New Year’s Eve is a symbolic celebration of renewal – out with the old and in with the new. It only seems appropriate to raise a glass in honor of the past and to toast to the future. However, this drinking tradition can lead to a hazardous concoction: excess drinking mixed with late-night driving. Compared to an average night on the weekend, there are 71% more crashes with drugs or alcohol as a contributing factor between December 31st at 6 p.m. and January 1st at 6 a.m.
It is no wonder that in this 12-hour period alone, DUI-related car crashes skyrocket – making NYE one of the deadliest times of the year to be on the road.
Sadly, a tragic alcohol-related accident in Bakersfield, California claimed the life of three victims on NYE. According to police records, a 20-year-old man identified as Adam Teasdale was driving while under the influence with four other occupants in his vehicle. The accident occurred approximately at 11:15 p.m. when Teasdale was traveling at a dangerously high speed. Reportedly, the driver lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree in a center divider at the intersection of Brimhall Road and Jewetta Avenue.
Three of the passengers were unfortunately ejected from the vehicle upon impact; emergency personnel pronounced them dead at the scene of the crime. It is unknown whether the victims were wearing safety belts at the event of the crash. Both Teasdale and another passenger were reported to have only suffered minor injuries.
The names of the victims that lost their lives were Timothy Wilson, Devin Lee Atha, and Andrew Nicholas Ortiz. Since the tragic accident, people set up GoFundMe accounts on behalf of the victims’ families to help pay funeral expenses.
Facing a DUI on New Year’s Eve
Authorities arrested Teasdale on three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and four counts of DUI causing bodily injury. His bail is set at $1 million.
No one wants to face DUI charges by themselves, especially not on a joyous night such as New Year’s Eve. In cases like this, it is important to contact an experienced DUI defense attorney to receive skilled legal counsel. They need to be able to examine all the details of the case and put forth the information in a logical manner.
When you need DUI defense, you need reliable attorneys that understand the ins and outs of DUI. Our lawyers at the Law Offices of Taylor and Taylor offer comprehensive defense that can minimize potential DUI consequences.
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