Last week, a Worcester man was charged with driving while under the influence of drugs and drunken driving after crashing his vehicle on Flagg Street.
Police said the driver was driving his 2007 Infiniti at a high rate of speed while traveling east on Flagg Street when he crossed the double yellow line. The driver proceeded to hit the guardrail, a handrail and a tree before driving about 15 feet off the road and ending up suspended over a brook.
About 30 feet of guardrail was damaged and the driver was treated for injuries on-site before being taken to the hospital, where he was arrested for driving under the influence.
Injuries and Deaths Attributed to Driving Under the Influence
The accident only illustrates the dangers of drunk driving. Even though residents of Worcester should be thankful this driver did not sustain life-threatening injuries, nor inflict injuries upon others, it must to be noted that he could have just as easily injured another driver or pedestrian.
Drunk drivers are often the cause of accidents that harm, and sometimes kill, others who have no idea they are sharing the road with someone under the influence. In 2008, there were 124 deaths in Massachusetts attributed to alcohol-related crashes in which at least one of the drivers had a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or above. Moreover, in the same year there were 151 fatalities in which at least one driver had a blood alcohol content of 0.01 or above.
Drivers who get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol need to consider the consequences of their actions. They need to realize that their choice may end up killing themselves or others. If you have been injured by a drunk driver, contact an attorney in your area to hold the drunk driver liable for their actions.