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Wrong-way driver kills four Eastern Illinois University college students

By Steve Lombardi

Four Eastern Illinois University college students were killed and another, the driver, survived from a wrong-way crash involving a Sunset Hills Police Officer. The officer was off-duty at the time although officers are never per se completely off duty. Officially officers are only off-duty if they do something really stupid or wrong; otherwise, like if they shoot someone, they are always officially on duty. The report is sketchy at best and there is no indication in the news report if alcohol is involved on the part of the officer. Police did say they suspect alcohol might have been involved. Cough-cough!

This accident occurred this past Saturday morning; how long does it take to draw and test blood for BAC? Don't hide it; come clean. We've just done a week series, courtesy of The Oregonian, discussing the death of a volunteer firefighter, Shannon Halvorson. Her dad telephoned me from Oregon because I'd posted a short clip about Shannon when discussing teen drinking and where it can lead. Serious consequences can result from excessive drinking. Shannon ended up dead; other volunteer firefighters misled investigators about how she died and Shannon's son is left with questions about how his mother died and why. There are unanswered questions from the Halverson case and I'm awaiting deposition testimony to review so I can draw my own conclusions. But one big question that the county attorney and the medical examiner need to answer is, what happened to the blood that was drawn from Shannon's dead body?

As every lawyer knows, no blood - then no proof of what was in the blood. Alcohol? Drugs? Date rape drugs? They all disappear when the blood sample can't be located. So where is Shannon's blood? Who has it or who destroyed it? Where is the report of the testing? Who did the testing? Who is hiding what, why and who is being protected? The attorneys in the County Attorney's office and the Medical Examiner need to act like professionals to clear the air.

One piece of evidence that should still be present, even after the vial of blood disappears, would be the record of the chain of custody. Where is the record showing the chain of custody? There should be names of people who drew the blood, stored the blood, checked it out to deliver it for testing, a name of the person who received the blood at the lab, etc. There are names and who are they? Why not publish those names? Make them available to the media and available for questioning.

In the instant case, one in which four students on spring break are killed, the parents and loved ones need closure. Destroying or failing to gather evidence isn't a way to gain closure; nor is it a way to build credibility in the system of government. If you doubt me just ask Shannon Halvorson's father. He's still chasing demons over the unnecessary death of his daughter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC52r4h2KkA

These students were on spring break in St. Louis, probably wanting to see the arch and take in some jazz music.

• The more of these wrong-way accident news reports that I read the more it's apparent that alcohol is involved in most wrong-way collisions. Know this, statistics will show this statement to be accurate; alcohol is involved in most wrong-way accidents.

All Eastern Illinois University students were from India and are being flown back home. A video is available with KSDK from St. Louis. We extend our condolences to their families.

http://www.ksdk.com/video/default.aspx?maven_playerId=immersiveplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=23621c078e12728197ba4651acd788ca140d33dc&maven_referralObject=1068915371

http://www.ksdk.com/video/default.aspx?maven_playerId=immersiveplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=23621c078e12728197ba4651acd788ca140d33dc&maven_referralObject=1069880481

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on March 28, 2009 (boomark / email).