Train Delay Due to Drunk Driver

When it comes to drinking and driving cases, many individuals who choose to drive after a few too many always have other options available to them rather than risk getting behind the wheel. Whether it’s taking public transportation, calling a friend, or using Uber or Lyft, individuals can avoid causing property damage, injury, or even death by choosing not to drive if they suspect themselves to be intoxicated. Even those who do choose to drive still have the option to park their car and find another way home—but for those impaired drivers, their chosen place to park may be what gets them caught.

In Hanahan, South Carolina, one driver, 54-year-old Huan Tran, made a costly poor choice one evening when he chose to park his car on a set of active train tracks. While this decision could have gone unnoticed, the Amtrak Auto Train Number 52 was heading right in the direction of Tran’s parking spot. Fortunately for Mr. Tran, he was able to escape the vehicle before the train could hit him and likely end his life.

The crash’s impact could be heard by nearby neighbors, and it delayed travel on the Amtrak for close to three hours. As with Tran, no one was hurt as a result of the collision, and property damage was mostly limited to the destroyed vehicle. When police officers arrived on the scene and gave Tran a breathalyzer assessment, the test measured his Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) to be 0.15 percent—almost twice the legal limit. Tran is now facing Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charges in the state of South Carolina.

Although DUI offenders striking trains or being hit by trains is not a common incident, similar situations have still occurred. A few weeks before the incident with Mr. Tran, 57-year-old Margaret Cole parked her vehicle on the tracks of a former train station in Wallingford, Connecticut. Police officers who were summoned to the scene could reportedly smell alcohol on Cole’s breath and gave her a field sobriety test, which she ultimately did not pass. The officers charged her with DUI and failure to drive in the proper lane, a statement likely demonstrating the need to not drink and drive overall.

If you or anyone you know is facing a drinking and driving charge, the best course of action is to seek the legal assistance of a knowledgeable DUI lawyer. These legal professionals understand their state’s drinking and driving laws and can ensure DUI suspects a fair trial.