According to police reports, a 57-year-old Oakland County man died five days after he was involved in a head-on collision with a man suspected of driving while impaired.
The Groveland Township man died early Wednesday morning after being hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit at McLaren Hospital since the September 20 crash.
Two other people were also injured in the crash, which happened around 8 p.m. at Andersonville and White Lake roads in Springfield Township.
Earlier in September, a drunk driver struck and killed a 45-year-old man who was riding his bicycle, Detroit police say. The accident happened Wednesday evening, September 4, near Fenkell and Freeland streets on the west side of Detroit, according to a report by television station WWJ.
Apparently, the bicyclist was attempting to cross the road when he was struck by a mini-van. The victim died at the scene.
Police say the 67-year-old driver of the mini-van, who stayed at the scene after the crash, had a blood alcohol level more than twice Michigan’s legal limit of .08.
Unfortunately, reports such as these are not uncommon, despite concerted efforts by law enforcement and advocacy groups to raise awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and to keep intoxicated individuals off the road.
There were 255 alcohol-related fatalities in Michigan in 2011, representing nearly 30 percent of all total traffic deaths. Over 1,300 people have died on Michigan highways as a result of drunk driving during the past five years.
According to the records there were 35,534 DUI arrests in Michigan in 2012.
More than one-third of all traffic fatalities in Michigan involve alcohol. And even as the number of traffic-related deaths declines, the percentage of accidents tied to booze does not. Studies show conclusively that operating a motor vehicle after consuming even one drink makes you more prone to accidents.
Drivers are considered to be alcohol-impaired when their BAC is .08 or higher in Michigan. People charged with drunk driving after a fatal accident face serious legal consequences and need help.
Paul J. Tafelski is committed to helping good people who find themselves in legal trouble. A Michigan native, Paul J. Tafelski, leads a team of DUI defense lawyers who have helped hundreds of drivers in similar difficulties get through Michigan’s complicated criminal justice system successfully. That’s why Paul is confident that he can evaluate your situation, develop a solid defense strategy and minimize the penalties that you face.
Paul J. Tafelski assists drivers charged with DUI, DWI, or OWI in Michigan, including, but not limited to Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Rochester Hills, Troy, Canton, Plymouth, Novi and Royal Oak, Oakland County, Wayne County and Macomb County.
Resources:
- Michigan Department of State (michigan.gov/sos)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov)
- WWJ (detroit.cbslocal.com)
