The toxicology reports are out and the mother who died in a fiery crash on Highway 101 last September 3, 2009 was intoxicated. As in literally drop-dead drunk, her BAC results showed a 0.19 percent blood alcohol level, more than twice the legal limit of .08.
Authorities also speculated that Elucina Guevara Moyado, 39, who was still alive after the crash, was not able to get out of the van in time before it burst into flames because she was too drunk.
Her three children aged 5, 9 and 11 years old, who were with her in the van, survived the crash when they escaped through a broken backseat window. The children were hospitalized with various injuries.
Moyado, who was also driving with a level of methamphetamine of .03 milligrams per liter in her system, was on her way home when she veered left from the freeway fast lane and drove straight into the bridge construction zone where she struck a two-foot high bridgework.
The preliminary medical report shows that the drunken mother died because of the injuries related to the fire, not the crash.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there is an increasing trend among women driving under the influence of alcohol based on 2007-2008 statistics. Statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation further show that arrests for women driving under the influence increased by nearly 30 percent (28.8%) over the 10-year period from 1998 to 2007.
The NHTSA stated that about 2,000 fatalities a year involve an impaired female driver. The President of Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD), President Laura Dean-Moody said that women are unfortunately picking up some of the same terrible, reckless behaviors that men have exhibited.
Bad habits are hard to break and drinking and driving is a driver behavior that nobody should ever excuse or justify. What’s really bad these days is that even women, who are usually more disciplined or conscientious then men would think nothing of getting behind the wheel after having a few drinks. What’s worse too is the fact that some of these women who drink are mothers and they are often the designated drivers of the family when it comes to picking up their kids.
“A few drinks wouldn’t hurt anyone…” as some would say but in reality, a few drinks could really take the edge off a lot of driver’s skills, concentration and reflexes.
Some are just lucky they managed to get home in one piece but the rest, like Moyado, can only wish that they didn’t make the mistake of drinking and driving and paying for it with their lives or the lives of the other people they trample on because of their choice to drink and drive.
Authorities also speculated that Elucina Guevara Moyado, 39, who was still alive after the crash, was not able to get out of the van in time before it burst into flames because she was too drunk.
Her three children aged 5, 9 and 11 years old, who were with her in the van, survived the crash when they escaped through a broken backseat window. The children were hospitalized with various injuries.
Moyado, who was also driving with a level of methamphetamine of .03 milligrams per liter in her system, was on her way home when she veered left from the freeway fast lane and drove straight into the bridge construction zone where she struck a two-foot high bridgework.
The preliminary medical report shows that the drunken mother died because of the injuries related to the fire, not the crash.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there is an increasing trend among women driving under the influence of alcohol based on 2007-2008 statistics. Statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation further show that arrests for women driving under the influence increased by nearly 30 percent (28.8%) over the 10-year period from 1998 to 2007.
The NHTSA stated that about 2,000 fatalities a year involve an impaired female driver. The President of Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD), President Laura Dean-Moody said that women are unfortunately picking up some of the same terrible, reckless behaviors that men have exhibited.
Bad habits are hard to break and drinking and driving is a driver behavior that nobody should ever excuse or justify. What’s really bad these days is that even women, who are usually more disciplined or conscientious then men would think nothing of getting behind the wheel after having a few drinks. What’s worse too is the fact that some of these women who drink are mothers and they are often the designated drivers of the family when it comes to picking up their kids.
“A few drinks wouldn’t hurt anyone…” as some would say but in reality, a few drinks could really take the edge off a lot of driver’s skills, concentration and reflexes.
Some are just lucky they managed to get home in one piece but the rest, like Moyado, can only wish that they didn’t make the mistake of drinking and driving and paying for it with their lives or the lives of the other people they trample on because of their choice to drink and drive.
