An alleged drunk driver hit a sheriff's deputy as well as the deputy's marked cruiser in a recent Maryland collision. According to local police, the deputy was pulled over on the side of the road and had his emergency lights activated for a traffic stop when the allegedly intoxicated driver clipped him, and then proceeded to hit the cruiser as well.
The driver then failed to stop, instead opting to flee the scene of the auto accident until the deputy stopped him, upon which an open bottle of beer was discovered in the car, which also smelled of alcohol. After performing badly on a sobriety test, the driver was arrested for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. He refused to submit to a Breathalyzer.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, of the 32,000 people who died in auto accidents in 2010, nearly a third were killed in collisions involving at least one driver who was impaired by alcohol. Even in cases that do not involve a fatality, drunk driving car crashes can result in broken or lost limbs, damage to the brain or spine or other severe injuries.
Because driving while impaired by alcohol is a crime, in court proceedings regarding any resulting accident it will also often be considered irresponsible enough to confer fault on the drunk driver, which makes it that driver's obligation to give compensation to victims and their survivors for the damages caused. These damages can include doctor and hospital bills, lost income, pain and suffering and potentially the loss of consortium.
In the recent Maryland case, the suspect was held in prison in lieu of a $50,000 bond.