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Feb 1, 2008 6:12 pm US/Central
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Role Of Alcohol Probed In Fatal Snowmobile Crash
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
A week ago a crash on a snowmobile killed CBS 2 morning anchor and friend Randy Salerno. CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports on what happened on that night in Wisconsin.
It was clear from the investigation that the snowmobile was speeding across the lake. It hit a 2- to 3-foot bank, then become airborne for 46 feet before hitting the trees, still 3 feet above the ground.
But the officer who investigated the crash says Scott Hirschey's blood alcohol level, nearly three times the legal limit, could be misleading.
"People are jumping to conclusions of a high number like that and they're making assumptions," said Wisconsin conservation warden Tim Price. "He was impaired to the point that he needed help getting to the truck, whether that was a result of drinking or the traumatic experience or a combination of both."
Hirschey, a pall bearer at Salerno's funeral, has been forgiven by the family and defended by those who were there. He is now back in the hospital recovering from a concussion, broken ribs and a lacerated liver. After the crash, Warden Price remembers, he was struggling.
"There were other things going on outside of his impairment he had gone through obviously a pretty traumatic experience," Price said. "As it turned out he was banged up pretty bad in the accident probably somewhat of a miracle he was still alive."
While legal blood alcohol levels are defined by law and serve as guidelines for law enforcement officers dealing with drunk drivers, they are not absolute certain indicators of levels of impairment.
"Everyone processes alcohol differently," said Dr. Daniel Angres of Resurrection Medical Center. "For some people, even high levels do not indicate major impairment."
This is not to say alcohol did not play a role in this crash, only that how big a role it played is now being questioned, especially by those who were with Hirschey right before and right after the crash.
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