Suspected Drunk Driver Crashes After High-Speed Chase

Apart from the potential penalties imposed by law, common sense tells us not to drink and drive. Alcohol slows reaction times, impairs judgment, and leads to highway accidents. But if you happen to watch the popular TV show “Cops,” you also  know that it’s never a good idea to run from the police regardless of the circumstances (such as a long rap sheet or outstanding warrants).  Last Thursday night, a local man with four priors for drunken driving found that out. He led police on a pursuit where he weaved in and out of cars at up to 130 mph before losing control of his vehicle. According to the Indianapolis Star, he “crashed his red 1995 Mercedes at the split where eastbound I-70 meets northbound I-65 at about 11 p.m. Thursday. Police said the car drove into a ditch before going airborne over I-65 and landing at the bottom of a ravine.” Although he wasn’t buckled in, the man managed to avoid serious injury. Apparently no other vehicles were involved fortunately. The motorist submitted to both a breath and blood test after the accident. Police have charged him on a preliminary basis with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, reckless driving, felony operating a vehicle as a habitual violator, and criminal recklessness. Police indicated that the motorist was already designated as a habitual traffic violator for life under Indiana law (which could mean a lifetime license suspension) and possible jail time if found guilty in criminal court.

Drunk drivers on Indiana roads can cause serious injuries to other drivers and passengers such as amputations, paralysis, spinal cord injury, paraplegia, quadriplegia, brain injury, broken bones, and even wrongful death. The role of the civil court is to compensate victims for their injuries in these incidents by providing a forum for seeking money damages from offender. If you or a loved one have been seriously hurt by a driver under the influence, please contact the personal injury lawyers at Young and Young in Indianapolis. With more than 55 years of experience, we stand ready to assist.