A man barely survived an Austin drunk driving accident while pumping gas off of South I-35. According to the arrest report, the drunk driver was swerving and accelerating erratically on the I-35 frontage road when he made a sharp turn to avoid the concrete divider. The driver then struck a light pole and smashed into the victim, pinning him against his car. The crash fractured the man’s pelvis and damaged his lungs. The man’s girlfriend, who was waiting in the front seat of their car, also sustained injuries, but both survived.
The report went on to say the driver’s eyes were bloodshot and his speech was so slurred, police could not understand him. His blood alcohol content measured at 0.242, which is roughly three times the legal limit.
What to Do If You’re On the Road with a Drunk Driver
The Austin Police Department (APD) has made more than 3,000 drunk driving arrests so far this year. Last year, there were 5,800 total drunk driving arrests. When an intoxicated person makes the decision to get behind the wheel, they are putting everyone around them at risk. However, there are signs indicating when a person is driving while intoxicated, including:
- Quickly accelerating or braking
- Tailgating other drivers
- Swerving in their lane
- Close calls with curbs, objects or other cars
- Driving in the wrong direction
- Driving with the headlights off at night
- Driving not consistent with signals
- Abrupt turns
If you see a driver exhibiting any of these behaviors, try to stay as far away from them as possible. Do not engage with them by passing them or signaling for the possibly drunk driver to pull over, as this puts you at risk for a car crash. Instead, note the details of the vehicle, including the license plate number, make, model, and color. Lastly, pull over to a safe location and call the local police so that they can hopefully get this driver off the road.
The Law Offices of Aaron Allison is a personal injury law firm that fights for those injured by drunk drivers in the Austin area.
