Tag Archives: Death

A DUI increases suicide risk

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Huntington Beach Police Department Helicopter

Image by FrogMiller via Flickr

A 41-year-old veteran San Diego Police Officer, David Hall, committed suicide.  He had been battling alcoholism and was depressed because he believed he would lose his job for a DUI hit and run crash he was involved in earlier this year.

In the report, investigators say Officer Hall was specifically worried about an upcoming hearing regarding his DUI case.

And before his suicide he didnt leave behind a note. In fact, he didnt give his wife Michelle or three kids any indication he was about to shoot himself in the backyard.

Which he did at about 9:40 in the morning, as his kids slept inside their Linda Vista home.

He was found by his wife who heard the gunshot as she was about to drive off to work.

The report also shows Officer Hall had quit drinking for five months following his DUI crash, but for some reason he relapsed shortly before his suicide.

“More people commit suicide after a DUI arrest than any other kind of arrest including rape-murder, said Psychiatrist Dr. Clark Smith, who believes Officer Halls relapse played a big role in his suicide.

“Often people who are very depressed drink a lot more and both factors increase suicide risk, Clark said.

Michelle agreed that the DUI played a major role in her husbands suicide.

“We went through such a tremendous ordeal in the last seven months, she said. “He knew what he did was wrong with the DUI and he was trying to fix his life by going to Alcoholics Anonymous, and in the end he felt like he had no other option.

Michelle also blames her husbands suicide on certain members of the media who she says hounded her family about the DUI case.

And she blames the D-As office saying, “I think the District Attorney was out to make an example of him. Sad.  But as a Los Angeles DUI lawyer, I see this too often.

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Fountain Valley Police Department Stages Mock DUI accident

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As Orange County DUI Lawyers, we get lots of press releases, and this one I was tempted to write off as an April Fool’s Joke.  Federal funds to the police department for snarling up traffic with a fake DUI accident?  Here’s the release sent to us:

On Thursday April 1 and Friday April 2, 2010, the Fountain Valley Police Department and Fountain Valley High School will present the “Every Fifteen Minutes” program to the junior and senior classes. This two-day program focuses on personal safety, drinking and driving and the potential consequences of poor decision-making. The program name was derived from statistics which show that approximately every 15 minutes someone in the United States dies or is seriously injured in an alcohol related traffic accident. The goal of the program is to reduce alcohol related traffic collisions in our community. The “Every 15 Minutes” program is presented prior to spring break, prom and graduation ceremonies, which makes it a timely event.

On Thursday, April 1st at 10:15 a.m., a fatal alcohol related traffic accident will be re-enacted. This will take place at Bushard and El Camino streets in front of Fountain Valley High School. The Fountain Valley Police and Fire Departments, Orange County Coroner’s office, C.A.R.E. Ambulance and other agencies will participate in the re-enactment. The injured parties will be transported to a local hospital and the fatality will be transported to the Coroner’s Office. The person responsible for the accident will be arrested and booked at the Fountain Valley Police Department.

Prior to the traffic accident re-enactment, 27 students will be removed from classes by the Grim Reaper at 15-minute intervals. The Grim Reaper will appear in classrooms around the campus and a Police Officer and a Police Chaplain will read the mock obituaries for the ‘living dead’. As this occurs on campus Police Officers and a Police Chaplain will deliver death notifications to the parents of the victims. Although the parents know that this is a staged event the emotional impact of the notifications has proved to be overwhelming to those involved.

On Friday, April 2nd at 9:15 a.m. a school assembly will take place. The entire junior and senior class will be involved. Gary Zelesky, a nationally known motivational speaker will address the students. Police Chief Paul A. Sorrell will also be present. There will be a video presentation of the events surrounding the traffic accident from the day prior. The ‘living dead’, as the accident victims are referred to, will be reunited with their families and several of them will speak at the assembly. This has proven to be another very emotionally charged part of the program.

Due to street closures in the area of this event it is recommended that the press arrive 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the program.

Sergeant Eric Orahood

(714) 593-4472

*Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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