Latest news with #drunken driving
CBS News
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
Delays in anti-drunken driving auto tech frustrate Illinois mom who lost son in crash
The mother of a McHenry, Illinois man who was killed by a drunken driver in 2018 is pushing for a technology in new cars that she said would have saved her son's life — and she is frustrated by delays in its implementation. Sheila Lockwood lost her 23-year-old son, Austin, to a drunken driver on June 10, 2018. Every single day since, Lockwood has been teaming up with stakeholders trying to make it harder for drunken drivers to get behind the wheel. "We know that there's technology that could stop this from happening," said Lockwood. In 2021, Lockwood was instrumental in helping get the HALT Act signed into law. The acronym stands for "Honoring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate Drunk Driving," and is named for Issam and Rima Abbas of the Detroit area and their three children — Ali, 13; Isabelle, 12; and Giselle, 7 — who were struck and killed by a wrong-way drunken driver on I-75 near Lexington, Kentucky, while returning from a Florida vacation in January 2019. The law requires a new federal regulation for anti-drunken driving technology to be installed in new cars. The technology can passively detect a drunk driver by the air he or she breathes out. It measures the ratio of carbon dioxide and alcohol to determine what a would-be driver's blood alcohol must be. Mothers Against Drunk Driving was joined by members of the auto insurance industry and the alcohol industry in advocating for the tech in new vehicles. "Anheuser-Busch is a huge supporter," said Lockwood. The target rollout year for the tech was 2026. But nearly four years later, the finish line has been pushed back — in part thanks to pushback from some lawmakers trying to repeal the requirement using another piece of legislation, the No Kill Switches in Cars Act. One lawmaker, U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pennsylvania) claimed the anti-DUI technology can be used to "restrict your travel or to track you without a warrant." "There's been a lot of false information out there," Lockwood said. "Nobody has the right to drive impaired." The new goal for implementation is 2030, and Lockwood said she is pushing to make sure that is the end of the delays. "We have been waiting now for four years," Lockwood said. "That's 40,000 lives we could have saved." CBS News Chicago reached out to several lawmakers trying to repeal the HALT Act for comment for this story, but had not heard back late Monday. Lockwood will be back in Washington, D.C., this September, pushing for the requirement finally to be implemented.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vikings' Jordan Addison waits for potential NFL suspension after drunken driving plea deal
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Jordan Addison's off-the-field trouble, the Minnesota Vikings believe, is fully behind him. There is one more pressing matter to resolve, leaving the team and the third-year wide receiver to wait on potential punishment from the NFL as training camp unfolds. After Addison avoided a trial on a drunken driving case in California by pleading no contest to a lesser charge last week, the adjudication paved the way for the league to issue discipline. NFL policy on substances of abuse calls for a three-game suspension for a first offense of an alcohol-related violation of the law. Though Addison resolved the citation from 2024 with a 'wet reckless' misdemeanor that comes with fewer penalties and does not count as a DUI conviction on his driving record, a no-contest plea bargain doesn't exclude players from league suspensions. 'Everything is out of my control right now, so whatever the league has got for me, I'll be prepared with whatever decision they make,' Addison said Wednesday, before the team's first full practice of training camp. Addison had to pay a fine and complete two online courses, with the expectation his probation will be shortened from 12 to six months. 'Just to get it all behind me and just get on with the season,' he said, when asked why he opted for the plea bargain. As for his takeaway from the legal process, which began before his rookie year with a citation in Minnesota for excessive speeding? 'Just be smart,' Addison said. 'Make smart decisions. That's pretty much all.' Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said the team has been in contact with the NFL about the case but had no indication about when to expect a decision. 'They're obviously going through their process, and we'll know as soon as they know,' Adofo-Mensah said. 'Obviously, when that originally happened, we knew that it was a possibility, but really you're talking about team building in general. You might not have players on the field for various reasons, and you've always got to be ready with depth, players you're excited about taking the field and taking those opportunities, and this is no different.' Those players include Jalen Nailor, Tai Felton and Rondale Moore. Nailor had a breakout season in 2024, with 28 catches for 414 yards and six touchdowns after his first two years in the league were hampered by injuries. Felton was the team's third-round draft pick out of Maryland. Moore signed as a bargain free agent after missing last season with Atlanta with a torn ACL. He played his first three years in the league for Arizona. Addison's skills likely won't be replaced by any of those role players, however, should he be absent for the beginning of the season. With 133 catches for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns in two years, the 2023 first-round draft pick has flourished on the field as the sidekick in a dangerous duo with two-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson, who invited Addison earlier in the offseason to work out with him. 'Just talking to him and letting him know that, 'Hey, you need to be more vocal,'' Jefferson said during spring practice. 'He has that motivation and he's a great player as well, so people are going to listen to him as he speaks. Just trying to get him out of that shyness phase, or just being closed off and to himself, but I think he is getting better with that.' ___ AP NFL:
Al Arabiya
6 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Vikings' Jordan Addison waits for potential nfl suspension after drunken driving plea deal
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Jordan Addison's off-the-field trouble the Minnesota Vikings believe is fully behind him. There is one more pressing matter to resolve leaving the team and the third-year wide receiver to wait on potential punishment from the NFL as training camp unfolds. After Addison avoided a trial on a drunken driving case in California by pleading no contest to a lesser charge last week, the adjudication paved the way for the league to issue discipline. NFL policy on substances of abuse calls for a three-game suspension for a first offense of an alcohol-related violation of the law. Though Addison resolved the citation from 2024 with a wet reckless misdemeanor that comes with fewer penalties and does not count as a DUI conviction on his driving record, a no-contest plea bargain doesn't exclude players from league suspensions. 'Everything is out of my control right now, so whatever the league has got for me I'll be prepared with whatever decision they make,' Addison said Wednesday before the team's first full practice of training camp. Addison had to pay a fine and complete two online courses with the expectation his probation will be shortened from 12 to six months. 'Just to get it all behind me and just get on with the season,' he said when asked why he opted for the plea bargain. As for his takeaway from the legal process, which began before his rookie year with a citation in Minnesota for excessive speeding? 'Just be smart,' Addison said. 'Make smart decisions. That's pretty much all.' Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said the team has been in contact with the NFL about the case but had no indication about when to expect a decision. 'They're obviously going through their process and we'll know as soon as they know,' Adofo-Mensah said. 'Obviously when that originally happened we knew that it was a possibility but really you're talking about team building in general. You might not have players on the field for various reasons and you've always got to be ready with depth players you're excited about taking the field and taking those opportunities and this is no different.' Those players include Jalen Nailor, Tai Felton, and Rondale Moore. Nailor had a breakout season in 2024 with 28 catches for 414 yards and six touchdowns after his first two years in the league were hampered by injuries. Felton was the team's third-round draft pick out of Maryland. Moore signed as a bargain free agent after missing last season with Atlanta with a torn ACL. He played his first three years in the league for Arizona. Addison's skills likely won't be replaced by any of those role players, however, should he be absent for the beginning of the season. With 133 catches for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns in two years, the 2023 first-round draft pick has flourished on the field as the sidekick in a dangerous duo with two-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson, who invited Addison earlier in the offseason to work out with him. 'Just talking to him and letting him know that 'Hey you need to be more vocal,'' Jefferson said during spring practice. 'He has that motivation and he's a great player as well, so people are going to listen to him as he speaks. Just trying to get him out of that shyness phase or just being closed off and to himself, but I think he is getting better with that.'
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Vikings' Jordan Addison waits for potential NFL suspension after drunken driving plea deal
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Jordan Addison's off-the-field trouble, the Minnesota Vikings believe, is fully behind him. There is one more pressing matter to resolve, leaving the team and the third-year wide receiver to wait on potential punishment from the NFL as training camp unfolds. After Addison avoided a trial on a drunken driving case in California by pleading no contest to a lesser charge last week, the adjudication paved the way for the league to issue discipline. NFL policy on substances of abuse calls for a three-game suspension for a first offense of an alcohol-related violation of the law. Though Addison resolved the citation from 2024 with a 'wet reckless' misdemeanor that comes with fewer penalties and does not count as a DUI conviction on his driving record, a no-contest plea bargain doesn't exclude players from league suspensions. 'Everything is out of my control right now, so whatever the league has got for me, I'll be prepared with whatever decision they make,' Addison said Wednesday, before the team's first full practice of training camp. Addison had to pay a fine and complete two online courses, with the expectation his probation will be shortened from 12 to six months. 'Just to get it all behind me and just get on with the season,' he said, when asked why he opted for the plea bargain. As for his takeaway from the legal process, which began before his rookie year with a citation in Minnesota for excessive speeding? 'Just be smart,' Addison said. 'Make smart decisions. That's pretty much all.' Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said the team has been in contact with the NFL about the case but had no indication about when to expect a decision. 'They're obviously going through their process, and we'll know as soon as they know,' Adofo-Mensah said. 'Obviously, when that originally happened, we knew that it was a possibility, but really you're talking about team building in general. You might not have players on the field for various reasons, and you've always got to be ready with depth, players you're excited about taking the field and taking those opportunities, and this is no different.' Those players include Jalen Nailor, Tai Felton and Rondale Moore. Nailor had a breakout season in 2024, with 28 catches for 414 yards and six touchdowns after his first two years in the league were hampered by injuries. Felton was the team's third-round draft pick out of Maryland. Moore signed as a bargain free agent after missing last season with Atlanta with a torn ACL. He played his first three years in the league for Arizona. Addison's skills likely won't be replaced by any of those role players, however, should he be absent for the beginning of the season. With 133 catches for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns in two years, the 2023 first-round draft pick has flourished on the field as the sidekick in a dangerous duo with two-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson, who invited Addison earlier in the offseason to work out with him. 'Just talking to him and letting him know that, 'Hey, you need to be more vocal,'' Jefferson said during spring practice. 'He has that motivation and he's a great player as well, so people are going to listen to him as he speaks. Just trying to get him out of that shyness phase, or just being closed off and to himself, but I think he is getting better with that.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
Their Boise meeting was ‘life-altering.' The man responsible is going to prison
On June 29, 2024, Grace Routh and Rialin Flores — who didn't even know each other until that night — became intrinsically linked. Flores got a baby sitter for home and went out to dinner with her husband at Little Pearl Oyster Bar in downtown Boise to celebrate a new path after the end of an eight-year career with the Conservation Voters for Idaho. Routh met with family and friends to celebrate her brother's birthday at Green Acres Food Truck Park, off the Boise Greenbelt. They then decided to bike into the city, where Flores and Routh would meet each other for the first time at the Twilight Criterium, an annual cycling race near the Capitol. The women had a friend in common who thought they should get to know each other, as they're both breast cancer survivors. 'The irony that we were connected to find community through a shared trauma and tragedy, and shortly after our introduction, we went through a life-altering accident together,' Flores said in court Thursday at the sentencing for Jacob Miller, a drunken driver whose actions meant that neither of the women would even remember that night. Just after 9:30 p.m., as Flores and Routh crossed a Main Street intersection at the corner of 11th Street, they were struck by Miller, after he ran a red light going way faster than the speed limit, according to the Ada County Prosecutor's Office. His blood alcohol content was 0.214, or almost three times the legal limit of 0.08, court documents showed. Flores was thrown at least 15 feet after being hit, and Routh was stuck on the driver's car for several blocks, finally falling off when he swerved to avoid another vehicle. Miller never slowed down. He continued to drive through a busy downtown Boise, hitting curbs and other vehicles, narrowly avoiding a bicyclist and a pedestrian walking their dog. He finally crashed his black Volkswagen more than 3 miles away on a sidewalk off the intersection of Parkcenter Boulevard and Pennsylvania Street, where he was detained by four young men until police officers arrived. Prosecutors said he was 'combative' with officers during his arrest, and attempted to kick a nurse once he was transported to a hospital. Both women were severely injured, suffering traumatic brain injuries, multiple broken bones, lacerations and abrasions. They'd eventually learn about meeting each other and heal together through weeks of hospitalization, and then weeks of rehabilitation. Fourth Judicial District Judge Jason Scott called Miller's actions 'unbelievably dangerous and reckless' at the sentencing Thursday afternoon. He said he was surprised there weren't more than two people who suffered the consequences that Routh and Flores suffered, and he sentenced Miller to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 22 years. Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Tessie Buttram called the victims 'fierce and mighty' for what they've had to battle, both physically and mentally. 'They appear whole. They are undoubtedly brave, but they continue to have struggles as a result of Mr. Miller's conduct,' Buttram said. 'They're not back to 'normal,' as normal was for them on June the 29th before Mr. Miller struck them down. 'They have had to rebuild their bodies and their lives. They've had to work so hard to get to where they are today, and they will continue to have to work hard to overcome the physical, mental and psychological damage that Mr. Miller's selfish decisions cost them. 'They will forever live with the scars left from his criminal conduct,' Buttram added. There are drunk-driving crashes that cause serious injuries, the judge said, and then there are instances that are even worse, like this. Scott pointed to Miller's criminal history and the fact that he never stopped to help either of the women, and didn't even stop until he crashed. Because of all those factors, he decided to sentence the 47-year-old to something close to what the prosecution recommended, which was a minimum 30-year prison sentence. Miller pleaded guilty in April, through an agreement with the prosecution, to two felony counts of aggravated driving under the influence and an enhancement for being a persistent violator, a charge that can be added by the prosecution when someone has been convicted of at least three felonies. The violator charge adds at least another five years of prison time to a sentence, with a maximum of life in prison. Each of the DUI felonies carried a maximum punishment of 15 years in prison. Miller will receive credit for the 377 days he's already spent in custody at the Ada County Jail. Miller also could face up to a half-million dollars in restitution, Buttram said. The exact amount will be decided at a hearing on Oct. 20. When asked in court by Scott whether he'd like to make a statement, Miller said he would. He didn't look back at the women, keeping his eyes toward the courtroom, and in a soft, barely audible voice, he apologized to Routh and Flores, saying that he knew his decisions would impact the rest of their lives. Routh said Thursday that the incident has shown her that 'seemingly impossible circumstances are indeed survivable.' 'Mr. Miller, I don't hate you, and I hope that one day you can tell a story of redemption,' she said, adding that she hoped for his eventual recovery.
