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StumbleMan arrested in fatal weekend crash: ‘I’m too drunk’
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 | 1:18 p.m.
Fatal collision
A man arrested Sunday morning for drunken driving in connection with a fatal crash in downtown Las Vegas had a blood-alcohol level of .149 and told police, “I can’t drive home, I’m too drunk,” according to a Metro Police report released Tuesday.
Jacques Norton, 22, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center in connection with the wreck at 5:52 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Main Street and Charleston Boulevard that killed 52-year-old Robert Childress Jr., of Las Vegas.
Witnesses told police Norton’s vehicle, a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser, was traveling eastbound on Charleston Boulevard at a high rate of speed. The PT Cruiser didn’t stop for a red light and struck a 1980 Mercedes 300SD, driven by Childress, that was making a left turn from Main, witness statements and evidence at the scene indicated.
When an investigating officer approached Norton’s vehicle, the officer “could immediately smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath.”
Norton told the officer he had four or five vodka tonics at a club, but couldn’t remember which club he had been at, the report said. He also told police he had taken several anti-depressant pills, the report said.
The report said that “out of the blue” Norton told police, “I can’t drive home. I’m too drunk.”
The officer asked Norton what street he was driving on, to which Norton responded he was on Las Vegas Boulevard and didn’t know the cross street. He also said he believed the date was May 1 and that it was 4 a.m., despite the sun being out, the police report said.
Norton was unable to stand without being assisted by officers or leaning against the patrol car, the report said.
The report said Childress’ vehicle traveled 144 feet from the point of impact.
Norton didn’t know he hit another vehicle when questioned by responding officers and told police he believed he had struck a fire hydrant, the report stated.
He was unable to maintain his balance while officers conducted field sobriety tests, which they eventually ended out of caution for Norton’s safety because he couldn’t look at his feet without falling over and almost fell and hit his head, the report said.
Norton was taken from the scene and booked into jail, where he is being held without bail. He is scheduled to appear before a judge Wednesday morning.
A breath test indicated his blood-alcohol level was .149. Blood was drawn after Norton was taken to jail for further analysis.
Discussion: comments so far…
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Wow, another loser who can't control his alcohol intake, kills someone minding their own business. When are we going to get tough on DUI?
The nightclubs ought to be "required" to have breathalyzers to test everyone who leaves the club/bar to check their BAL!
What would you suggest we do to get tougher on DUI? Laws are pretty strong now and I will bet this person will get at LEAST a five year prison term under Nevada's Mandatory Minimum laws. Unfortunately, We can not legislate behavior. People will get drunk and drive. This is a fact of life. Our only defense is to be more aware of our surroundings while driving and put down the cell phone. My condolences to the family of the victim.
.149 isn't that drunk. Yes, illegal, but his ingestion of drugs may have had more to do with the unfortunate event. Anti-depressants combined with booze made him wacky.
At .149 w/o drugs, he probably could have made it home safely without killing someone. Don't mix drugs with booze, kids. He's gone for a long time.
Sorry Kids... The multiple Anti-Depressants had more to do with this then anything. .149 is not good but hardly enough to make somebody so stupid.
Before wanting to go on a witch hunt of bars... go on a witch hunt on the Dr.s who prescribe Anti-Depressants like candy.. It's a big problem...
I agree, .149 is low, but as soon as you begin driving, you take the risk of injuring someone else, yourself, or getting pulled over and going to the slammer. Might as well be .320
You think he was depressed before the accident? Now he wishes he would have paid $25 for a cab.
Unfortuneately, he killed another man, and only faces charges of vehicular homocide, and DUI. Maybe serves a whole 9 years.
"I'm too drunk"
Not to mention too stupid!
Alcohol and ignorance; a combination not likely to produce positive outcomes in life.
flapsychdoc :
How about The automobiles ought to be "required" to have breathalyzers to test drivers before the system will allow ignition by the driver to start the engine! Now that's a good idea! dontcha think?
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cf...
The bars and clubs should check the BAC of each person leaving??? Really? And what are they to do after they find someone is over the limit? Honestly, what to you think is realistic in this instance? It's too much to require a business to do. It's not against the law to get drunk. It's against the law to drink and drive. You'd have to set up check points at the exit of all bars and resorts. It's unfortunate and sad because that's the only way the law could manage it.
"Laws are pretty strong now and I will bet this person will get at LEAST a five year prison term under Nevada's Mandatory Minimum laws"
5 years for killing someone? Hardly what I'd consider pretty strong.
People complain that the firefighters spend too much time doing nothing. Why not deputize them and have them do checkpoints all around the city?
teaser, because that would reek of a Police State.
Ummmm... and what are you going to do to test for all the people below .08 who have popped multiple anti-depressants?
Two drinks and Multiple Anti-Depressants is more dangerous then somebody who has had six drinks with no anti-depressants.
I feel badly for Mr. Childress and his family. I hope they are doing ok, considering the circumstances. God bless them.
What do you mean .149 is Not drunk? 08 is the standard in most states now and this is Nearly the double of that! it is well above the old standard of .10 check your math ... I did a standard test and drank 7 shots of whiskey Within one hour and .04 well Below Was Only Both of Those standards so take a guess at this idiot drank What Drove ... and I Was Young and dumb ... the bartender and club should Recognize intoxication and STOP SERVING ... Some states in it is Against the law to serve someone Who Appears intoxicated ... Apparently Not in Nevada ... Heart blessings to the deceased family
Justan and a couple more are the only people who's comments are worthy. Is good to see that we dont have only stupid people around. Alcohol is legal because makes some people rich, lets propose free hotel rooms to the drunk people, or what? Casinos make enough money out of selling alcohol no? Get out of your little box, less than 40 percent of the fatal car accidents are caused by drunk dirvers.... what about the other 60%? Thousands are dying of hunger.. that should be in the news
I'm confused. Isn't alcohol a depressant? Did he think the anti depressant would cancel out the alcohol?
buckiefan...did the bartender serving you those 7 shots of whiskey proofread your letter? If not, well I have a suggestion for next time...
One sure way to help curb these types of instances is to do what most states allow and for the family of the person killed to sue the bar/casino that over served Mr. Norton. Under current Nevada law establishments can over serve people and have no liability for the results. Also, the State should investigate and start pulling liquor licenses.
flapsychdoc said
"How about The automobiles ought to be "required" to have breathalyzers to test drivers before the system will allow ignition by the driver to start the engine! Now that's a good idea! dontcha think?"
Believe it or not, both Ford Motor Company and GM have actually developed such a system. But don't hold your breath waiting for this to show up in new cars.
"Norton was unable to stand without being assisted by officers or leaning against the patrol car, the report said." ...lets hope that hes unable to stand once hes in prison as well but for different reasons.
He should be thrown in jail just for driving a PT Cruiser...
@ Seriously - Comment of the day!! Love it!!
Throw him in jail with a stiff jail sentance. There should be no tolerance for this in any state. But some dumb lawyer will come along and defend him with some stupid reasons on why he should be given a reprieve. You want to drink and drive, then you should be punished to the full extent of the law. Kill yourself if you want to drink and drive and not innocent people.
to Mr. DiveHard,
Mr Childress, the unfortunate victim of this accident, could not have done ANYTHING to prevent this, including being/not being on a cell phone, being more aware of surroundings, etc. I was AT this accident, I saw it take place, and it could have been me if fate or God had intervened and changed my life 2 seconds either way. The killer in this accident was going so fast that unless Mr Childress had ESP there was no way he could have avoided this. What's sad is that NO MATTER how much you're "aware" of your surroundings, ESPECIALLY in Las Vegas (compared to other places I've lived where there's actually a last call) is he lost his life because this a**hole kid decided to "wild out". There will always be drunks and drinking drivers no matter where you are, but I've never before lived somewhere where you had to worry about taking your kids to daycare in the morning or going to work. You usually take your life in your hands between 2-3:30 am, not 6 am or later. And, to whomever was promoting the idea of the bars/casino's being held liable, I don't really care how stupid I sound to you guys, I am FULLY in support of this. We have this in my home state and it would be a godsend here if SOMEONE could be held accountable for pouring liquor down the throats of people who already can't stand up. I have seen it with my own eyes so I'm not exaggerating; furthermore, how about the valet's giving cars back to people who are wasted? Several years ago I went to valet at one of the big nice hotels, practcially falling down and falling asleep, to retrieve my keys to get my house key off b/c a friend was driving me home (I was planning on picking up the car the next day) and before they knew I was asking for this (i couldn't form my thoughts very fast) they asked for the ticket to my car. I couldn't even stand up or talk, and they were ready to give me my car back. Thank GOD I have more sense than that and didn't drive home and kill anyone. I am SO tired of hearing about how these people lose all their senses and have to pay for it later. What about this innocent guy who now is never going home b/c Jackass Norton wanted to get high and drunk? What amazes me about all these damn drunk drivers is how they FIND their cars? Most of them can't see or walk or keep from peeing themselves and yet they have NO problem finding their cars in garages that have about 3000....????!!!
Amen to that Mr. RKaye422. You are so right. The bars will never take responsibility and stop serving a drunk because there is no money in that. Too many bars where that drunk will then take his business. How sad is that. The car industry will never get the breathalizer in because to many lobbiest for the liquor industry. How about people just taking responsibility for their little part in all this beginning with the patron, then the bartender, then the valet, and so on and so on. It's not like Vegas is lacking in cabs or rooms. My son has lost 6 friends to drunk drivers and thank God he was never in the car with them. He knows if he is out with friends who drink I will gladly pick him up no matter what time. As for Mr. Childress' family, my deepest sympathies. May his soul rest in peace and may his family find the strength to go on with each other. My heart aches for you.
I want him TOTALLY SOBER for when he gets his sentence...I want him to hear and understand completely what is about to happen to him.Obviously he has NO regard for his life,not that I care...but when that lack of regard takes another person....
Sorry labdaddy for offending you on my english but I think my point got across and no it was not a bartender serving the drinks it was a clinical test on the effect of alchohol to blood concentration...the reason that my reply was a bit confusing is that I am in Mexico and the computer keeps changing what I write or read to somewhat of a spanglish...so please forgive me...dipstick...is that proper english?
And by the way labdaddy it is proof read...not proofread...you just got a D...