December 6, 2011

Another Christopher Newport University student has died from injuries sustained during a head-on collision on Interstate 64 Sunday. A Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling the wrong way down I-64 in Hampton and crashed into a Ford Taurus, carrying several students, head-on.

Kimberley Brin died Monday at the Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, a day after her roommate, Sierra Smith who was in the same vehicle, died at the scene of the accident.

Three others in their vehicle, Laval Noel, Deno Rich, and Emani Wade were taken to the hospital.  Emani Wade, also a CNU student, is currently in serious but stable condition. 

The driver of the Chevrolet Tahoe, Jesse Leon Evans, was traveling the wrong way down the interstate and collided with the Taurus around 3a.m. Sunday.  Police say that alcohol was a contributing factor, and that Evans had an upcoming court date this month for previous DUI related charges.

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It's a tragedy to see such bright young students lose their lives at the hands of a negligent and irresponsible driver who decided to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. 

DUI is one of the leading causes of accidents and deaths on America’s roads. In 2006 alcohol was involved in a full 41% of all fatalities, with 39% of fatalities in the State of Virginia caused by alcohol consumption. It’s so bad that experts estimate that an alcohol related fatality occurs approximately every 32 minutes. Drivers who think that they can get away with having just a drink or two are sorely mistaken. Statistics show that 14% of deaths involved a low blood-alcohol level of between 0.01 and 0.07 BAC, with the remaining alcohol related deaths are attributed to blood alcohol levels of 0.08 and above. If you think that these statistics don’t affect you, then you’re wrong. Federal estimates reveal that 1 in 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol related accident sometime in their lives.