The bassist for the band 3 Doors Down is being held in a Nashville jail after he reportedly caused a collision while speeding and driving impaired, according to the Chicago Tribune.Police stated that the bassist, Robert Todd Harrell, showed obvious signs of impairment at the scene and that “he acknowledged consuming hard cider and taking prescription Lortab and Xanax” before the crash.
Authorities believe that Harrell was speeding in a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee on westbound Interstate 40 when he hit a pickup truck. The driver of the truck lost control and the truck struck a guardrail, left the road and then flipped at least once before coming to a rest. The driver was ejected and died as a result of the collision.
Harrell has been charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication and is being held on a $100,000 bond.
Following his arrest, Harrell was taken to a local jail where sheriff’s deputies found a plastic bag with 8 Xanax pills, 24 oxycodone pills, and 4 oxymorphone pills concealed in Harrell’s sock. Xanax is an anti-anxiety medication available by prescription while oxycodone and oxymorphone are prescription pain relievers. It is not clear whether Harrell had a prescription for any of the drugs in his possession.
The band issued a statement on its website saying they were saddened by the passing of the victim and that the band’s hearts and prayers go out to the victim’s family and friends.
Harrell was arrested last year and charged with driving under the influence after he was involved in a crash with another vehicle.
This recent crash puts a spotlight on the dangers associated with driving under the influence.
Every day nearly 30 people die in the United States in alcohol-related crashes, or nearly one every 48 minutes. Estimates put the cost of drunk driving in excess of $51 billion per year.
The people most at risk for impaired driving are young people, motorcyclists, and drivers with prior convictions for driving while impaired. The early reports suggest that the impaired driver in this crash had a history of alcohol-related driving. Statistically, drivers with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher involved in fatal crashers were four times more likely to have a prior conviction for driving while impaired than were drivers with no alcohol in their systems.
This means that drivers who have been convicted of driving under the influence are more likely to do so again in the future than those who have never driven drunk. Drunk drivers are significant risks to all drivers and passengers on the roads because drunk drivers have slowed response times, delayed ability to process dangers, and are not as vigilant as sober drivers, increasing the risk of collision.
Driving drunk is illegal in every state in the nation and with good reason. Avoid being a drunk driving statistic by following these simple tips: never drive drunk, never ride in a car with someone who has been drinking, always designate a sober driver before drinking or take a taxi for transportation, and if a friend has been drinking, take away his keys so that he will be unable to drive under the influence.
Even though drinking and driving is illegal, people still do it every day in Chicago. If you or a family member has been injured by a negligent driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs, call the drunk driving accident attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. today for a free consultation regarding your injuries. We have worked on numerous drunk driving cases over the years and we are ready to start working on your case today. Call us at (855) LAW-CHICAGO.
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