Alcohol-related fatalities on the rise
Irving Marmolejo
Section: News
The use of drugs and alcohol has increased in young adults along with the number of people driving under the influence. In 2008, Texas Department of Public Safety reported 1,463 alcohol-related fatalities, and the number increased during 2009.
"Young adults tend to drink and drive, throwing their life away if something really bad happens," said Don Martin, the public information officer of Tyler Police Department.
According to a report from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, on March 5, 2006, a Nissan Sentra crashed against a pipe fence on one of Lindale's farm roads. The passenger, Kyle Ray Jackson, was ejected from the vehicle and died a day later as result of his injuries. Jackson was an honor student and an outstanding athlete at Southwestern College in Winfield. The driver, Skyler Prince, was driving while intoxicated; the level of alcohol in his blood was .191 higher than the law permits. Prince was 20 years old at the time of the accident and because drugs were found in his possession, he received numerous charges. On April 13, 2007, he was sentenced to four years in prison.
The National Crime Prevention Council Web Site shows that on an average weekend evening one of every 10 drivers is legally impaired or drunk.
"People who use alcohol or drugs like marijuana have really poor judgment while driving," said Mike Tobin, instructor in Vocational Nurse Education.
"This condition slows their reaction time, vision is distorted and causes bad judgment. There is no difference when driving is combined with marijuana, cocaine or alcohol; the damage is the same in the body and their capacity to drive is minimal."
According to MADD reports, on Aug. 18, 2004, Lauren Mackenzie Frazier was on her way back home after eating ice cream with her parents when she was killed in a devastating car accident. A 16-year-old drunk driver crashed into Frazier's vehicle. Frazier was starting school at Baylor University the next day. Frazier's mother and father were seriously injured. The drunk driver pled guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison. In addition, four other teens were convicted for providing alcohol to a minor and received two years of community service.
"Young adults tend to drink and drive, throwing their life away if something really bad happens," said Don Martin, the public information officer of Tyler Police Department.
According to a report from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, on March 5, 2006, a Nissan Sentra crashed against a pipe fence on one of Lindale's farm roads. The passenger, Kyle Ray Jackson, was ejected from the vehicle and died a day later as result of his injuries. Jackson was an honor student and an outstanding athlete at Southwestern College in Winfield. The driver, Skyler Prince, was driving while intoxicated; the level of alcohol in his blood was .191 higher than the law permits. Prince was 20 years old at the time of the accident and because drugs were found in his possession, he received numerous charges. On April 13, 2007, he was sentenced to four years in prison.
The National Crime Prevention Council Web Site shows that on an average weekend evening one of every 10 drivers is legally impaired or drunk.
"People who use alcohol or drugs like marijuana have really poor judgment while driving," said Mike Tobin, instructor in Vocational Nurse Education.
"This condition slows their reaction time, vision is distorted and causes bad judgment. There is no difference when driving is combined with marijuana, cocaine or alcohol; the damage is the same in the body and their capacity to drive is minimal."
According to MADD reports, on Aug. 18, 2004, Lauren Mackenzie Frazier was on her way back home after eating ice cream with her parents when she was killed in a devastating car accident. A 16-year-old drunk driver crashed into Frazier's vehicle. Frazier was starting school at Baylor University the next day. Frazier's mother and father were seriously injured. The drunk driver pled guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison. In addition, four other teens were convicted for providing alcohol to a minor and received two years of community service.
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