lose their careers, sometimes family connections. It’s devastating.”

Living with loss

Although her life ended four years ago, Allison Angerman’s pictures and some of her favorite things still hang in her father’s house.

A charm with a photo of the beautiful blonde-haired girl hung from her sister’s wedding bouquet in March of this year. A shirt Allison bought her father after she was accepted at the University of Florida sits folded at the bottom of a dresser drawer. Pictures documenting her life hang throughout the home.

At Sharon Martin’s sentencing, Allison’s mother, Cathy Mills, tearfully told the judge she wanted the sentence to send a “strong message.”

After Martin was sentenced to 15 years for DUI manslaughter and 30 years for eluding police, Mills said she was happy that Martin wouldn’t be able to hurt anybody else.

“My No. 1 objective: I don’t want anybody else to suffer the pain of losing a loved one,” she said. “She was the most significant person in my life. We talked daily, even when she was in college.

“I needed that child in my life,” she said, crying. “Nothing can replace the bond that I felt with her.”

Allison still is a part of her family’s lives.

“Alli’s everywhere,” Angerman said as he flipped through his 2010 calendar showing photos of Allison on her birthday, in the last family photos she was able to be a part of before the wreck. There also is a photo or her smiling on her “Heaven day,” the day she died.

Since Allison’s death, Angerman has shared his story at schools and other organizations that deal with DUI prevention.

“Allison keeps me busy,” he said with watery eyes. “I now have the drive to do this so, hopefully, someone else won’t have to go through what I’ve gone through.”