Month: September 2015

Ignition Interlock Bill Passes Senate Again

Posted by Steven Kellis on

downloadLawmakers at the Pennsylvania Senate have once again approved legislation that would make it possible for first time offenders convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol to have ignition interlock systems installed on their vehicles.

The next step will be for the bill to go on to the Pennsylvania House to be considered for passage.

Current state legislation mandates the installation of ignition interlock devices on those who are convicted of two or more DUI offenses within a ten year period. Philadelphia Republican, John Rafferty, is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and is the sponsor of the bill.

Rafferty says that the devices are needed since simply suspending a license is not an adequate way to stem the problem. He contends that, “50 to 70-percent of drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license.” S Rafferty cited that in the states of Arizona, Oregon and New Mexico, when a first time offense interlock installation legislation was mandated, those states have reduced the number of DUI deaths cut by as much as 33-percent.… Read More

Alleged DUI Crash Causes Fire

Posted by Steven Kellis on

downloadPolice have arrested a man and have charged him with allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol when he crashed his truck into a tree and the truck caught fire.

Authorities have arrested Michael Fitzpatrick, 25, of Cape May Court House, New Jersey in relation to an accident. Fitzpatrick was driving a 2007 Ford F150 pickup truck northbound on Union Street Extended (SR5) towards Coastal Highway (SR1) in Milton, Delaware around 5;00 a.m. Sunday morning. Fitzpatrick’s truck crossed both the southbound and northbound lanes and entered Brumbley’s Family Park on Brumbley Place.

Police indicate that the vehicle then struck two tree stumps and a rock before it crashed into a large tree before coming to a stop. The impact caused the truck to burst into flame and both the vehicle and the tree that it struck were on fire. Authorities say that the impact also caused heat damage to home that was located on the property.… Read More

College Students Using More Marijuana

Posted by Steven Kellis on

images (17)A recent study that surveyed college students found that more students in the United States are turning to using marijuana rather than tobacco.

In the “Monitoring the Future” study, a little less than 6 percent of full-time students who were surveyed by researchers at the University of Michigan said that they used pot either every day or at least 20 times in the previous 30 day period.

A study conducted in 1999 that showed 5 percent of those surveyed having identified as heavy cigarette smokers. In the more recent study, this number dropped some 19 percent.

The results of the study suggests that college students are more aware of the public health warnings and risks regarding cigarette smoking, but view the consumption of marijuana as somehow carrying fewer risks to their health.

The study and survey of college students across the nation regarding their drug and alcohol consumption habits had been conducted by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research every year since 1980.… Read More

Woman Who Crashed through Cemetery Gates Sentenced

Posted by Steven Kellis on

download (65)There is nothing wrong with ringing in the New Year with a few drinks. However getting behind the wheel while you are intoxicated can have some serious and unintended consequences. That is what a woman who is accused of drunk driving and crashing through the iron gates of the Allegheny Cemetery and was found guilty is currently facing.

According to court records, the incident happened at approximately 2:00 a.m. on January 1 when D’anne Olivis, 25, drove her vehicle to the Allegheny Cemetery in Lawrenceville and crashed it through cast-iron gate. The structure of the gates was shattered and Olivis’ vehicle was totaled.

Olivis was transported to the hospital. In spite of crashing into a cast iron gate, neither she nor any of her passengers were seriously injured.

David Michener, CEO and President of Allegheny Cemetery said that because the historic gate shattered into hundreds of pieces, any of them might have gone through the windshield of the car and injured those inside.… Read More

Officer Loses Life in DUI Crash

Posted by Steven Kellis on

download (35)A police officer has lost his life after being struck and killed by a hit and run driver that investigators now say was intoxicated at the time of the fatal crash.

Police Officer Lamar Poole Sr., 42, died when his motorcycle collided with a hit-and-run motorist driving a 1999 Toyota Corolla who turned in front of him. The accident happened at Devereaux Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia.

Investigators have arrested the motorist who fled the scene. A tow truck driver witnessed Louis John Vogwill and caught and held Vogwill a few blocks away from the accident until police arrived on the scene.

Police arrested Vogwill who they say had been driving drunk at the time when he struck Poole.

Vogwill is currently being held on $500,000 bail on charges of involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, DUI, fleeing the scene of an accident and other related offenses.… Read More

Evesham Rolls Out Trolley Service for Drinkers

Posted by Steven Kellis on

download (34)A township in South Jersey has recently launched a program that it hopes will reduce the number of DUI-related fatalities.

The fledgling program known as “Evesham Operation Saving Lives” will roll out over the weekend offering a free trolley service along with a new app for Evesham residents.

Township Mayor, Randy Brown recently talked about the program. “If you’re an Evesham resident and you’re in one of our businesses that sells alcohol or you’re in one of our restaurants or bars, we are going to bring you home for free. We are going to transport you home.”

The app that will interact with smart phones will let both restaurants and patrons know when the next trolley is due to arrive.

Evesham Township Police Chief Christopher Chew indicated that the goal of the program was to eliminate DUI / DWI offenses by “providing an alternative to safely get home.”

Even though Evesham Township has not had a DUI-related death since 2009, Chief Chew said that there has been a spike in DUI arrests.… Read More

K-9 Officer Retired after DUI Case Kills Partner

Posted by Steven Kellis on

images (85)A K-9 officer was officially retired from the police force of Ligonier Township located in Westmoreland County on Tuesday night.

The K-9 officer, Blek, lost his partner, 17- year police veteran, Lieutenant Eric Eslary, who was killed in a crash with the driver of an SUV that was going the wrong way in May.

Ligonier Township Police have also permanently retired Badge Number 4 which belonged to Eslary.

It is believed that the driver of the vehicle that struck Eslary’s police SUV was intoxicated at the time of the accident. The first responders to the scene of the accident reported smelling the strong odor of alcohol on the breath of the suspect, Clair Fink III.

Fink was arrested and charged with DUI in connection to the crash.

After the crash, Blek refused to leave his partner’s side and had to be coaxed from the wreckage of the police vehicle.

Blek was also injured, having suffering injuries to his legs as well as having internal injuries.… Read More

Men Accused of Stealing Police Boat while Intoxicated

Posted by Steven Kellis on

downloadThree men have been accused of attempting to steal a boat that belonged to the Pittsburgh Police Department from the parking lot of police headquarters while intoxicated. According to their attorney, it’s all just a misunderstanding.

According to authorities, Devin Gloeckl, 23, Lowell Gloecki, 53, and Luke Miller, 25, are all currently facing charges of theft for the incident that happened last weekend. Reports indicate that the men were found shirtless and drunk in the parking lot of Police headquarters located on Western Avenue.

It appeared as if the men had been attempting to put the boat and trailer onto the back of their own pickup truck because the tow hitch of the flood rescue unit had been removed.

Their attorney denies that they were actually trying to steal the boat. Rather they had just been at the U.S. National Women’s Soccer Team game and were in a celebratory mood and their behavior led others to think they were doing what they weren’t doing.… Read More