Choosing to get behind the wheel after drinking puts everyone’s safety at risk. Last weekend in Galveston, not too far from Houston, a family’s weekend was ruined when the horse-drawn carriage they were riding in was slammed into by a drunk driver. One man died in the accident and several others were injured.
The 57-year-old victim, from the Houston area, was enjoying the carriage ride at around 11:00 p.m. last Saturday evening when the carriage was rear-ended by the suspect’s car. The family was heading back to their hotel after an evening out when the car accident occurred.
– Article By Richard Weaver
Also injured in the accident were the victim’s 46-year-old wife, an 18-year-old female passenger, the 26-year-old male carriage driver and a 22-year-old male passenger in the suspect’s car.
Police say the suspect, who allegedly tried to flee from the scene of the crash, failed a field sobriety test and had to be taken to a hospital to have his blood drawn. It’s unknown what his blood alcohol content was at the time. He is being charged with three counts of intoxication assault and one count of intoxication manslaughter.
A Galveston Police Department spokesman said this is the first crash of this nature that he has seen in years on the force. He reminded drivers to look out for the carriages, because the people riding in them are extremely vulnerable.
In tourist heavy areas like Galveston, it’s important to be on the lookout for carriages, bicycles, motorcycles and pedestrians. People in those situations won’t stand much of a chance when struck by a car or truck. Learning to share the road and driving sober is every driver’s obligation.
Source: Houston Chronicle, “Galveston police ID victims of fatal horse-drawn carriage accident,” Robert Stanton, July 23, 2012
