Court Opinion

ID: 9717497
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 07:04:37.52553+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:53.543351
License: Public Domain

PRESIDING JUSTICE HOURIHANE, specially concurring in part and dissenting in part: I concur with all aspects of the majority decision but two. I do not believe the evidence introduced against defendant was sufficient to establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt of reckless homicide premised upon his alleged operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Neither do I believe the evidence introduced against defendant was sufficient to establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt of aggravated driving while under the influence of alcohol. I therefore respectfully dissent from the decision of the majority to affirm defendant’s convictions on counts II and VI of the indictment. The evidence below established that defendant did not drive his automobile in a reckless or unsafe manner on the evening of December 16, 1995. The majority itself concedes that the conviction for reckless homicide on count III of the indictment was in error; specifically, that the conduct of defendant in changing lanes to pass Timm at an approximate speed of 40 miles per hour was not reckless nor otherwise inherently unsafe under the circumstances. Nevertheless, the majority concludes that defendant was properly found guilty of reckless homicide as charged in count II of the indictment in light of the evidence of his alcohol consumption on the evening of the accident. As the record on appeal established, defendant did, in fact, consume alcohol prior to the accident. Indeed, his blood-alcohol concentration was determined to be 0.074 at or near the time he was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. However, that evidence would not, by itself, allow a presumption that defendant was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. See 625 ILCS 5/11—501.2(b)(2) (West 1994). Nor, do I believe, does the balance of the evidence within the record allow a reasonable trier of fact to conclude that defendant was under the influence of alcohol beyond a reasonable doubt. Here, Officers Hohs and Hansen testified that, in their opinions, defendant was under the influence of alcohol. Those opinions were based upon a strong odor of alcohol on defendant and his slightly bloodshot and glazed eyes. Both officers also testified that defendant appeared excited and agitated when they arrived at the scene. Defendant, however, had just been involved in a horrific accident in which one individual had been killed and another seriously injured. Under such circumstances, any reasonable person could appear excited and agitated. Moreover, the testimony of Officers Hohs and Hansen was contradicted by two uninterested witnesses, nurse Aitchison and paramedic Geaslin. Nurse Aitchison testified that defendant did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol when she saw him approximately one hour after the accident. According to her, defendant was alert, oriented, spoke clearly, walked steadily and, in general, behaved appropriately. Nurse Aitchison also stated that she noticed no odor of alcohol on defendant. Paramedic Geaslin arrived at the scene minutes after the accident had occurred and promptly began to treat those involved, including defendant. His observations of defendant were very similar to those of nurse Aitchison. Moreover, he also stated that, in his opinion, defendant was not under the influence of alcohol at that time. The evidence within the record on appeal concerning the manner in which defendant drove his car further belies the conclusion that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. His driving was not inherently unsafe nor was it a gross deviation from the standard of care required of all motorists. Indeed, Officer Hohs testified that, prior to the collision with Hicks, defendant began to steer his car in an effort to avoid an accident, a decision Officer Hohs implied was the “most efficient response” and “best possible choice” under the circumstances. Essentially, the decision of the majority rests upon the conclusion that the circuit court could well have found that alcohol negatively influenced the ability of defendant to observe Hicks’ car. However, the majority also concludes that, had defendant been sober, a conviction for reckless homicide could not stand. If the actions of a sober driver, doing exactly as defendant did on the evening of the accident, would not be sufficient to establish reckless homicide, then neither can that evidence establish reckless homicide on the part of defendant. Simply put, I do not believe the evidence introduced against defendant could ever be said to have established that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident beyond a reasonable doubt. In order to be found guilty of driving while under the influence of alcohol, the State must prove that a defendant’s ability to drive safely was impaired by his consumption of alcohol. Here, there was no proof of impairment.