The DuPage County Sheriff’s Department reported that an Illinois limo driver had a blood alcohol content of 0.22 when he drove 23 teens to prom on Saturday. The legal limit for blood alcohol content in Illinois is 0.08 for most drivers and 0.04 for commercial license holders.
The teens were transported from Oswego East High School to a banquet hall near Glen Ellyn, the location of their prom, by the drunk driver. During the ride, several of the teens became concerned when the driver backed into a ditch and nearly hit several cars. The teens called their parents who in turn alerted the local police. After investigating the claim, the police arrested the driver who now faces charges of drunken driving and reckless conduct. If convicted, the driver will face a license suspension, fine, and mandatory community service, at a minimum.
The driver later claimed that he was not drunk but that mechanical problems, specifically a misalignment of the bus, was to blame for the erratic driving reported by the students but the owner of the bus said there were no mechanical issues. It has also been reported that the limo driver was fired from his job following this incident.
This is every parent’s nightmare. When your child is in the care of a licensed professional, you expect that individual to operate with the highest degree of care. Instead, the driver in this case allegedly operated drunk and displayed erratic and dangerous behavior to the students on the bus as well as other drivers on the road.
Fortunately no one was injured in this incident but that is not typical for alcohol-related driving. In 2011, 35 percent of the 918 traffic fatalities involved a drunk driver which means that 323 people were killed due to drunk driving. Of those arrested for drunk driving, a disproportionately large number – 76 percent – of individuals were male. This should be surprising because males account for only 50 percent of licensed drivers in the state.
Drunk drivers injure and kill Illinois residents every day. In addition to facing criminal penalties, drunk drivers can be civilly liable to others for the injuries and damages they cause.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we are personal injury attorneys who often handle drunk driving injuries. We know the law and we fight every day for our clients’ rights. If you have been injured by the negligence of a drunk driver or if a family member has been injured or killed, you may have a case and should call the drunk driving injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. today to discuss you claim. Call us locally at (312) 924-7575 or toll free at (855) 529-2442 and we will provide you with a free telephone consultation. If you prefer, we offer a free in-person consultation and we will meet you at a hospital or nursing home if you are too injured to make the trip to our offices. Call us today to learn about your rights to a financial recovery.
Prior Blog Entries:
Chicago Driver Hits Police Officer and Drags Her With Car, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published May 14, 2013.
Massive Sink Hole in Southside Chicago Responsible for Swallowing 3 Cars, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published May 13, 2013.
Resources:
Authorities: Prom limo driver’s blood alcohol level nearly three times legal limit, by Dan Rozek, Chicago Sun-Times, published May 13, 2013.
2013 Illinois DUI fact book, Illinois Secretary of State, published February, 2013.