New York Lawmaker Alleged of Causing the DWI Crash, Blames on His Wife
A New York assemblyman, Republican Brian Kolb, was accused of blaming his wife for a drunk driving accident involving his publicly-owned car. According to court papers, a tow truck driver found the vehicle in a ditch close to the assemblyman’s house on New Year’s Eve.
Details of the Lawmaker’s DWI Arrest
Since the discovery of his transgression, Kolb has resigned as the Assembly Minority leader. Breathalyzer test records revealed that the Ontario County born Republican had .16% alcohol content in his blood, twice the legal limit.
According to USA Today, the tow truck driver stated that after arriving to the scene at 9:50 p.m., he spoke the assemblyman. alongside the GMC Acadia. He told police Kolb mumbled and slurred his words as he tried to blame the crash on his innocent wife.
In his statement, Michael Scoville testified that Kolb said his wife was the one driving, saying “You know how women drive.”
Kolb’s car had hit a guy wire, thereby making it a property damage accident. An Ontario County Deputy deposition described how the vehicle drove into the driveway and coasted off the driveway’s edge, down into a ditch.
The Ontario County Deputy further reports that while speaking to Kolb, he noticed that the assemblyman had dazed eyes, inaudible speech, and a strong alcoholic stench from his breath. Also, he was unsteady on his feet.
Kolb informed the deputy that he drank over four cocktails back at Eire Grill, which was 15 miles away from his residence. He orally admitted driving a motor vehicle. Subsequently, officials took him to Ontario County Jail for a breathalyzer test.
Assembly Member Step Down
A day after the crash occurred, Kolb finally admitted to being responsible for the crash and apologized in a statement. In his statement, he acknowledged the crash was as a result of a terrible misjudgment, one which he urges other people not to make.
Ironically, Kolb’s arrest happened a few days after he wrote a statement in The Daily Messenger during the holidays, urging New Yorkers to drive safely and not drive drunk.
Kolb has announced his decision to step down as the assembly’s minority head. However, he will retain his seat as an Assemblyman. Stating his reasons for his decision, Kolb noted that he was stepping down as minority leader because he always put the best interests of the conference at heart. He also noted that he would seek help professionally to heal and address the problem he and his family face.
Avoiding Drunk Drivers
Kolb’s reckless act could have killed several people. Fortunately, it didn’t. However, you might find yourself in a situation involving a drunk driver. To make matters worse, you might not realize that such a driver is intoxicated. To avoid such dangerous situations, keep the following in mind as a means of detecting drunk drivers:
- Driving wide turns
- Prolonged speed driving
- Driving aimlessly
- Stopping without any justifiable reason.
- Not responding fast enough to traffic lights.
- Driving on the wrong lane of the road.
Avoiding Drunk Driving Crashes
The following are the recommended solutions to prevent being involved in drunk driving crashes:
- Do get into the same vehicle with a drunk driver
- Do not drink alcohol when you go out alone. Instead, take a non-alcoholic beverage as an alternative.
- When drunk and you’re about heading home or a particular destination, order a taxi, Uber or Lyft.
- If you intend on drinking, drink responsibly and appropriately
- If riding with a group of people predominantly drunk, designate the sober person amongst you to drive.
Contact an Experienced Drunk Driving Lawyer
While your insurance company may be more than willing to help you after your automobile accident, you should remember that although insurance companies will provide some type of financial support, they may not always give you what you deserve. There are many times when a drunk driver has no insurance and you, the victim, are left without a way to pay for your injuries. Even if the negligent driver does have insurance, you may not get enough money to pay for your medical treatment and other expenses.
Our experienced team of injury attorneys will make sure you get the compensation you deserve for the injuries you incurred. We are available 24/7, nights and weekends to provide you with a free case review. Contact Thomas J. Henry today if you were injured by a drunk driver. Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Austin, serving clients across Texas and nationwide.
