Drugged Driving is Dangerous
Tomeka Charee Harris, twenty nine-year old of Fullerton was sentenced to six years in prison for killing her boyfriend and her daughter in a car crash last Jan. 12, 2008.
The high speed car crash on the 91 freeway in Fullerton killed 27 year old Alfred Flores and Zharia Keheian, who was turning two years old the following day. Harris fell asleep while was driving under the influence of methamphetamine.
Her Mitsubishi SUV went through a fence while exiting the East Street off-ramp and crashed into a steel utility pole. Alfred and Zharia suffered serious head injuries before they died.
Harris has pled guilty to two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter by unlawful act and gross negligence while intoxicated.
Driving under the influence, whether the driver is intoxicated with alcohol or drugs, is illegal in California.
While drunk driving may seem more prevalent than driving under the influence of drugs, there are just as many substance abusers as there are drinkers.
In fact, according to a 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 10 million people age 12 and older admitted to driving under the influence of illicit drugs.
Drugged driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Drugs can alter perception, cognition, attention, balance, coordination, reaction time, and other skills necessary to drive safely. Even the use of prescription medication prior to driving can dangerously impair driving ability.
Tags: high speed car crash
