Around 2:00 a.m. on January 13, a drunk driver’s $385,000 Ferrari joyride suddenly went south—forty feet south—by going over a cliff into a West Austin ravine. A witness statement says that the limited production 458 Italia appeared to be speeding over 100 mph before the crash. The twenty-eight-year-old driver missed a turn by a bridge while traveling on Red Bud Trail heading toward Westlake Drive, went airborne, and then plunged.
By some stroke of good fortune, the Austin Fire Department found all three occupants from the mangled two-seat hotrod alive with only minor injuries. The car had stopped on its side, and all of the people involved are expected to make a full recovery.
While this was thankfully just a single-car collision, it does go a long way toward demonstrating the dangers presented by drunk driving—whether you’re a passenger in the drunk driver’s car or simply have the misfortune of sharing the road with them.
People who drink and drive often believe that they’re “good at it,” with some getting behind the wheel while drunk hundreds of times before being arrested. But really, they’ve just been lucky that they haven’t destroyed anyone’s life yet. Had this not been a single-car crash, and had the red sports car made impact with another vehicle, the results would’ve been catastrophic.
According to many sources, the majority of people who have had their license suspended due to a DWI conviction continue to get behind the wheel and put others at risk. In fact, by some estimates, a drunk driving accident occurs approximately once every two minutes. With these alarming numbers, it’s important for everyone to drive defensively, and to help discourage drinking and driving with people they know.
Additionally, the Ferrari driver in this case falls within the top-risk age group of people aged twenty-six to twenty-nine. These drivers rack up 20 percent of total drunk driving offenses. However, most fatalities occur with drunk drivers aged twenty to twenty-four.
It’s common knowledge that alcohol makes reaction times slower and clouds judgment, but it also inhibits a myriad of small signals the brain employs to process all of the information that comes while on the road. This includes impairing visual search and image detection—possibly why this driver missed the turn.
Additionally, the ridiculously fast speed that the Ferrari was going would have required increased reaction and stopping time. With the known fatal risk of drunk driving, it all adds up to a flagrant disregard for the laws that keep Texans safe. This driver could be accused of reckless endangerment, and had there been a crash, could be held responsible for the personal injury or death of anyone involved.
When drunk drivers destroy lives or when drivers act irresponsibly, Colley & Colley, LLP work hard to put the full force of our legal expertise behind each case. We use our decades of experience to seek the highest settlements and awards for our clients. Please call us for a free consultation and learn what we can do for you. To get started, simply call 1-877-411-2001 or submit the form on this page.
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