Despite the widespread education regarding the dangers of drunk driving, every year thousands of lives are still claimed in alcohol-related crashes. Not only is this a national problem, it is an issue that falls at the doorstep of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
According to the latest traffic crash statistics released by the Virginia Highway Safety Office, there were 8,221 alcohol-related crashes in our state. Sadly, 274 people were killed in these Virginia drunk driving accidents, which accounted for 37 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2010. In addition to these deaths, 5,578 people were injured in alcohol-related accidents across the state.
Drunk driving accident killed Fairfax man
A drunk driving accident that claimed the life of a 54-year-old Fairfax County man in 2011, only drives home the dangers of drinking and driving. According to reports, Paul J. Krause was killed when 31-year-old Carlos Sanchez-Ramos struck his vehicle and pushed him into oncoming traffic.
Allegedly, Sanchez-Ramos was illegally in the United States at the time of the crash. He was charged with having a blood-alcohol content of between 0.15 and 0.20, as well as aggravated involuntary manslaughter. Sanchez-Ramos had fled the scene of the accident with a 3-year-old boy. Police found them not far from the crash.
Sadly, this story is one of many that are reported regarding drunk driving. Virginia drunk driving accidents continue to act as a public menace, claiming needless lives.
