News and Articles on Driving Under The Influence

The tragedy of drunk driving has effected the lives of many people. These articles reflect on the many incidents of drunk driving and their effects on local communities. We encourage you to Submit articles which represent the effects of drunk driving on your community.

Benoit Begins Sentence for Husband's Death Aug 25, 2010

Jay - A Jay woman will spend six months behind bars, for killing her husband last year in a drunk driving crash. 51-year old Barbara Benoit was sentenced last Friday for manslaughter, a charge she insisted on pleading guilty to. Police say Benoit was driving drunk when she crashed her car into a guard rail in July of 2009, killing Peter Benoit. Benoit then drove the car home after the crash, and called 911. (Every 15 Minutes Program News & Media) (VIDEO)

Bride-to-be in drink drive bust Aug 25, 2010

A bride-to-be heading home from her hen party was arrested for drunk driving hours before she was to get married. The 31-year-old was driving at more than 90mph and weaving in and out of traffic on a highway near Seattle when she was stopped. A police officer arrested the woman, processed her and let her take a taxi home in time to make it to her early afternoon wedding. The bride's alcohol level was nearly twice the legal Washington state limit. (Every 15 Minutes Program News & Media) (VIDEO)

Linking Nun's Death to Immigration Debate Fuels Neighborhood Tensions Aug 25, 2010

HERNDON, Virginia, August 21—It took only a few hours for the tension to blanket our neighborhood. Life changed for these nuns - and for my family - on that bright, sunny Sunday. Three of the Sisters assigned to Richmond were driving to Bristow to attend mass and join the other nuns for an annual retreat. About 10 minutes from the monastery, the nuns' Toyota Corolla was struck head-on by a vehicle allegedly operated by an intoxicated Carlos Martinelly Montano, 23. The impact killed Sister Denise Mosier, who had been asleep in the back seat. Sisters Connie Ruth Lupton, the driver, and Charlotte Lange, a passenger in the front seat, were airlifted to the Inova Fairfax trauma center. (Every 15 Minutes Program News & Media) (VIDEO)

Community Vigil for Slain Cyclist Yannick Aug 25, 2010

Reports of the death of 21 year old German tourist Neils Yannick Linke (or Yannick, as his friends call him) have rocked San Francisco, but a vigil this week is being planned to help give outlet to some of those feelings. The driver was allegedly 36 year old Joshua Calder, who was reportedly driving home with his girlfriend after a dinner where prosecutors say the two shared an enormous amount of alcohol. Police pulled a receipt of the bill from the car which showed two bottles of wine, shots, plus more after-dinner drinks. (Every 15 Minutes Program News & Media) (VIDEO)

Faith Evans arrested for drunk driving Aug 25, 2010

Singer/actress Faith Evans was caught driving drunk on Saturday night. She was stopped at a police checkpoint in a Los Angeles beach community, and was found culpable. Evans was arrested around 10:40 p.m. and released on bail the following morning. Los Angeles Police Department's Officer Cleon Joseph told the Times, that Saturday night they took the singer into police custody at a checkpoint near Marina del Rey. (Every 15 Minutes Program News & Media)

3 cops hit by vehicle, 1 suspect shot dead Aug 25, 2010

Three Chicago police officers were struck by a vehicle this morning during a chase in the Washington Heights neighborhood on the South Side that resulted in police shooting to death one suspect and wounding his passenger, police said. In ramming one squad car, the suspect's car caught fire. The man who was killed in the 9100 block of South Halsted Street around midnight was identified this morning by the Cook County medical examiner's office as Garfield Romel-King, 32, of the 9100 block of South Emerald Avenue. He was shot multiple times (Every 15 Minutes Program News & Media)

Driver in fatal Iowa crash charged with drunk driving Aug 25, 2010

LeCLAIRE, Iowa — A woman involved in the crash that resulted in the death of a Galesburg, Ill., man has been charged with drunk driving. John H. Clifford, 55, died Sunday after being transported to Genesis Medical Center-East Campus in Davenport. Clifford’s motorcycle hit a car turning left into a residence on U.S. 67 in LeClaire. Jean A. Clark, 45, of LeClaire was northbound when she attempted to make the turn. Clifford was southbound in the 21000 block of U.S. 67. Clark was subsequently arrested by Iowa State Patrol and charged with an OWI (operating while intoxicated) offense. She paid a $1,000 bond and was released. A passenger on Clifford’s motorcycle, Kathy L. Clifford, 53, also was hospitalized after the crash. Staff at Genesis Medical Center said she remains in serious condition.(Every 15 Minutes Program News & Media)

Man gets 4 years in fatal drunk driving crash. Aug 25, 2010

A 21-year-old man at the center of a wrongful death lawsuit was sentenced Monday to four years in prison for a fatal car crash that came after drinking with friends at a popular Torrance restaurant. Paul Kyu Kim had pleaded no contest to a vehicular manslaughter charge in July in the death of Silver Lake resident Drean Hanley, 58, in July 2009. Deputy District Attorney Stephen Lonseth said Kim was driving home drunk from RA Sushi on Carson Street in Torrance. (Every 15 Minutes Program News & Media)

Former Nets star Jayson Williams pleaded guilty to driving drunk Aug 25, 2010

The drunk-driving charge stemmed from an early-morning incident on Jan. 5, when Former Nets star Jayson Williams crashed his Mercedes-Benz SUV into a tree near East 20th Street and Avenue C after exiting FDR Drive Judge Rita Mella told him that she planned to give the maximum sentence for the misdemeanor—one year in jail—if he pled guilty.(Every 15 Minutes Program News & Media)

DUI Crash Leads to Four Deaths Aug 25, 2010

The widows and girlfriend of four men killed by a suspected drunk driver in St. Petersburg, FL gathered to speak about the tragedy. 51 year-old Roy McConnell and his sons, 19 year-old Kelly McConnell, 24 year-old Nathan McConnell, and 28 year-old Elroy McConnell, III were on vacation and rented a house on Redington Beach. The four men were returning home from the movies in a Ford Fusion when Demetrius Jordan’s Chevrolet Impala ran a red light and struck them. All four men were pronounced dead at the scene.Judge Don Horrox increased Jordan’s bond on each manslaughter charge from $20,000 to $50,000 According to St. Petersburg police, Demetrius Jordan admitted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana before the DUI accident. He told police that he had been mixing liquor with cans of Four Loko, an energy drink with caffeine and malt liquor. Jordan and his passenger, Mario D. Robinson, were transported to Bayfront Hospital with serious injuries. (Every 15 Minutes Program News & Media)

Mother charged in daughter's death Aug 25, 2010

Michele Lee Berger, 38, has been charged with two counts of manslaughter for the death of 16-year-old Deanna Anderson. According to the criminal complaint, Anderson was driving a Chevrolet Lumina on April 24 and had pulled out in front of a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Douglas Hodgeman, 47, who was driving southbound on Highway 169 near Highway 27 in Onamia. An employee at Portside Liquor confirmed that Berger had purchased liquor at the store twice that day and that Anderson was in the drier’s seat of the car. (Every 15 Minutes Program News & Media)

Ex-Yankee Leyritz To Pay $350K In DUI Case May 26, 2010

FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ― Embattled former New York Yankee Jim Leyritz has entered a settlement with the family of a woman whom he allegedly struck and killed while driving under the influence last year. That family has been awarded $350,000 in a civil suit. Leyritz is accused of drunk driving in 2007 when he struck and killed Fredia Ann Veitch in Ft. Lauderdale. In the wrongful death case the Veitch family is receiving $250,000 from Leyritz right way and $1,000 monthly for the next 100 months starting April 2011. His trial for DUI/Manslaughter is set for July 12th.

Drunk driving victim's family waits for flicker of hope May 26, 2010

New Delhi: He was their only support. He was the breadwinner for a family of 14. On Saturday night when Raj Kumar's auto collided with a car, he was killed — leaving behind a hapless family now desperately searching for a flicker of hope. A passenger was killed, and another two passengers were injured in the crash. Police said they had charged the other driver in the crash — 30-year-old Nivedita Singh, wife of Colonel Rahul Singh — with causing death due to rash and negligent driving. They also allege Singh was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Weston man sentenced for drunk driving death May 26, 2010

MARATHON COUNTY (WAOW) -- A Weston man will spend five years behind bars for killing an Oshkosh man in a drunk driving crash. Last June police say 23-year-old Matthew Vissers had too much to drink while celebrating his birthday, got behind the wheel of his truck and crashed into the motorcycle of 41-year-old Greg Davis, killing him.

Lexington man charged with DUI in wife's death May 26, 2010

LEXINGTON, SC (WIS) - A Lexington man is charged with drunk driving in the car wreck which killed his wife earlier this month, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Monte Dooley's 2005 Dodge van went off the side of the road, sideswiped a utility pole and went down an embankment. Dooley, 44, of Lexington, was airlifted to Palmetto Health Richland with serious injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt. Dooley's passenger, Carlyn Dooley, 45, was also not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Freedom High School students and parents take part in drug and alcohol May 5, 2010

The families of Amanda Schultz and Terri Buskirk shared life events with an audience of about 70 Freedom High School students. Patricia Jones and her son, Todd, were speaking publicly for the first time about the night that Anthony P. Bruno, 25, allegedly slammed into a car in which Buskirk was a backseat passenger. “Most people in this room are sitting here thinking, ‘It can’t happen to me,’” said Dean Wilson, the program organizer. “But this puts a face on it and makes it real.” “All I’m asking you is to try to learn from Amanda’s mistakes,” said Schultz. “I just ask you to be smart, and that’s all I can ask.”