An intoxicated Kentucky couple was recently involved in a DUI crash, which disturbed a hive of yellow jacket bees that eventually attacked them.
Noah Elkins, 36, and Priscilla Simpson, 35, were driving through Laurel County when they hit a utility pole, which awoke an angry swarm of bees. When the deputies arrived on the scene, they say they found Elkins spraying himself with a water hose in a resident’s yard. Simpson was stung as well. They were taken to St. Joseph Hospital London for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash and numerous bee stings.
Elkins was charged with DUI after being under the influence of several drugs specifically Klonopin, Neurotin, and Suboxone. Simpson, on the other hand, was charged with public intoxication.
Statistics
- Every two minutes, a person is injured in a drunk driving crash.
- Drivers aged 26 to 29 have the highest rate of drunk driving.
- Every day in this country, another 27 people die due to drunk driving crashes.
- A survey revealed that 22 percent of drivers tested positive for some type of illegal drug when pulled over.
- It is estimated that 17 to 27 percent of drunk drivers have also used drugs while driving.
- Alcohol and marijuana are the substances most often found in drivers’ blood after a crash.
Drugged Driving in Kentucky
The latest AAA survey revealed that more motorists in the Tristate area view drugged driving as a more major safety threat than drunken driving. Motorists from Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, shared their sentiments about drugged driving as a safety concern. Nearly 75 percent of them said that the use of illegal drugs before driving was a “very serious threat” to their safety.
In Kentucky, it is prohibited to operate a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration of or above 0.08, or of or above 0.02 for persons under age 21, or while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or other substance that impairs driving ability. Motorists who will violate the law have to face several penalties including license suspension, fine, imprisonment, and community labor.
As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I am alarmed at the recent figures related to drugged driving. I hope that our state and local leaders will find out effective strategies in reducing drugged driving injuries and deaths. And of course, I urge all Kentucky motorists to adhere to our existing laws. This is not just for our safety but also the safety of our families, friends, and community.