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Driver of NJ Porsche that crashed in second story building ‘substantially impaired’

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TOMS RIVER, N.J. — The driver in the fatal crash in November in which a fast-moving Porsche landed in the second story of an office building was “substantially impaired” by alcohol and had marijuana in his system as well, officials said Friday.

Branden DeMartin, 22, the driver, and passenger Daniel Foley, 23, both of Toms River, were killed in the crash Nov. 10.

On Friday, the Ocean County Medical Examiner released a toxicology report showing that DeMartin, owner of the vehicle, had a blood alcohol level of .189%, or more than twice the legal limit, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a news release. 

Look back: Porsche goes airborne into second story: 2 men dead in New Jersey crash

DeMartin also had an active THC level of 22 nanograms with a metabolite THC level of 18 nanograms. In states where recreational marijuana is legal, the “per se” impaired driving limit is 5ng of THC. Billhimer said the results also show that Foley, the passenger of the vehicle, had a blood alcohol level of .087%. An individual is presumed to be under the influence of alcohol with a BAC of .08 or greater.

Daniel Foley: A man who restored muscle cars with dad, remembered for compassion

The men were traveling at a high rate of speed northbound when the vehicle went out of control, hit the median and went airborne into the second story of EXIT Realty Elite, according to police. 

Facebook photo of Braden De Martin, 22, who Toms River police say was driving the 2010 red Porsche Boxster that went airborne and crashed into the second story of real estate office early Sunday. De Martin and his passenger, Daniel Foley, died at the scene, police said.
Facebook photo of Braden De Martin, 22, who Toms River police say was driving the 2010 red Porsche Boxster that went airborne and crashed into the second story of real estate office early Sunday. De Martin and his passenger, Daniel Foley, died at the scene, police said.
Facebook photo of Daniel Foley, 23, who was in the passenger seat of the 2010 red Porsche Boxster that went airborne and crashed into the second story of real estate office in November. Foley and the driver died at the scene, police said.
Facebook photo of Daniel Foley, 23, who was in the passenger seat of the 2010 red Porsche Boxster that went airborne and crashed into the second story of real estate office in November. Foley and the driver died at the scene, police said.

“This was a tragedy of unspeakable proportions, but what makes it truly heartbreaking is that it was altogether avoidable,” Billhimer said. “I am releasing these findings to the public for no other reason than to educate drivers, particularly younger drivers, as to what can happen if they operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.”

Press records show that DeMartin was a senior on the Toms River High School East cross country and golf teams in 2014. https://news.yahoo.com/driver-nj-porche-crashed-second-164228213.html

Tree Campaign Fails to Slow City’s Impaired Driving Trend

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Police in Anchorage, Alaska, tried to highlight the danger of impaired driving with a December campaign.

The Associated Press

A tree adorned with colored ribbons representing December arrests for impaired driving stands on the third floor of the Anchorage Police Department on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska. Police erected the tree in hopes of raising awareness of impaired driving. However, officers made so many arrests, the department ran out of blue ribbons and had to switch to plaid.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) — Police in Anchorage, Alaska, issued a December challenge to community members to not drive while intoxicated.

To highlight the campaign, they erected a Christmas tree and said they would tie on a blue ribbon for every arrest for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or marijuana.

The challenge was not heeded, Anchorage television station KTVA reported. The tree was quickly adorned, and police ran out of blue ribbon.

Through Dec. 14, Anchorage police placed 59 ribbons on the tree. Numbers continued to trend the wrong way after that. The department made 36 arrests for operating under the influence from Dec. 15 to Dec. 21.

“That’s 36 more ribbons on the tree,” the department said in a statement. “We ran out of blue ribbon (so did Costco) so we switched to plaid and had to start tying bows on the side because the front is full. This is no good. Don’t drive drunk or high. It just isn’t worth it.”

Final arrest numbers for December will be available next week, said Kendra Doshier, a department spokeswoman.

The department made 130 OUI arrests in December 2016. That climbed to 139 in 2017 and 150 in December 2018. The upward trend is frustrating for police.

“There’s just so many other things you can do other than get behind the wheel of that car and potentially end your life or the life of someone else,” said Renee Oistad, police department spokeswoman.

Local bar owners agreed.

“We don’t want over-consumption,” said Matt Tomter, owner of Matanuska Brewing Co. At the company’s three locations, he said, employees are instructed to look out for the safety of customers.

“We want everyone to have a good time, get everybody home safe, encourage people to take an Uber or Lyft if they’ve been drinking at all,” he said. All designated drivers receive free non-alcoholic drinks, he said. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/alaska/articles/2020-01-02/tree-campaign-fails-to-slow-citys-impaired-driving-trend