Fort Lauderdale DUI Accident: Former NY Yankee Charged with Manslaughter Checked into Broward Hospital
The Miami Herald reported that former New York Yankees hitter Jim Leyritz checked himself into a Broward Hospital for stress last week. Leyritz is awaiting trial on DUI manslaughter charges resulting from his involvement in a fatal Fort Lauderdale car crash that killed a Florida woman.
In December 2007, Leyritz was driving in downtown Fort Lauderdale when he reportedly failed to heed a red light and collided with Fredia Veitch at Southwest Seventh Avenue and Second Street. Veitch, age 30, was killed. News reports state that both Leyritz and Veitch had blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels that exceeded the legal Florida state limit of 0.08 percent.
News reports state that Leyritz had been ordered to use a Breathalyzer monitoring device when starting his car, while he awaits trial. He reportedly checked himself into Memorial Regional Hospital West in Pembroke Pines, Florida, last Weds., after becoming distraught over failing the Breathalyzer. Leyritz provided a urine sample which disputed the Breathalyzer results. A Broward County judged agreed with Leyritz that the monitoring device most likely malfunctioned when it showed alcohol in his system, and no penalties will be leveled against the ex-Major League slugger. Leyritz was released from the hospital the day after he admitted himself. No date has been set for Leyritz's DUI trial.
U.S. and Florida Drunk Driving Statistics
Fort Lauderdale accident lawyers work with bereaved families who have lost a loved one or who have suffered personal injury due to alcohol-impaired driving motor vehicle accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2007 in the United States, 12,998 people died in alcohol impaired motor vehicle crashes -- which amounts to 32 percent of all motor vehicle accident fatalities in this country.
In Florida, for 2007, of the 3,214 total traffic accident fatalities, 890 or 28% percent involved drivers and motorcyclist riders with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels at or above the legal state limit of .08 %, and 1,078 deaths involved motorists with BACs at .01+, which amounts to 34% of all fatal Florida traffic accidents.
Broward judge says alcohol monitor likely malfunctioned for ex-Yankee Jim Leyritz
PalmBeachPost.com May 16, 2009
Jim Leyritz checks into Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood
MiamiHerald.com May 15, 2009
Related Web Resources
NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2007: State Alcohol Impaired Driving Estimates (PDF)
