Drunk Driver Very Fortunate To Survive Train Crash
Alcohol affects different people in different ways, but it’s never a good idea to drink and drive. The National Transportation Highway Administration (NHTSA) estimates that more than 10,000 people lose their lives, and far more are injured because of a drunk driver. In addition to the tragedy of accidents involving impaired drivers, there can also be incidents where no one was hurt, but the situation could have ended tragically.
One such incident happened in West Palm Beach when a driver turned his Mustang onto an unused portion of a train track and was sideswiped by a passing commuter train, knocking the mirror off of his car. South Florida’s NBC affiliate, NBC Miami reports that 19-year-old Luis Daniel Lopez Rojas was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Police officers found Rojas asleep at the wheel of his Ford Mustang that was on the CSX train tracks. When police awakened him, he denied being on the tracks. Later, he told the officers that he had only been following the directions given to him by his GPS.
After detecting the strong scent of alcohol on him, the officers administered field sobriety tests. Rojas admitted to them that he drank a six-pack alone at his home before venturing out.
Two separate Breathalyzer tests indicated that wed that Rojas had a blood alcohol level of .184 and .177. Both readings were more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Officers placed Rojas under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol and for causing damage to property. He was later released from jail.
Authorities have not stated when Rojas is due to appear before the court.