A very serious DWI case in Colorado is getting a lot of attention this week after a Boulder, Colorado judge denied a convicted drunk driver’s request for a sentence reduction. The Daily Camera reports that Judge Thomas Mulvahill denied Dean Carlson’s request for a sentence reduction on Thursday. Mr. Carlson, originally from Texas, is therefore still facing a 15 year prison sentence for violating DWI Laws in Colorado.
Mr. Carlson was a repeat DWI offender, with DWI charges and convictions from both Texas and New York, when he was involved in the accident that led to his current DWI arrest, conviction and sentence. Mr. Carlson had just been reinstated with driving privileges when he drove down Diagonal Highway in Colorado, the opposite direction of the flow of traffic, in a rented vehicle. Mr. Carlson struck another vehicle, operated by Daniel Mays. Mr. Mays was driving with his girlfriend in the car.
Mr. Mays was injured and remained in a coma until his death, which resulted from the injuries he sustained during the accident. Mr. Carlson admitted to drinking and driving, and had a Blood Alcohol Level of 0.221 two hours after the accident.
Ultimately, Mr. Carlson was not charged with vehicular homicide as a result of a plea bargain, in which he agreed to plead guilty to two counts of vehicular assault while driving under the influence, DWI, reckless driving, and driving down the wrong side of a divided highway. Judge Mulvahill ruled that Mr. Carlson’s sentence was reasonable considering the facts of the case, and, therefore, reduction of the sentence was not justified in his view.
In New York State, driving down the wrong side while intoxicated of the street landed a 47-year-old woman with DWI charges. According to WHEC.com Patricia Street, of Clinton Corners, was driving down the wrong way of the eastern New York Highway in a pickup truck on a Tuesday morning. Troopers were alerted by emergency dispatchers that Ms. Street was driving down the opposite side of the highway, and located her. At that point, she was stopped in traffic and was facing vehicles head on in an active work zone. Ms. Street’s BAC was determined to be .26 percent, and she was charged with aggravated DWI, consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle, and driving the wrong way on a one-way road.
Driving down the wrong side of the road while intoxicated can be a dangerous and costly mistake. DWI charges can severely impact a person’s personal life, and can be detrimental to a person’s career and finances. If you have been charged with violating DWI laws, your best line of defense is to immediately contact an experienced DWI attorney for assistance. An experienced DWI attorney can represent you in court and help you navigate the difficult and complex legal system. Call the experienced attorneys at Nave DWI Defense Attorneys today at 1-866-792-7800 for a confidential consultation.
If you are in need of legal representation in Texas, check out a San Antonio law firm.
Another Wrong Way Drinking Story
Drinking and driving can lead drivers to engage in especially dangerous activity, such as speeding, erratically changing lanes, and driving the wrong way down streets or highways. Fox23news.com reports that a 47-year-old New York woman did just that this week, resulting in her arrest and serious DWI charges . Melissa Riccio, the driver from Kingston, was driving the wrong way on a New York highway when troopers received reports regarding her hazardous driving. Troopers arrested Ms. Riccio, and later determined that she had been driving with a blood alcohol content of .20 percent, which is more than double the legal limit under New York‘s DWI law . Ms. Riccio was also driving with a suspended license. Ultimately, Ms. Riccio was charged with aggravated DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation, as well as reckless endangerment.
It is very fortunate that no one was injured in Ms. Riccio’s case. Not long ago, New York experienced a tragic event involving wrong-way driving, in which multiple lives were lost. ABCnews.com recounts the terrible incident, which happened in during the summer of 2009 when Diane Schuler was driving her two children and three nieces home to Long Island from a camping trip in upstate New York. According to reports, Ms. Schuler appeared to be entirely normal, and then all of the sudden began to drive erratically down the Taconic State Parkway. She drove over the median several times on the parkway, which gained much attention from fellow motorists who reported her driving. Then, she began driving the wrong way down the parkway at over 85 miles per hour. Ms. Schuler then smashed into an oncoming SUV, killing all three occupants, as well as her daughter, her three nieces, and herself. The SUV had been traveling at 74 miles per hour. The only survivor of the crash was Ms. Schuler’s young son.
Surveillance videos reviewed after the horrific accident showed Ms. Schuler acting sober and normal when she stopped at a gas station on the way home. However, an autopsy report revealed that Ms. Schuler’s blood alcohol level was 2 ½ times the legal limit, and indicated that she had smoked marijuana within an hour of the accident. The autopsy was consistent with the fact that a smashed bottle of Absolut Vodka was found inside the minivan that she had been driving. Family members and professionals had postulated that it had to have been something else that caused Ms. Schuler’s fatal behavior, such as a stroke or heart attack. Ms. Schuler’s family maintained that they could not believe that she would drink, take drugs and drive, especially with children in the car.
The case of Dianne Schuler demonstrates the dangers of drinking and driving. If you have been charged with violating DWI laws, call an experienced attorney immediately. Nave DWI Defense Attorneys can defend and navigate you through the complex legal system. Call today 1-866-792-7800.
The exclusive purpose of this article is educational and it is not intended as either legal advice or a general solution to any specific legal problem. Corporate offices for Nave DWI Defense Attorneys are located at 432 N. Franklin Street, Suite 80, Syracuse, NY 13204; Telephone No.: 1-866-792-7800. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney Advertising.
