Woman Set for Trail in Fatal DUI Crash

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A woman who pleaded not guilty on Monday, April 4, 2016, to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) and vehicular homicide will stand trial beginning August 30, 2016. Cassandra Griffin, 25, is accused of driving her Jeep Cherokee and driving through a stop sign at Highway 94 near the intersection with Ellicot Highway and T-boning the victim’s Dodge Ram 2500 causing it to roll.

The defendant’s blood-alcohol level (BAC) measured .22 percent (nearly three times higher than the legal limit) approximately one hour after the crash. The victim was the owner of a local welding shop. Griffin is expected to appear before the court on July 11 for a motions hearing.

How Big is the Problem of DUI?

Woman Set for Trail in Fatal DUI Crash | Colorado Springs DUI Attorney

On average, in the United States, approximately 28 people die every day as a result of an alcohol-impaired driver, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The following statistics from the CDC show how big the DUI problem is here currently in the United States:

In 2014, nearly 10,000 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (31%) of all traffic-related deaths in the U.S.
In 2014, of the 1,070 traffic fatalities involving children ages 0 to 14 years, 209 (19%) involved a DUI driver.
More than half (116) of the 209 child passengers ages 14 and younger who were killed in crashes in 2014 were riding in a vehicle with a DUI driver.
In 2014, over 1.1 million drivers were arrested for DUI or driving under the influence of drugs (DUID).
16% of all auto accidents involve either alcohol or drugs

What are the Effects of Alcohol on Driving?

The following table taken from CDC data gives some sobering information about blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels and the effects it has on all of us when we get behind the wheel.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)	Side Effects	Effects on Driving Behavior
.02% – Equals approximately 2 alcohol drinks	Some loss of judgment and reasoning Relaxed Rise in body warmth Mood altered	Impairment of visual ability (especially tracking fast moving objects) Impairment of ability to perform more than one task at the same time
.05% – Equals approximately 3 alcoholic drinks	Exaggerated personality Impaired motor skills (for instance, inability to focus eyes) Reduced judgment ability Feeling elated/euphoric Lack of alertness Lack of inhibition	Poor coordination Lack of ability to track moving objects Steering becomes difficult Less alert to response involving emergency driving scenarios
.08% – Equals approximately 4 alcoholic drinks	Poor motor/muscle skills (e.g., loss of balance, slurred speech, delayed reaction time Less alertness to danger Many other impaired abilities including judgment, self-control, reasoning and memory	Impaired concentration Loss of short-term memory Inability to just speed Impairment of information processing capability Reduced perception
.10% – Equals approximately 5 alcohol drinks	Very noticeable lack of reaction time and control Reduced coordination, slurred speech, slower thought processing	Inability to maintain lane position Inability to brake when necessary
.15% – Equals about seven alcoholic drinks	Possibility of vomiting Loss of balance on a large scale Muscle control is very impaired	Serious impairment in regards to vehicle control Inattentive to driving tasks Impaired visibility and hearing information processing

Contact a Colorado Springs DUI Attorney at Kohn Law Firm

Have you or a loved one been charged with a DUI in Colorado? If so, call a Colorado Springs DUI attorney at Kohn Law Firm at (719) 328-9555 or by emailing us using the contact form at the top of this page.

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