Archive for the ‘ Drunk Drivers ’ Category

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25
Apr

Terre Haute Man Faces Charges After Crashing Stolen Car

April 25, 2012

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that 68 percent of U.S. children killed in alcohol-related crashes between 1997 and 2002 were passengers of the drunk driver. Also, 68 percent of the drunken drivers involved in these crashes survived, which suggests that some of the children might also have survived if they were wearing a seatbelt.

For instance, a 44-year-old Terre Haute, Indiana man was arrested Friday for DUI after crashing a stolen vehicle into a parked car while driving with two young girls in the vehicle with him. According to WTHITV 10 News, the accident happened at the corner of 15th and Poplar.

Police say that the driver seemed incoherent and claimed that the vehicle’s brakes had gone out moments before crashing into a ditch. After running the tags on the vehicle, officers found out that the car he crashed was stolen. The driver and a pair of six and seven-year-old girls, who were unrestrained passengers in the stolen car, were taken to a local hospital for treatment after complaining of chest pains.

The driver now faces several felony and misdemeanor charges, including automobile theft, possession of methamphetamine, driving with a suspended license, driving drunk, endangering a person, and neglect of a dependent.

The Indiana Drunk Driving Lawyers with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin ask that motorists never get behind the wheel after consuming drugs or alcohol, especially if children are in the vehicle.

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14
Mar

Alcohol And Drugs Blamed For Terre Haute Single-Car Crash

March 14, 2012

Alcohol and drugs are to blame for a single-vehicle Vigo County crash that injured the 24-year-old driver. According to The Tribune-Star, the accident occurred Tuesday morning at South Morris Place near Florine Drive.

Lt. Don Westerfield, a spokesman for the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department, stated that the young man was driving at a high rate of speed when one of the tires on his vehicle became flat. He then lost control  and veered off the road, striking a mailbox and a tree.

The driver suffered a serious back injury in the crash and was taken to Terre Haute Regional Hospital before being transferred to an Indianapolis hospital. Blood analysis after the accident showed that the driver had a blood alcohol content of .164 percent, more than double the legal limit. He also tested positive for marijuana.

Authorities say that criminal charges against the driver are pending the conclusion of an investigation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor-vehicle accidents are the top killer of young people in the United States between the ages of 15 and 24, and 25% of those deaths are alcohol-related.

The Terre Haute DUI Accident Attorneys with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin know that on St. Patrick’s Day, some people may be tempted to drink and drive. Instead, call a cab or trusted friend to get you home safely. The risk of an accident is not worth risking lives.

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29
Feb

Two Injured In Indiana Crash After Driver Falls Asleep At The Wheel

February 29, 2012

Fatigued driving may be the cause of a Taylorsville, Indiana, car accident that left two men injured yesterday. According to reports from The Republic, the crash happened just after 3:15 PM, in the southbound lanes of I-65 near the Taylorsville exit.

The Chief Deputy of the Bartholomew County Sheriffs Department, Maj. Todd Noblitt, stated that a 68-year-old man was driving a van down the highway with a 61-year-old passenger when he began to drift to sleep. As he slipped deeper into sleep, the van began to veer off to the shoulder of the highway where it plowed through approximately 30-feet of guardrail before flipping.

The two men were able to get free from the wreckage and were taken to Columbus Regional Hospital. The driver was treated for hip pain, while the passenger received care for minor injuries to his arms.

Fatigued driving can be as dangerous as drinking a driving. Statistics from the Department of Transportation show that driver fatigue is a factor in 19 percent of accidents and the cause of nearly 5 percent of all fatal crashes. Fatigue:

  • Slows Reaction Time
  • Decreases Awareness
  • Impairs Judgment

If you’re driving, the Indiana Auto Accident Attorneys with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin suggest allowing yourself time to stop and rest if needed. Roll down the windows and talk until you find a safe place to stop. Also, remember to allow yourself time to become alert before driving after resting.

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22
Feb

Six People Injured in Terre Haute, Indiana, Multi-Vehicle Crash

February 22, 2012

Six people were injured in a chain-reaction car accident Tuesday morning in Terre Haute, Indiana. Reports from the Tribune-Star indicate that the crash occurred around 9:45 AM at the intersection of 13th and Crawford Streets.

Assistant Terre Haute Police Department Chief Shawn Keen said the incident began when an officer noticed a pickup truck speeding and weaving in and out of traffic. When the officer flashed his lights in an attempt to pull the vehicle over, the driver accelerated and slammed into the rear end of a 1999 Ford Mustang. The impact caused the Mustang to then slam into the rear end of other vehicles stopped in traffic.

The driver of the Mustang was pinned in the wreckage that had caught fire, but was pulled to safety after employees of nearby businesses rushed to the scene with fire extinguishers to put out the blaze. One worker smashed in the driver side window of the Mustang to pull the victim free. Police say the quick action probably saved the woman’s life.

All of the injured victims were taken to local hospitals to receive treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

The Terre Haute Auto Accident Attorneys with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin specialize in helping the victims of accidents who were injured due to another person’s negligence. Our experienced team of lawyers is available anytime for a free consultation if you have any questions regarding your case.

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25
Jan

Drunk Driver Responsible For Parke County Crash

January 25, 2012

Four people were hurt last Saturday night in a multi-vehicle crash caused by a drunk driver. According to My Wabash Valley, the 33-year-old woman responsible for causing the accident had a blood alcohol level of .025 percent at the time of the crash–more than three times the legal limit.

Reports by the Parke County Sheriff’s Department say that the accident happened at about 6:30 in the evening on US 36, near the bridge crossing Raccoon Lake. It was there that the drunken driver rear-ended a vehicle driven by a Rockville, Indiana, woman. The collision caused the victim’s car to spin into the oncoming lanes of traffic, where a third vehicle then hit it.

The Rockville woman was rushed to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where she is still listed in critical condition, while three others suffered minor injuries. The drunk driver was not injured and was placed under arrest on suspicion of DUI.

The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute states that one third of all drivers  involved in a fatal crash in Indiana during 2005 had some measurable level of alcohol in their system.

This is why the Indiana DUI Accident Attorneys with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin ask drivers to do their part in keeping Indiana’s roadways safe by not drinking and driving. Instead, call a taxi or a friend to get you home safely. If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident at no fault of your own, contact an experienced attorney today.

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11
Jan

Drunk Driver Pleads Guilty To Fatal Indiana Car Accident

January 11, 2012

Justice will soon be served for the family of a 28-year-old Terre Haute, Indiana, man who was killed when the drunk driver of the car he was riding in crashed. According to The Tribune-Star, the driver pled guilty last Friday to the class-C felony charge of causing death while driving intoxicated.

The accident happened on Christmas Eve of 2010. Both driver and passenger were intoxicated and racing up and down the streets of Terre Haute, until the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree on Ninth Street, just north of Cherry. The 28-year-old passenger died at the scene of the crash.

Investigators were able to determine that the driver of the vehicle had a blood alcohol level of .15, almost double the legal limit to be behind the wheel.

The convicted drunk driver is expected to be sentenced on February 13 in Vigo Superior Court 5.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that drunken driving accidents in the United States injure a person every two minutes and kill someone every 31 minutes.

That is why the Indiana drunk driving accident lawyers with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos, and Newlin would ask that people be responsible when they drink by designating a driver for the evening before the festivities begin. If a sober driver is not available, call a taxi.

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14
Dec

Dangers Of Drunk Driving For Indiana Bikers

December 14, 2011

We all know how dangerous drinking and driving can be, but drinking and then getting on a motorcycle takes risky behavior to a whole other level. The Tribune-Star reported today that one motorcyclist who took his chances with drinking and biking lost the gamble Sunday night when he died after crashing his bike.

The Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department reported the accident occurred at approximately 10:15 PM in the northbound lanes of Indiana 63. Deputies stated that upon arrival at the crash scene, they found the 40-year-old victim, from Cayuga, Indiana, on the shoulder of the road. They added that it appeared the biker had gone off the road and struck a guardrail before coming to rest. Detectives and deputies who are currently investigating the crash further did confirm that alcohol played a part in the single-vehicle crash.

A Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report finds an increasing number of motorcyclists aged 40-44 are dying in alcohol-related crashes. According to the CDC, the rate of older adults who have died in alcohol-related motorcycle crashes increased from 1.2 per 100,000 population in 1983 to 1.9 in 2003.

The Indiana Motorcycle Accident Attorneys with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin would like to remind bikers that the dangers of drinking and driving are even greater on a motorcycle. If you have been injured by a drunk driver, contact an attorney today for a free initial consultation.

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23
Nov

Free Cab Rides Home Thanksgiving Eve In Terre Haute

November 23, 2011

Thanksgiving Eve is a night most people arrive to holiday destinations to visit and eat with friends and family the next day. Since most people don’t have to work the following day, the excitement of the upcoming holiday can often lead to heavy drinking. That is why, according to the Tribune-Star, the local Terre Haute, Indiana, law firm Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos, & Newlin are offering free cab rides home for anyone who may have had too much to drink.

The rides are part of the firm’s commitment to their Safe and Sober campaign, which is an effort to end drunk driving in the area. The law firm feels if they don’t have to pay for a ride, the intoxicated individual will be less inclined to get behind the wheel.

Rides will be available form 8:00 PM this evening, until 3:00 AM Thursday throughout Terre Haute and West Terre Haute. Rides will be given from a restaurant or bar to a person’s place of residence, not another place to drink. Also, because of the high number of rides given last year, the firm asks that you call at least 30 minutes in advance of when you want a ride. Cabs can be reached by calling Yellow Cab of Terre Haute at (812) 478-5000.

The Indiana Auto Accident Attorneys with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin would like to urge everyone to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving by refraining from getting behind the wheel if you have had too much to drink. In the words of founding attorney, Steve Fleschner, “Don’t let yourself, or someone you love, become another statistic.”

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12
Oct

Are Indiana Drivers Really Safer With Texting Ban?

October 11, 2011

Since a texting ban on Indiana drivers took effect earlier this year, it would seem, that with only two tickets being issued for infractions of the law in Vigo County in more than three months, Indiana drivers are safer because of the law. Some Police department officials and citizens are saying the law is too difficult to enforce, and that that is the cause for low ticket numbers.

According to the Tribune-Star, the county’s two tickets were issued July 9 and September 12, The first at 1:00 AM on Third and Washington Street and the second at 8:00 AM on Third and Walnut Street. Both violations were classified as Class-C Infractions that carried a $120 fine for a first time offender. While the law has obviously raised public awareness of the dangers that texting while driving poses, many feel the law would be more effective if there was a better way to enforce it.

As of now, Police cannot look at a potential violators phone to see if messages were being sent, and texting cannot be the reason an officer pulls the vehicle over. Therefore, all a driver would allegedly have to do is exit message mode or turn off their phone before being pulled over to avoid a ticket.

The Indiana Auto Accident Attorneys with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin would like your opinion. Has the law been effective in reducing drivers participating in the act, or are drivers just hiding it better? Tell us what you think on our Facebook page.

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31
Aug

Law Enforcement Stepping Up Efforts Against Drunk Driving Over Holiday

August 31, 2011

The summer season is wrapping up with Labor Day fast approaching. For many folks that means hitting the road to their favorite vacation destination for one final blowout of the summer. For officials with Indiana and Illinois law enforcement departments, the holiday weekend means cracking down on drunk drivers.

Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) officials are hoping the trend of lower than normal accidents and fatalities related to alcohol on the holiday will continue this year. Last year only 9% of crashes on Labor Day were alcohol related. This is a significantly lower number than the 40% of 2009, and the 58% in 2008.

WTHITV News stated that Secretary of State, Jesse White, attributes the steep decline to drivers being more aware of the dangers alcohol poses behind the wheel. He also warned drivers that state and local police would be conducting sobriety and seat belt checkpoints throughout the weekend.

Indiana is trying to reduce its number of alcohol related crashes as well by executing checkpoints across the state over the weekend. The Tribune Star released information today that the Putnamville District of the Indiana State Police will perform a DUI roadblock in Vigo County late Saturday night. Motorists will be required to show a drivers license and registration, and be quickly evaluated for intoxication. Sober driver will move through the checkpoint in 2-3 minutes.

The Indiana DUI Accident Attorneys with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin encourage everyone to have a safe and sober holiday weekend!

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