House stops speeding drunk driver

River Falls police dragged a bleeding 58-year-old local man away from a house he crashed into at 701 S. Main St. shortly after dark Friday. The collision caused the house’s water pipes to leak into the basement. There was also concern a gas line had ruptured that could trigger an explosion. The man, eastbound on Park Street in a 2004 Mazda Tribute before making his errant turn, was taken to the hospital. He was later cited for drunk driving.

Officers diverted traffic around the crash site at Main and Park streets. Firefighters were called in to make sure the gas lines were secured.

The driver had apparently turned at full speed into the driveway of the house before hitting it. He was found outside his SUV, leaning against a tree with a bloody gash across his forehead.

Occupants in homes on either side of the house that was hit were evacuated.

The driver allegedly admitted right away he had been drinking. An empty whiskey bottle was found on the floor of his SUV.

River Falls police also:

--Chased an 18-year-old UW-RF freshman student in a stolen car who was allegedly speeding and had already hit a parked car. The pursuit began last Thursday after 3 a.m. The 18-year-old man was first seen speeding west on Cascade Avenue in a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am.

The unlocked car with keys inside was allegedly stolen near Junior’s Bar downtown. The owner was a female college student who works at Junior’s.

Because of the high speeds on Spring, Sixth, Hazel and other residential streets, police couldn’t safely catch their suspect driver. In the area of Eighth and Hazel streets he did finally lose control, go over a curb and stop.

He then tried crawling out of the driver’s side window and fell to the pavement. Ordered to stop, he ran instead.

An officer gave chase on foot and brought the suspect down. The officer was hurt in the spill and hit in the face by the suspect who got up and got away.

Campus police and sheriff’s deputies responded to help with the search. A police dog from St. Croix County finally sniffed out the suspect who was hiding behind a large tree in someone’s back yard.

The suspect was handcuffed face down and brought to the police station.

There, it was learned he was a college student. He told police that he had come from an off-campus house party, was abducted at gunpoint near North Hall and forced by a mysterious gunman to drive around town.

Fearing for his life, the student said he did as he was told. At some point the gunman, who was the front-seat passenger, slipped out of the car and fled.

Police say they found no evidence for the existence of such a gunman.

The UW-RF student was eventually cited for drunk driving and faces criminal charges for fleeing, battery to an officer, obstruction and driving without an owner’s consent. He was taken to county jail in Ellsworth.

The injured River Falls police officer will miss work until at least Nov. 22.

--Arrested an 18-year-old student from St. Cloud State University for drunk driving at West Cascade Avenue and Falls Street by the bridge at 4:15 a.m. Sunday. The man apparently lost control while rounding the curve near the bridge, crossed the road, slammed over a curb and ended up in a front yard at 233 W. Cascade Ave.

Police found the man and his 1997 Ford Mustang, hood up, horn blaring, in the parking lot of the city power plant.

The man was described as stumbling around but he denied drinking. After being given field sobriety tests, the man was arrested and given an $812.50 fine.

Unable to find a sober adult to pick him up, the man was taken to county jail in Ellsworth.

For more, please read Police Beat in the Nov. 16 print edition of the River Falls Journal.

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Something has to be done about Drunk Driving

'Something has to be done,' Solicitor General says as drunk driving charges laid in Calgary double-fatality

Two people died early Sunday after a high-speed crash in northeast Calgary allegedly involving an impaired driver.

Police have charged a 23-year-old man with impaired driving causing death in connection with the crash on McKnight Boulevard N.E. at Deerfoot Trail.

The victims were a 27-yearold man and 24-year-old woman inside a westbound Dodge Avenger that was stopped for a red light when a Lexus GS300 plowed into the back of their car.

The driver of the Dodge was killed in the impact, which pushed the car more than 50 metres. The woman died in hospital a short time later.

Police said the Lexus travelled an additional 30 metres before coming to a stop.

Police at the scene arrested the driver of the Lexus, who wasn't injured.

A 24-year-old passenger in the vehicle suffered only minor injuries.

Their names haven't been released.

Ryan Thomas Kramer, 23, has been charged with two counts each of impaired driving causing death, driving over .08 causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.

The crash is the second multiple fatality involving alcohol in Calgary the span of a week and comes as the provincial government mulls tougher penalties for impaired drivers.

Alberta's solicitor general said impaired driving has been a persistent problem for years.

"This is not a knee-jerk reaction. It's an ongoing issue, and I think something has to be done about it," Jonathan Denis said Sunday.

Alcohol-related deaths have been decreasing in Alberta but still made up a significant portion of the 351 traffic fatalities recorded in 2010.

Among those, Alberta Transportation reported 90 drivers had been drinking prior to the crash - 57 of whom were legally impaired. That number represents a 25 per cent decline since 2007.

In the past year, however, neighbouring B.C. has logged a 50 per cent decline in alcohol-related fatalities since introducing tough administrative penalties targeting impaired drivers.

B.C.'s administrative rules impose penalties for drivers with a bloodalcohol concentration above .05 but below the criminal standard of .08.

Drivers who register within that range can be subject to a 72-hour licence suspension and pay fines and associated fees totalling more than $600. The suspensions and fines increase for drivers repeatedly caught within that range.

Between October 2010 and July 2011, B.C. recorded 49 alcohol-related fatalities, down from an average of 93 deaths over the same period in the past five years.

"Something obviously is working when you have such a marked reduction," Denis said.

Denis, Justice Minister Verlyn Olson and Transportation Minister Ray Danyluk were given mandate letters from Premier Alison Redford last week instructing them to develop administrative penalties targeting impaired drivers.

While B.C.'s measures have attracted significant attention, Denis said the government is looking for a "made in Alberta" regimen that incorporates what works best in B.C. and other provinces.

B.C.'s legislation has drawn criticism from civil libertarians because of the heavy penalties it imposes against motorists who haven't exceeded the criminal threshold and the limited avenues of appeal available to drivers.

Denis said Alberta is looking at a fair appeals process and the intent of the legislation isn't to target drivers "who have a glass of wine with a meal."

Current provincial traffic regulations allow police to issue 24-hour suspensions against drivers who appear impaired but do not exceed the legal limit of .08.

However, the current law has no method of sanctioning drivers who habitually rack up 24-hour suspensions - new administrative penalties akin to B.C.'s would address that loophole, said Denis.

"We're after the people who persistently drink and drive," he said.

"I feel there should be some escalation in the penalties."

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Drunk driver ran over girlfriend as she slept during camping trip

A drunk man who took his girlfriend's car then ran her over as she slept in a tent during a camping trip was ordered to carry out community service.

David Owen left Louise Graham with burns to her arm, hand and stomach that needed skin grafts and months of treatment leaving her permanently scarred in St Andrews, Fife.

After he ran her over, Owen demanded that none of the group on the beach camping trip phone an ambulance because he was scared police might get involved.

Sheriff Charlie Macnair QC opted not to jail Owen, who has previous convictions for housebreaking, assault, breach of the peace and theft.

On Thursday the 21-year-old, who was released from a four-month jail term for stealing a case of beer from a Co-op store in Cupar last week, was placed on probation for two years and ordered to do 250 hours community service.

An earlier trial at Cupar Sheriff Court heard Ms Graham was forced to drive back to Owen's home in Dairsie, near Cupar, Fife, where an ambulance was eventually called to rush her to hospital.

A jury heard how Ms Graham had driven Owen, his sister Emma and his friend Andrew McKenna to West Sands, which sits adjacent to the world famous Old Course.

She told how she fell asleep while Owen and the rest of the group sat drinking cider outside. She said she then woke up to find the car on top of her.

Ms Graham described how she woke up feeling like she was “suffocating and burning" as the car was on top of her.

Owen, of Station Road, Dairsie, Fife, denied that on October 8 or 9, 2008 he took Ms Graham's car without permission. He further denied culpably and recklessly driving it over her while under the influence of alcohol to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

But the jury of nine men and six women took 40 minutes to find him guilty of both charges.

Owen's lawyer told the court that Owen wanted to put his life of crime behind him - and settle down with new girlfriend Gemma McHugh after becoming step-father to her four-year-old son.

Paddy O'Dea, defending, added: "He was released from his previous sentence on June 11. He is now in part-time employment in the construction industry and is living with his partner."

Sheriff Charlie Macnair told Owen: "The jury found you guilty of two charges of taking a vehicle without consent and of culpable and reckless conduct that resulted in serious injury and permanent disfigurement to your then girlfriend.

"Had you deliberately ran her over then I would have been sentencing you to a very lengthy period in prison.

"But this is not the case - and having regard to the nature of the conduct I consider that I'm just able to deal with this by way of a non-custodial sentence."

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Federal Way students make permanent memorial for 3 drunk driving victims

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- It happens every year. Kids graduate from high school and their lives and stories move on. But Decatur High School students in Federal Way decided three lives should be remembered by future generations.
Nick Hodgins, Derek King, and Emmanuel Franco were all killed by drunk drivers.
A year ago today, Hodgins and King were in a stalled car on Interstate 5, when a drunk driver slammed into them.

“It's a cement reminder of the fact that he's not here anymore,” says Hodgins’ sister, Brandi Gleason when she looks at the memorial. “Definitely difficult but also an uplifting moment to know he's in everybody's hearts.”

Franco, a Decatur graduate, died just before New Year’s, hit by a drunk driver along 320th in Federal Way. His younger brother says it's made him more vigilant.

“If you see someone at a party with intent to possibly drive, and they're intoxicated, I'm more than willing to go up to them and say, ‘hey use some common sense,’” says Julian Franco.

The unveiling of this memorial is timely. AAA says June 10th is one of the deadliest days of the year for teens, deadly crashes among young drivers peak during the summer months. More than 7,300 teen drivers and passengers ages 13-19 died in traffic crashes between Memorial Day and Labor Day from 2005-2009.

“With graduation going on it's a big time for celebration,” says Trooper Kyle Smith, of the Washington State Patrol. “A lot of kids are taking risks that are unnecessary.”

Many of the students and parents here tonight have already learned the lesson.

“I just hope this teaches the kids over the years the dangers of drunk driving the dangers of drinking, and maybe change some people’s lives and save someone's life,” says Gleason.

The memorial sits on the front lawn of the high school. It was made possible through student-led fundraising, spear-headed by 17 year old Chloe Turner, who is graduating this weekend.

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Irvine teen hit by suspected drunk driver dies

Students at Northwood High School in Irvine wore white shirts as a tribute to classmate Ashton Sweet, who was pronounced dead Tuesday after suffering irreversible brain damage when the car she was in was struck by alleged drunk driver over the weekend.

Sweet, 14, was declared dead at 1 p.m., Irvine Police Lt. Henry Boggs said. The freshman cheerleader had been kept alive on a breathing machine so her organs could be evaluated for donation.

She was one of four teenage girls in a late-model Mercedes-Benz driven by one of the girls' fathers early Sunday morning when the car collided with a pickup near the intersection of Culver Drive and Irvine Boulevard.

One girl remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and everyone else has been released, Boggs said.

The girls were returning from a birthday party.

As grieving classmates returned to Northwood High after the Memorial Day weekend, their school was grappling with the tragedy and extra counselors had been brought in to help students.

"We will be reaching out to classmates and friends, and anyone who needs additional support right now," said Ian Hanigan, a spokesman for the Irvine Unified School District.

The driver of the pickup truck, 26-year-old Austin Farley of Irvine, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and was being held on $1-million bail, according to Boggs, who said Farley’s first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.

Farley and his passenger were unhurt.

Sweet was on the school’s cheer squad and track team and participated in a group that helps students with disabilities, Hanigan said.

In 2009, Farley pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and battery on a police officer or emergency worker, according to the Orange County courts online database.

In 2005, he pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended or revoked license and refusing to submit to a chemical test for driving under the influence.

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Know your units of booze

Knowing how many units of alcohol are in each drink that you consume at a dinner party or on a big night out is vital, says local organisation South Africans Against Drunk Driving (Sadd).

The organisation’s Caro Smit said that while it supported initiatives such as the Cape Argus and Department of Transport’s Name and Shame campaign - in which the names of people convicted of drinking and driving-related offences are published in the newspaper - it was vital that people learn more about alcohol.

For instance, Smit said, people needed to be informed about how to measure a unit of alcohol.

“Apart from putting people’s names in (the newspaper), you need to tell them what a unit is… so they can moderate their drinking,” said Smit. “They don’t know, for example, that if you’ve got a big party one evening and the next day you have a hangover, you’ve still got alcohol in your system.”

The legal limit for drinking and driving is 0.05g blood alcohol and 0.24mg breath alcohol content. One unit of alcohol, equivalent to a 25ml shot of tequila or vodka, will measure 0.02g in blood and 0.10mg in breath.

The organisation has put together a list of commonly consumed alcoholic drinks and explained how many units of alcohol are contained in each. For instance, a cider contains two units; 75ml of red wine contains one unit; 90ml of white wine contains one unit and a quart of beer contains 3.5 units.

Smit said the Name and Shame campaign would be made even more effective if it contained an educational element. More education and tougher laws, she said, were crucial for dealing with the problem of drunk driving.

Regular law enforcement operations at which drivers were breathalysed and tested for alcohol were also important, she said.

“I have driven all over South Africa since 1969 and I have never been tested for alcohol. We have to be tested over and over again so people know they can’t take a chance.”

Today, the Cape Argus names and shames 56 people who have been convicted in court for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or over the limit.

The names are the latest to be sent by the courts to the provincial transport department for capture on the eNatis computer system.

They are being named as part of the newspaper’s ongoing Name and Shame initiative in co-operation with the provincial transport department’s Safely Home campaign. - Cape Argus

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Man Sentenced for Drunk Driving Wreck that Killed Campbell Co. Teacher

Campbell Co., VA - The man who drove drunk and killed a Campbell County teacher now knows how long he will spend behind bars.

Mark Elliott pleaded guilty to aggravated involuntary manslaughter and DUI in January.

On Thursday morning, a judge sentenced him to five years in prison.

In March of last year, Elliott had been drinking when he tried to pass a car on Leesville Road and hit another car head-on.

Hermione Stickle-Womack, 62, was killed. She taught Spanish at Rustburg Middle and High School.

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Parents of Brooklyn man killed in DWI crash

The merciful parents of a promising Brooklyn man mowed down by a boozed-up driver asked his killer Thursday to honor their son's legacy by teaching students about the perils of drunken driving.

Michael Ortiz, 22, pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and DWI in the 2008 death of Fred Malcolm McCormack, accepting a unique no-jail deal that requires him to speak at 100 high schools.

"Don't let us down," Fred McCormack Sr. told Ortiz during the courtroom appearance. "Make something real good with your life and we will support you."

A tearful Fay McCormack - a Georgia prosecutor who spent her career putting drunken drivers behind bars - told the court how difficult it was to spare the one who took her son's life.

"I wanted to feed him to the dogs," she said, then recalled how her daughter and ex-husband convinced her otherwise.

"I am hoping that with this plea today and with the generosity of my family, [Ortiz] will keep Malcolm's memory," she said.

Ortiz briefly answered the judge's questions in Brooklyn Supreme Court, admitting to drinking two orange liqueurs before getting behind the wheel and hitting McCormack as he crossed a busy East New York boulevard.

"This was a great outcome," said defense lawyer Eric Franz, noting that prosecutors had a weak case because his client showed no evidence of intoxication after the crash, but instead called 911 and remained at the scene.

As part of the deal, Ortiz must attend 50 meetings with relatives of drunken-driving victims and must sit down with the McCormacks after the hearing, when he tearfully apologizes. If he completes the program, his felony will be expunged.

Speaking in court before her parents, Francia McCormack Wilson portrayed her brother, who died at 28, as a gifted musician, a computer whiz and aspiring lawyer all rolled into one.

"Justice to me," she concluded, "is seeing Michael honoring my brother by teaching people how to be better."

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Man killed by alleged drunk driver on trip to buy engagement ring

Friends and family are demanding justice after the death of 29-year-old David Laduzenski, killed during a trip to buy an engagement ring.

Laduzenski had returned to his hometown of West Springfield, Mass., to pick out a ring for his girlfriend, Eleanor Halgren. But while in the driveway of his friend’s home, he was struck and killed by a motorist allegedly driving drunk, MyFoxBoston.com reports.

Laduzenski, who was a mechanical engineer and had just purchased a house with Halgren, died Sunday after being on life support.

The couple was planning a wedding for next year.

Police have charged 35-year-old Daniel Leary with motor vehicle homicide and drug possession. They believe he had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit and drugs in his car, MyFoxBoston.com reports.

Leary pleaded not guilty and was released on $10,000 bail.

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