We often discuss the personal and professional ramifications of drunk driving. Those accused of driving under the influence may have their reputation tarnished by a news story of their arrest, and a conviction can result in prison time, license suspension and crippling fines. Because it can be hard to undo this damage once you're convicted, finding good legal representation before your court case begins is crucial.
The fallout from a drunk-driving arrest is especially harmful to people who are just starting out in their career. Students risk being expelled or rejected from academic programs on which they've built their entire future. Such was the case of an Oregon State University student who was recently convicted and sentenced for a crash that seriously injured a 43-year-old motorcyclist.
The defendant's attorney said his client was a promising pre-med student who doesn't typically drink alcohol. But on June 14, the 24-year-old wanted to celebrate the completion of his finals. It's possible that his inexperience with alcohol was the reason behind his poor decision to drive home intoxicated. In doing so, he lost control of his pickup truck, crashing into a motorcyclist in the early-morning hours on his way home. The motorcyclist suffered two broken hips, as well as a broken ankle, pelvis and femur.
Not long before the crash, witnesses had reported seeing the student's pickup truck heading north in the southbound lanes of Highway 99W just north of Corvallis. The truck's lights were flashing, according to the motorcyclist, who pulled over to the side of the road just before being rear-ended, believing the truck was an emergency vehicle. The deputies who arrested the student said he was visibly drunk and had trouble standing and walking. His blood alcohol level registered at .21 percent.
The student was sentenced to 17 months in prison followed by three years of probation. His driver's license will also be suspended for five years. But the biggest blow is the lost opportunity to attend medical school -- a somewhat ironic consequence, considering that it's the result of celebrating that next step in his career.
The man's case also demonstrates that not only alcoholics or habitual drinkers are capable of driving drunk and getting arrested for it. Anyone who makes plans for the future must keep in mind that they can vanish with a single bad decision.
Source: Corvallis Gazette-Times, "OSU med student sentenced in DUI," Canda Fuqua, Aug. 24, 2012
· Our law firm handles situations similar to the one discussed in this post. To learn more about our practice, please visit our Oregon DUI page.
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