UPDATE: Driver Was Drunk And On Heroin At Time Of Tuesday’s Fatal Crash, Police Say

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thomas Gallagher Jr., according to officials and court records, was pressing his luck for years.

A decade-long history of alcohol-related legal troubles — including two DUI charges — weren’t stopping him from getting behind the wheel.

His own passengers, it was learned Thursday, were pleading with him to pull over Tuesday prior to a crash in West Lampeter that killed Meredith Demko, a recent high school graduate.

On Thursday afternoon, police filed additional charges of vehicular homicide while DUI. Gallagher’s blood-alcohol level was about three times the state’s legal limit at the time of the crash, documents show.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/lampeterstrasburg/news/update-driver-was-drunk-and-on-heroin-at-time-of/article_ba0f8728-0848-11e4-b1b6-0017a43b2370.html

Police Say They Arrested A Fellow Cop For Driving Drunk After He Shows Up To Work Intoxicated

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Allegheny County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Pittsburgh police charged a city cop with driving drunk after he showed up to work glassy-eyed late Friday night, and a breath test showed a blood-alcohol level exceeding the legal limit.

Police charged Vernon Gibson, 38, of Southern Avenue in Mt. Washington, with two counts of driving under the influence. Gibson was taken home and told he would receive a summons.

A city police sergeant met Gibson when he arrived to work a shift at the Municipal Courts Building, Downtown, shortly after 11 p.m., according to court documents.

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/5213342-74/gibson-police-alcohol#ixzz2mohbkGkd
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Off-Duty Bethlehem Police Officer Charged With DUI After Crash

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An off-duty Bethlehem police officer was charged Wednesday with drunken driving, six days after he flipped his sport utility vehicle and crashed into three parked cars, according to city police.

Richard M. Hoffman, 34, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.16 percent, twice the state’s legal limit to drive, and admitted he had been drinking before he plowed into the cars at East Broad and High streets, police said.

Although the crash happened early in the morning of Aug. 8, Bethlehem police officials released no details about the crash until Wednesday, saying they needed the complete accident report before filing charges.

Hoffman is on paid administrative suspension with the department pending the outcome of the criminal charges against him, which include the highest rate of drunken driving, drunken driving and careless driving, according to police Chief Jason Schiffer. Police are also conducting an internal investigation, Schiffer said.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-t-bethlehem-police-officer-dui-crash-richard-ho-20130814,0,542254.story#ixzz2bzsFJTlX
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Grand Jury To Probe Bathtub Death

A grand jury will investigate the death of Julia Papazian Law, the 26-year-old paralegal found dead in a bathtub in her boss’ Center City apartment last month.

Word of the inquiry came as toxicology tests revealed that at the time of her death, Law had a blood-alcohol level higher than 0.40 percent – five times the threshold for legal intoxication, according to court sources. Medical experts say a blood-alcohol content of 0.35 percent or greater may be fatal.

The District Attorney’s Office confirmed Friday that it had asked for the grand jury probe, but declined to elaborate.

Law, who worked for high-profile defense lawyer A. Charles Peruto Jr., was found facedown in his tub on May 25.

Peruto, 58, who described Law as his girlfriend, told police he was in Avalon, N.J., on the night she died. He said he learned of her death from a maintenance worker who found her body in Peruto’s Rittenhouse Square apartment.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20130608_Grand_jury_to_probe_bathtub_death.html#fu7x6vMTOwwOYFpw.99

Amy Winehouse Cause Of Death Released

A British coroner ruled that Amy Winehouse died of accidental alcohol poisoning.  “Death by misadventure” was the result of having a blood alcohol level five times over the legal drunk-driving limit.  Ms. Winehouse had “fallen off the wagon” shortly before her death and had begun drinking heavily after a period of sobriety.  Ms. Winehouse was 27-years-old.

Land Rover Crashes Into State College Arby’s Going 60 MPH – Driver Suspected Of DUI

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Seriously, driving through State College Borough going 60 mph!  Are ya daft!?! 

A 28-year-old Ferguson Township man was driving down South Atherton Street (Business Route 322) and attempted to turn right on West College Avenue (Route 26) going 60 mph!  The “driver” lost control of his Land Rover, jumped a curb, crashed through a metal rail, a cement pillar, the side door and a window before coming to a stop.  Are we trying out for the Demolition Derby?

Thankfully, the restaurant was closed (it was 2:45 a.m.) or this would have been a catastrophe!  There was a passenger in the car who was treated for minor injuries.

The “driver” failed a field sobriety test (say it ain’t so Joe) and was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center for a blood-alcohol test.  The driver will be charged with a DUI and reckless driving.

Arby’s will be closed until next week and the part of the building which was impacted by the vehicle was ruled structurally questionable and will need extensive repairs!  Imagine if that restaurant had been full of customers!  This bone-head should be throw in jail and not allowed to pass go!