DRUNK DRIVING

It was a bizarre scene that first started in a gas station parking lot, with the driver nearly running several people over. That driver then led Utica police on a chase and, at one point, started ramming their patrol cars.

The National Safety Council estimates that 408 people may die from drunk driving from Dec. 30 through Jan. 2, 2023.

The AAA is once again working to keep impaired drivers off the road during the holiday season through its Tow to Go program.

A 24-year-old man has been charged with drunk driving in an early-morning crash that killed one passenger and injured another earlier this week in Novi.

A Roseville woman has been arrested for impaired driving, and child endangerment officials say.

Police believe a mother driving a minivan that crashed with another vehicle and a barricade on Southfield Freeway, killing a toddler and injuring an infant, was driving drunk.

A Lyft driver was arrested in Troy earlier this month for drinking and driving while on the job, authorities reported Friday.

An Oakland County man was seriously injured after an apparent drunk driver hit his vehicle on I-75 on Northern Michigan on Thursday evening.

A drunken driver from Taylor crossed the median of Telegraph Road and crashed on the lawn of a Michigan State Police post, officials said.

Michigan state Rep. Mary Cavanagh on Friday was sentenced to probation and assigned fines after pleading guilty to a drunk driving charge out of Livonia.

Michigan state Rep. Mary Cavanagh is set to be sentenced Friday on a drunk driving charge out of Livonia in February.

Staff members at Madison High School jumped into action on Tuesday when a driver crashed their vehicle just outside the school, and that vehicle caught fire.

Two Michigan State Police troopers were hospitalized overnight when a drunken driver from Oak Park crashed into their patrol car while they were at the scene of a crash, officials said.

Michigan Representative Mary Cavanagh pleaded guilty Wednesday to a drunk driving charge after being arrested in Livonia in February.

Police have shared body cam footage of the arrest of Michigan state Representative Mary Cavanagh, who is accused of drunk driving back in February.

Michigan Rep. Mary Cavanagh is facing a drunken driving charge after she was arrested in Livonia by an officer who saw her swerving around a highway with two flat tires, according to authorities.

A Michigan State Police trooper has been suspended after he struck a handcuffed drunken driving suspect in the face, officials said.

A Troy woman’s breath test revealed she was driving with a blood-alcohol content more than four times the legal limit on St. Patrick’s Day, according to police.

Body camera video shows the arrest of a Riverview City Council member.

If you’ve had too much to drink and are in need of a last-minute ride this holiday season, the American Automobile Association (AAA) is offering free tows to people in Michigan.

When a family of five from Northville was killed by a drunk driver, the sister of one of the victims decided to make meaningful change in their honor.

When a family of five from Northville was killed by a drunk driver, the sister of one of the victims decided to make meaningful change in their honor.

A newly-elected Downriver city councilman is facing charges in a car crash that occurred less than 24 hours after he was elected.

Michigan Rep. Jewell Jones has be released from the Livingston County Jail, where he was since mid-September when a judge revoked his bond for violations.

Michigan Rep. Jewell Jones is expected to be released from the Livingston County Jail, where has has been since mid-September, when a judge revoked his bond for violations.

A “highly intoxicated” man was arrested over the weekend after a Sterling Heights police officer saw him driving the wrong direction on three tire rims, officials said.

Ali Hammoud said he can’t go on defending Jones, claiming there was a “breakdown in the relationship.”

Jones was sentenced to jail Tuesday after he was accused of violating his bond a third time.

"Action must be taken to protect the public’s interest," said Speaker of the House Jason Wentworth.

Michigan State Rep. Jewell Jones (D-Inkster) brought a handcuff key with him into jail this week.

According to the Michigan State Police, more than 40% of all fatal crashes in 2020 involved alcohol or drugs.

A pregnant woman was rushed to the hospital following a head-on crash Monday in West Bloomfield Township.

Police in Clawson said drunk driving has gotten out of control.

A Sterling Heights man told police, “Man, I’m drunk,” after initially denying he had consumed alcohol when they found him asleep behind the wheel of a running pickup truck in the Taco Bell drive-thru, officials said.

A plan to crack down on drunk driving is advancing in U.S. Congress.

The U.S. House passed new provisions that would require drunk driving prevention technology to be installed as safety equipment in new cars.

State Rep. Jewell Jones was in front of a judge Thursday, accused of violating his bond after his suspected DUI arrest in April.

Police said the man jumped out of the vehicle and fled the scene, but a police cruiser in the area was able to take him into custody.

Newly released traffic data shows increases in fatalities in vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian involved incidents in Michigan in 2020, despite a drop in total crashes.

A former Michigan State University police captain has been charged after she was arrested in February for drunk driving, according to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.

Police have identified the man who drove all the way from North Carolina to see a woman he met online only to be found passed out drunk in Port Huron with four loaded guns, drugs and his 11-year-old son in the car, authorities said.

A man who drove all the way from North Carolina to see a woman he met online was found passed out drunk in Port Huron with four loaded guns, drugs and his 11-year-old son in the car, authorities said.

A Detroit man is accused of driving drunk on I-75 with his 10-year-old son in the passenger seat of the pickup, police said.

Police have released video of State Rep. Jewell Jones being booked at the Livingston County Jail in Howell after his April 6 crash on I-96.

It’s been more than two years since a drunk driver took the lives of a Metro Detroit family.

The video captures police taking Jones to the ground as they continue to struggle with him.

A new report from the Michigan State Police claims state Representative Jewell Jones threatened to call Gov. Gretchen Whitmer during his April 6 arrest on I-96.

An anonymous call alleging that a driver could be drunk wasn’t enough for police to make a traffic stop in Huron County in Michigan's Thumb.

Michigan state Representative Jewell Jones was arraigned Friday on several charges in connection with a collision in Fowlerville.

Michigan state representative Jewell Jones is facing several charges in connection with a collision in Fowlerville last week.

A multi-vehicle crash involving former Eastern Michigan University track star and Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Boaz Cheboiywo resulted in the death of a 38-year-old wife and mother of two.

Royal Oak police said a mother was drunk and slurring her speech after crashing into another vehicle with her 9-year-old child and an open beer in the car.

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, members of Congress reintroduced legislation to reduce drunk driving deaths across the country. The legislation, Honoring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate (HALT) Drunk Driving Act, will require the commercialization and standards for advanced drunk driving prevention technology systems in all new cars. Two years ago, Dingell honored their lives on the house floor and pledged action to reduce drunk driving crashes. The HALT Drunk Driving Act will make our roads safer, and will help us bring an end to the trauma of drunk driving deaths and injuries in this country.”MADD National President Alex Otte has spoken out in support if the bill. Read more on the HALT Drunk Driving Act

The trooper's damaged vehicle that was struck on March 17, 2021. ANN ARBOR – A Michigan State Police trooper’s vehicle was struck by a passing car on Wednesday when the officer was about to exit the patrol car. The officer was about to perform a traffic stop on E/B M-14 near Barton Drive at 9:45 p.m. when the incident occurred. During that traffic stop, it was revealed that the 31-year-old Ann Arbor man was intoxicated. He admitted to troopers that he was aware he struck a patrol car but decided to keep driving.

Authorities said a Michigan State University police captain had a blood alcohol level of 0.25 when she was arrested for drunk driving. Valerie O’Brien was arrested on Feb. 10 after a Michigan State Police trooper pulled her over just off Interstate 96 west of Lansing. A video shows O’Brien yelling at the trooper that she was going to sue him. WILX-TV, which first obtained the video, reported that O’Brien is on paid leave since her arrest. READ MORE:Everything we know about the recent drunk driving incidents involving Detroit firefightersAdWoman speaks out after car struck by Detroit fire engine driven by firefighter accused of being drunkFormer southeast Michigan judge David Parrott loses appeal in drunk driving caseRidesharing services linked to increase in binge drinking, study says

Former Detroit Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi was arrested Feb. 27 on suspicion of driving while under the influence, according to reports. Bertuzzi, 46, is the uncle of current Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi. He played parts of six seasons with the Red Wings until retiring after the the 2013-14 season. AdBertuzzi first joined the Red Wings in 2007, then signed a contract with the Anaheim Ducks in the offseason. February 2016: Todd Bertuzzi coaches local midget minor team

(Biden Inaugural Committee via AP)HIGHLANDS, N.J. – Bruce Springsteen is facing a drunken driving charge in New Jersey, prompting Jeep to put on pause the Super Bowl television commercial that features him. Springsteen was arrested Nov. 14 in a part of the Gateway National Recreation Area on the New Jersey coast, a spokesperson for the National Park Service confirmed Wednesday. Springsteen received citations for driving while under the influence, reckless driving and consuming alcohol in a closed area. While during Sunday's Super Bowl, he appeared in a Jeep ad filmed in Kansas that urged people to find common ground. But the company said, “it’s also right that we pause our Big Game commercial until the actual facts can be established."

DETROIT – Former southeast Michigan judge, David Parrott, is fighting to the bitter end to remake Michigan drunk driving law. A Manistee County sheriff’s deputy arrested Parrott over the holidays in 2018 on drunk driving charges. This may be the most hotly contested misdemeanor drunk driving case in the state’s history. One that could require changing the drunk driving evidence rules. That means the prosecution of his drunk driving case will remain on hold.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office is reminding football fans and community members of the dangers of drunk driving. With the Super Bowl happening on Sunday, the Sheriff’s Office has released tips for staying safe before, during and after the big game on Friday. Remind guests to have a designated driver before the event and to pace themselves, eat food and drink water. Related: Officials plead: Don’t let Super Bowl become superspreaderAdCommunity members that spot drivers under the influence of substances should call 9-1-1, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The WCSO release notes that in 2019, 10,142 people were killed in drunk driving crashes.

TAYLOR, Mich. – A 20-year-old man accused of drunk driving is now facing nine felony charges following a fatal car crash in Taylor. Noah Gary Damron was charged in Wayne County Friday for his involvement in a car crash that killed a 12-year-old girl earlier in the week. On Wednesday, Feb. 3, 12-year-old Phoebe Elliot was a passenger in her aunt’s vehicle, traveling westbound on Northline Road. AdMore: Suspected drunk driver awaits charges in Taylor crash that killed 12-year-old girlNoah Gary Damron, 20, was charged in Wayne County on Feb. 5 with nine felony offenses in connection with a fatal car crash that occurred in Taylor, Michigan on Feb. 3. Taylor Police Chief John Blair says Damron is being held on a $2 million bond.

DETROIT – It’s been two years since a drunk driver took the lives of a Metro Detroit family. All five in the vehicle, Issam Abbas, 42, Rima Abbas, 38, Ali Abbas, 14, Isabella Abbas, 13, and Giselle Abbas, 7, died. “The beautiful, young Abbas family was stolen from us by a drunk driver who never should have been behind the wheel of a car. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a study in July 2020 which found that more than 9,400 drunk driving deaths could be prevented each year when drunk driving prevention technology is made standard on every new car. Also see: Fund established in honor of Dearborn family killed in drunk driving crashLegislation Introduced Calling for Drunk Driving Safety & Technology Standards

“We’ve arrested over 70 impaired drivers this month alone,” said Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw. “We know people are still going out, even if there’s nowhere to go.”Shaw said that number will likely increase on New Year’s Eve. You can drink as much as you want, you can smoke as much as you want. The campaign was started in 1997 after Sandra Latham, a Detroit grandmother, was killed by celebratory gunfire sitting in her dinning room. For the 23rd year, Hood is asking residents to put away their guns and find a safer way to bring in the new year.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – Michigan State Police troopers said they pulled over a man who was driving 97 miles per hour Saturday on I-696 in Madison Heights. According to authorities, troopers determined he was driving under the influence and had a blood alcohol content of .19. It is illegal to drive in Michigan with a BAC of at least .08 with enhanced penalties for anyone driving with a BAC of .17 or higher. Police said he was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated -- High BAC and Driving with a Suspended License. Police said the passenger in the vehicle had a semiautomatic pistol in his waistband, which he announced was “open carry.” Troopers said he was also intoxicated and was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon.

DETROIT – New information has emerged in a horrifying chain of events that played out Sunday on the Lodge Freeway. Two people involved in a crash are now dead after being hit by an oncoming car. The driver of the oncoming car may have been under the influence of alcohol, but here is what led to all of that happening. Original Story: Serious crash shuts down southbound lanes of Lodge FreewayIt all started with a two vehicle crash around 7:55 p.m. Sunday on the southbound side of the Lodge Freeway near Chicago Street. After the initial collision, one car was positioned on the left lane, blocking traffic while the other was positioned on the right shoulder.

DETROIT – A Detroit woman is being charged with second-degree murder and driving while intoxicated following a car crash that killed a 6-year-old boy Monday night. One 6-year-old child and the infant are Keith’s children. The other 6-year-old child and the 3-year-old were the children of a friend, according to officials. Keith’s vehicle flipped and landed upside down on Joy Road, police say. A 6-year-old boy -- who was not Keith’s child -- was ejected from the vehicle during the crash.

LIVINGSTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A Macomb man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. The incident happened on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. Michigan State Police troopers from the Gaylord Post saw a vehicle on I-75 near Parmater Road in Livingston Township traveling 90 miles per hour in a 75 mile per hour zone. Police said Kevin Patrick Scully, 59, was driving and arrested for Operating While Intoxicated Third Offense. Scully was arrested after police said the had him take sobriety tests. Scully was arraigned in the 7-A District Court in Otsego County for one count Felony Operating While Intoxicated Third Offense, one count Driving While License Suspended, and one count Open Intoxicants in Vehicle.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. A mid-Michigan man has died following a chase and confrontation with officers, police said. The 22-year-old Marshall man was driving toward officers when they opened fire on him early Saturday, the Battle Creek Police Department said. Two Battle Creek officers traveling in the same patrol vehicle attempted to stop a suspected drunken driver whose SUV was veering into oncoming lanes of traffic, police said. As officers walked toward the SUV, the man suddenly drove toward them, and the three officers shot into the vehicle, police said. Investigators said its unclear how many shots were fired, and whether any of the shots hit the man.

BEDFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A Toledo man who was driving drunk and speeding Friday died when his car left the roadway and crashed into a utility pole in Bedford Township, according to police. Officials said David C. Smith, 39, of Toledo, was driving a black 2002 GMC Envoy at 1:08 a.m. Friday on Dean Road east of Crabb Road. Smith was heading east and drove off the north side of Dean Road, striking a mailbox, police said. He got back on the road and continued east before leaving the roadway again, according to authorities. Monroe County medics and Bedford Township firefighters responded, but Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

PONTIAC, Mich. Officials said a 17-year-old girl led Oakland County deputies on a wild police chase through multiple neighborhoods on Monday morning. The 17-year-old girl was in the passengers seat and had vomit on her shirt and appeared to be intoxicated, police said. She then got back inside the SUV, went into the drivers seat and fled the scene. Police said the SUV was traveling recklessly, moving at a high speed and violating multiple traffic laws. READ: Drunk teenage girl crashes SUV after getting into drivers seat to flee traffic stop, police say

PONTIAC, Mich. A drunk 17-year-old girl who had vomit on her shirt and fell onto the ground during a traffic stop got in the drivers seat of an SUV and fled Pontiac police before crashing into a pole, according to authorities. A 17-year-old Pontiac girl in the passengers seat had vomit on her shirt and appeared to be intoxicated, according to officials. While he was speaking to an Oakland County deputy, the girl fell out of the SUV and onto the ground, officials said. She got back inside the SUV, slid over to the drivers seat and sped away from the scene, according to authorities. The girl was taken into custody and brought to McLaren Oakland Hospital for a blood draw, police said.

WARREN, Mich. A group of Warren residents took matters into their own hands when they saw a 20-year-old woman allegedly driving drunk in their neighborhood, creating their own barricade to trap her and lead to her arrest, according to authorities. Warren police cruiser video showed officers arresting Lillian Valente, 20, of Sterling Heights, in Warrens St. Anne neighborhood. Warren Lt. David Kriss said Valente had a blood alcohol content of 0.2, or twice the legal limit. We just see out of a corner and zoom, a car flew by, resident Melissa Gordon said. Police said Valente got out of the car stumbling and was immediately arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

GROVELAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. A motorcyclist was killed when a woman rear-ended them at a high rate of speed early Sunday morning, officials say. Michigan State Police say at about 3:30 a.m. a woman was traveling north on I-75 near Lahring Road at a high rate of speed when she rear-ended the motorcycle. The motorcyclist was killed from the impact of the crash, officials said. The woman who struck the motorcyclist was arrested for operating her vehicle while intoxicated. Northbound lanes of I-75 and two southbound lanes were closed on Sunday following the crash.

ROSEVILLE, Mich. A family spent hours in the scorching heat in Roseville to drive home an important message during the Independence Day weekend. In 2019, the family lost their 4-year-old in a suspected drunk driving crash. Friends and family members gathered at the intersection where the collision happened in hopes that drivers will think twice before driving under the influence. At about 11 p.m., the vehicles collided in the intersection of Little Mack Avenue and Masonic Road. At the time police said it was unclear which driver ran the red light, but suspected the other driver was under the influence.

CENTREVILLE, Mich. A county prosecutor in southwestern Michigan who is accused of drunken driving told police that he crashed into a fence after a coughing fit.The incident involving St. Joseph County prosecutor John McDonough occurred Monday in Lockport Township. The recording of the 911 call was released Friday. McDonough said he needed a tow truck but then was able to remove his vehicle. The dispatcher told him that an officer was headed to the scene. McDonough, who faces re-election, hasnt publicly talked about the crash.

WYANDOTTE, Mich. – Wyandotte police clocked a man driving 104 mph in a 30 mph zone April 13. An officer stopped the man on on Biddle Avenue, near Plum Street, around 8 p.m.Police said the officer smelled alcohol coming from the 71-year-old Grosse Ile man’s vehicle. The man told the officer he had two drinks. The man failed field sobriety tests and was arrested. The man blew .12 and .13 on a breathalyzer test during booking, police said.

Tuesday he appeared in a Northern Michigan courtroom for a bond hearing after his arrest two weeks ago in a domestic dispute in his Van Buren Township home. Video has also been released of the judge’s original arrest for a DUI in Northern Michigan. Parrott, 60, is accused of driving his car off the road in Manistee County while intoxicated on Christmas Day 2018. Tuesday the judge’s bond for the incident ended up reviewed by a Manistee judge. The judge in Manistee altered his bond to include sending those results to a court up North too.

DETROIT – The Michigan State Police director testified Thursday in Lansing about the department’s investigation into discrepancies with breathalyzer testing. Police are taking all 203 Datamaster DMT evidential breath alcohol testing instruments out of service until police can inspect them and make sure each device is properly calibrated. April 2019 -- MSP put additional workflow requirements in place with the vendor to ensure compliance with state law and administrative rules and move toward accreditation. Aug. 21, 2019 -- MSP received a corrective action plan from Intoximeters that outlined their action plan to correct the contractual failures. Aug. 23, 2019 -- An Intoximeters technician committed a serious error that resulted in the dismissal of an OWI case in Montcalm County.