Hanover County Physician Charged in Fatal Drunk Driving Accident
Drunk driving accidents are one of the leading causes of preventable deaths and this one literally hits close to home. According to news reports, Dr. Michael Carlson of Mechanicsville had a blood alcohol level of .11 when he hit Meg Menzies as she was jogging on East Patrick Henry Road. The legal limit in Virginia is .08, but one can be impaired even with a BAC below .08. According to his lawyer, Dr. Carlson reportedly stopped at the scene and rendered aid to Mrs. Menzies.
This case is certainly a painful reminder of the importance of groups like MADD and SADD as well as the efforts of law enforcement to strictly enforce our drunk driving laws. Judging from the news reports, Ms. Menzies will be missed by many people.
