3 Doors Down Bass Player Allegedly Causes Fatal DUI Crash

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.

Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

Mayor Calls For Stricter Rules after City Employee allegedly caused Chicago Pedestrian Accident

Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Tom Byrne was given strict orders from Mayor Rahm Emanuel earlier this week to tighten up city enforcement of road laws, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. This order comes after a pedestrian accident in Chicago, allegedly caused by a city employee driving drunk.

We previously reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog that eight people suffered injuries after a city worker allegedly lost control of his truck in the Gold Coast community. The city worker is being accused of driving under the influence at the time of the accident.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that intoxicated motorists are frequently responsible for the serious and fatal accidents that occur on our roads. It's particularly egregious that a city employee is involved.

“One of the things I said to Commissioner Byrne was I want to know what steps need to be taken so, in the future, this does not occur again — both at the level of management and at the level of employees,” Emanuel said.

The 61-year-old city worker reportedly had a blood alcohol concentration of more than twice the legal limit. Termination proceedings have already been started by the city against that employee. The mayor wants more done though. He says firing the worker isn't enough to suffice for these types of tragedies that affect the lives of the injured and cost the city millions.

Prosecutors report that the city worker plowed through the group of pedestrians in a city vehicle, a Ford F-150, with a bottle of brandy in his cab. The driver is being held of a $400,000 bond and is facing charges including four counts of felony aggravated DUI and two counts of misdemeanor DUI. He was also cited for negligent driving, failing to reduce speed and transporting open alcohol in a vehicle.

“You take these moments, you deal with them and there are lessons learned for future. And I’ve directed Commissioner Byrne to come back with recommendations,” said Emanuel.

Currently, city employees that hold a valid driver’s license are subject to random drug and alcohol tests. The employee that took out several pedestrians earlier this week was not a part of these random screenings. He was a worker assigned to empty garbage cans and to collect stray debris throughout the city.

“Streets and Sanitation is conducting its own internal review into all aspects of this incident, including supervision, to determine if any policies and procedures should be changed to prevent such incidents in the future,” Smith said.

Employees that have jobs similar to this city employee are only subjected to drug and alcohol tests after being involved in an accident. This worker was tested earlier this year, in March, after an on-the-job accident that resulted in property damage. His previous test came back with negative results.

“Random drug [and alcohol] testing for laborers would have to be negotiated with the union. The city cannot implement the tests unilaterally,” Smith said in an e-mail response to the Chicago Sun-Times.

All motorists are asked to both keep a watchful eye out for pedestrians and to refrain from drinking and driving. This city worker reportedly had neither in mind and in turn injured a number of innocent residents. The city reports to have upped its efforts to keep an eye on their employees to reduce the risks of such accidents in the future.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a bicycle or pedestrian accident in Chicago, contact the personal injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes P.C. for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call (312) 924-7575.

Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

Fatal Catawba, North Carolina County Car Accident Caused by Allegedly Drunk Driver

Next » Posted On: February 9, 2011 by Michael A. DeMayo

Sandra Campbell, 50, died on Tuesday in a Catawba County car accident involving her vehicle and a pickup truck accident on Slanting Bridge Road. The impact of the crash was so severe that pieces of the vehicle littered the road. The driver of the pickup truck, Brian Hieb, is charged with DWI. This is the 43-year-old’s second DWI charge in six months.

It goes without saying that driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is reckless and dangerous and dramatically increases the chances of lives being lost. Our Catawba County car crash law firm has worked with many families who have lost loved ones because a motorist was drunk or drugged. The outcome is never pretty for anyone involved

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