Opinion ID: 1465188
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Substantial and Unjustifiable Danger

Text: Drunk driving is a reckless act that often results in injury, and the risks of driving while intoxicated are well-known. United States v. Rutherford, 54 F.3d 370, 376 (7th Cir.1995). In 2002, alcohol-related crashes accounted for 17,419 traffic fatalities on our nation's highways, an average of one alcohol-related fatality every 30 minutes. U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts 2002, http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov /pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSF2002/2002alcfacts.pdf. Additionally, in 2002, one alcohol-related injury [occurred] approximately every two minutes. Id. In Kentucky, thirty-three (33%) percent of the 915 traffic fatalities in 2002 involved alcohol. Id. at 8, table 6. It should also be noted that an estimated 35% of all convicted jail inmates reported that they had used alcohol at the time of the offense in 2002. U.S. Department of Justice, Profile of Jail Inmates, 2002, http:// www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/pji02.pdf (2002). In this case, Appellant substantially endangered his son by driving under the influence. Alcohol apparently and adversely impacted his ability to operate the vehicle. He was driving in an irregular and unreasonable manner: he suddenly started the truck at a higher than normal speed; he even turned off the headlights before pulling it over. The risk of endangering his ten-year-old son is far more than speculative or minimal. Thus, considering the totality of the evidence and the surrounding circumstances of this case, we safely conclude that Appellant's ongoing intoxication created a situation which put his minor child at substantial risk of suffering serious physical harm or death.