If it’s been said once, then it’s been repeated a hundred or even a thousand times. Choosing to get behind the wheel of a vehicle when impaired by drugs, alcohol, or other substances puts the driver and everyone around them at grave risk of injury or even death.
While many people feel confident getting from point A to point B safely because they’ve successfully navigated their way around before, it doesn’t mean that the next time will end up with the same positive outcome.
Unfortunately, 45-year-old Celeste Bokstrom made the call to drive on July 6. She was heading south on Congress Avenue when her vehicle crashed into 70-year-old Oscar Lopez and his bicycle. The collision took place around 10:30 a.m. Medical personnel declared Lopez dead at the scene of the incident.
According to reports, it appears alcohol and/or substance use may have been a factor in the incident. More details about the state Bokstrom was in that morning should surface in the near future.
The point about driving while impaired has been made over many years in countless forums amid warnings that this should be taken seriously. However, the state of Florida may have another issue on its hands with regard to residents who prefer a two-wheeled mode of transportation.
The Sunshine State has topped the country in a category that isn’t the most flattering. Florida has led the way in bicycle fatalities for the last couple of years.
“Motorists don’t feel like you should be there, and they run really close to you, and honk the horn, or they gun it right next to you,” avid bike rider and Orlando resident Kyle Markel said. “I feel like I’m constantly looking over my shoulder.” via WFTV.com.
The law firm of Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath is equipped to handle motor vehicle incidents involving substance use, bicycle accidents, and all other scenarios that affect Florida residents. Call us today at (561) 655-1990 to speak with a Florida attorney about your case.
