Veteran Policeman Killed in DWI Accident

A veteran New York police officer was killed in a grisly highway accident in Long Island, New York this past Monday.  Andre Menzies, who was off duty at the time, was driving just after midnight when his Honda was struck by a Chevy van heading the wrong direction down a local highway.  The van's driver, 50-year-old Brooklyn resident Michael Bowen was given a field sobriety test by local law enforcement officers at the scene, which he failed.  Police reports indicated that Bowen's blood alcohol concentration was .25%, more than three times the state's legal limit of .08%.  Bowen was promptly arrested and is being charged with driving while intoxicated, as well as reckless driving.  Bowen is reportedly pleading not guilty, and was ordered to surrender his passport.

While this horrific accident occurred in New York, Los Angeles is no less immune to people driving under the influence of alcohol.  And, as in New York, problems can and do arise with blood alcohol science.  If you have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) or, like Michael Bowen, driving while intoxicated (DWI), the first thing you need to do is contact an experienced and skilled Los Angeles DUI defense attorney. 

At Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP, our Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys know the blood alcohol content and test results are not the sole determining factors in being convicted of DUI or DWI.  Because people have different body weights, tolerance to alcohol and metabolisms, no two people absorb alcohol at exactly the same rate.  While Bowen's blood alcohol content test indicated that he was intoxicated, he may not have actually been intoxicated at the time of the accident.  For example, had he had several drinks just before getting into his car and the accident occurred just a few minutes later, the last few drinks may still have not been absorbed into his blood stream.  If, however, local law enforcement agents waited another hour before they tested his blood for alcohol, some or all of those last several drinks may have finally worked their way into Bowen's blood stream where the alcohol could actually impair his judgment, reaction times, and, ultimately, his driving abilities.  An experienced  Los Angeles DUI defense attorney knows that little pieces of information like this can make or break many DUI or DWI cases.  Call the  Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today at 1-877-781-1570 today to begin preparing your defense.