Driver charged with DUI Marijuana after deadly crash in Vancouver

[Locutus]

via Fark

And the surge in fatal DUI marijuana crashes in Washington state begins

VANCOUVER, WA (KPTV) -

The Vancouver Police Department arrested a man on the charge of driving under the influence of marijuana in connection with a deadly crash in Vancouver.


Investigators said the driver hit and killed a pedestrian around 5:50 p.m. on East Mill Plain Boulevard and Andresen Road.

Police say the victim, a male in his 50's, was believed to be walking back from Safeway and stepped out into the middle of traffic.

The driver, Scotty Rowles, was driving westbound on East Mill Plain Boulevard and could not stop his car in time, according to police.

Detectives says Rowles cooperated with the investigation, but after interviewing him they determined there was enough evidence to arrest him on suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana.

Police believe this is the first deadly crash involving the drug since it became legal in the state of Washington.

Police say the victim was close to two different lit and controlled intersections, but chose to step out into the middle of traffic, which would clearly put him at fault.

However, because Rowles was believed to be under the influence of marijuana, Washington State law says he is technically at fault, according to police.

While it may now be legal to smoke marijuana in the state of Washington, police say it is never legal to smoke it and then get behind the wheel.

The victim's ID will be released after police notify his family.



Driver charged with DUI Marijuana after deadly Vancouver crash - KPTV - FOX 12



I don't care what you hip coolsters smoke, just do the rest of us a favor and stay home, eat cheetos and laff at the wallpaper. You be cool at home ok. Leave the driving and heavy machinery to the rest of us. Peace and Festivus.

 

[SLM]

Police say the victim, a male in his 50's, was believed to be walking back from Safeway and stepped out into the middle of traffic.

?????

That said, if you're going to toke and drive don't be using the low grade ****. You need to be sufficiently paranoid behind the wheel.

Kidding. Stay at home, eat cheetos, what Loc said.

 

[shadowshiv]

I suspect that in the end, due to the specific circumstances in this case, the driver won't end up with an overly-long sentence. Of course, you never can tell! If this had happened in Canada, he probably would have ended up with a suspended sentence or something similar.

 

[damngrumpy]

Its not the pot law to blame here its a bad decision by someone who chose to get
behind the wheel and drive truly sad two lives ruined because of a lack of judgement

 

[shadowshiv]

Its not the pot law to blame here its a bad decision by someone who chose to get
behind the wheel and drive truly sad two lives ruined because of a lack of judgement

By no means am I supporting the driver's decision to get behind the wheel while impaired, but surely some of the blame should be placed to the man who stepped into the middle of traffic(some pedestrians do believe that they have the right-a-way and will walk across a busy street expecting traffic to stop for them). Even a stone-cold sober person would probably have hit the guy.