There are tens of thousands of DUI arrests per year in AZ (39,746 in 2013 to be more precise). And that’s not counting the many of the over ten thousand hit-and-run drivers reported each year in AZ (11,402 in 2010 to be more precise), all of whom are criminals, thousands of them serious felons, few of whom are ever caught or charged. (hit-and-run from a collision with any injury is a felony, if the injury is serious or fatal the felony is likewise serious). Continue reading “More about: Celebrity DUIs and other car criminals”
The un-named driver’s black BMW at rest inside the heavily damaged restaurant. Driver was charged with DUI.
12/2 ~6:15pm near Thomas Road and 15th Avenue. Nice.
The car drove up the sidewalk and over the curb before colliding with a tree, plowing through a pillar holding up the restaurant’s patio roof and continuing on into the main dining area of the restaurant where eight people sat.
The man was later cited for driving while impaired, police said. His name was not released.
11/22/2016 ~7:30 Bicyclist Eric I. Gilbert was hit and killed by a driver who (lost control or whatever) jumped the curb and struck the cyclist (on the sidewalk or dirt, presumably; see google maps view of the general vicinity). The driver, of course, fled the scene; and the suspect vehicle was found a short distance away. A suspect driver was fingered via the owner of the vehicle and was arrested a couple of days later. MSCO says the suspect said he was on heroin at the time. Continue reading “MCSO: Bicyclist hit and killed near Mesa by driver on heroin”
In a longish piece in AZ Republic Live or die on Phoenix-area freeways: It’s your choice (the print edition was headlined 3-year freeway fatality toll: 207) about (specifically metro-Phoenix area. I think they looked at just Maricopa County) freeway traffic fatalities, it was revealed the fatality rate was 61% higher than national averages, per mile driven. I’m not sure exactly what’s counted; it apparently counts only that part of the state highway system that is fully controlled-access, a.k.a. freeways, and in Maricopa county for the purposes of this series of articles.
The usual suspects were called out: speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, motorcycling in general (helmets), not wearing seatbelts.
Bicyclist Brett Karrle was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash, Monday 10/10/2016 mid-afternoon.
Catalina Highway, south of Fort Lowell Rd, in Tucson, AZ (I can’t find that on google maps?). Presumably hit from behind but there are no details in the reporting.
The driver fled the scene, and was later located a short time later and arrested on hit/run and aggravated assault charges (suspected impairment).
Chandler residents Cruz and Annamarie Contreras were among the 4 pedestrians killed (plus more injured) in a park when a pickup driver lost control and crashed in San Diego / Coronado.
Sat 8/27/2016 ~ 7:30pm. Bicyclist Thomas J. Butler. 35 was killed as he road across 43rd Ave near Bethany Home Rd mid-block from west to east; then turned north when he was struck from behind.
The tone of the statements indicates the police don’t believe the driver’s alleged impairment wasn’t a factor. I.e. the driver is likely to be charged with only DUI.
A westbound driver apparently failed to negotiate a slight bend in the road and drove up on the sidewalk, killing the Childtime Sign. July 19, 2016 ~ 8AM. Warner Rd, just west of 51st St.
Happened in the ‘hood. Another dangerous driver jumped the curb, ran over the sidewalk and murdered a block wall. The driver was reportedly taken into custody…. Wed May 18, 2016, later part of afternoon. Elliot Loop and Jicarilla, Phoenix.
The original story about this Dec. 27, 2014 death has a long list of horribles, emphasis added:
Preliminary test results indicated that Erica Flynn’s blood-alcohol level was .283, more than three times the legal limit, after the crash that killed 66-year-old Kathleen Mae Searcy on Dec. 27, the records show.
Flynn, 30, was southbound on Arizona Avenue in a Toyota Camry when she ran a red light and struck Searcy’s Honda Accord, which was making a left turn on a green arrow at the San Tan Freeway, records show.
Data from Flynn’s vehicle indicated she was driving at a speed of 75 mph – 30 miles over the posted speed limit – and did not brake prior to impact, according to police.
Ann Day was killed in a headon crash with a suspected impaired driver, ~ 8AM, May 7, 2016. Day was traveling eastbound on Ina Road near the Westward Look Resort, near Tucson (Pima County)