Latest news with #toxicology
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
California Sen. Sabrina Cervantes won't face DUI charges after crash near state Capitol
SACRAMENTO – Prosecutors will not file DUI charges against California Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, saying a toxicology report came back negative after the senator was involved in a crash near the state Capitol last week. The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office said it reviewed police reports, witness statements and the negative toxicology report before deciding not to file any charges against Cervantes, who represents areas of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Cervantes was involved in a crash near 14th and S streets on May 19. The Sacramento Police Department said Cervantes was taken to a hospital with minor injuries by a private party. The police department said Cervantes showed "objective signs that led them to believe she may have been impaired." Officers asked Cervantes to perform a field sobriety test, but she declined, the police department said. After becoming aware that police were seeking a warrant to obtain a blood sample, police said she voluntarily agreed to provide the sample. But the police department said they waited for the warrant to be signed by a judge. The blood sample was collected and sent to the district attorney. Cervantes was also cited, police said. "The toxicology results were negative for any measurable amount of alcohol or drugs," the Sacramento County District Attorney said. Cervantes denied any wrongdoing, saying she had no alcohol in her system. The police department said she was suspected of DUI of drugs.
Agriland
4 days ago
- Agriland
RSA issues warning to drivers ahead of bank holiday weekend
Ahead of the June Bank Holiday weekend, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), An Garda Síochána, and Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail, and Ports at the Department of Transport, Séan Canney, are urging all road users to never drive under the influence of alcohol. The appeal comes as RSA analysis has found that over one third of driver fatalities with a toxicology result available during the years 2016–2020 tested positive for alcohol. The analysis shows a stark contrast between off-peak and peak hours. During off-peak hours (10:00p.m–5:59a.m), 70% of driver fatalities with a toxicology result available had a positive toxicology for alcohol, compared to 21% during peak times. Minister Canney said: 'These figures are deeply concerning. They show a consistent pattern of people taking deadly risks by driving under the influence, especially at night. 'My message this weekend is simple – never, ever drink and drive. It's not worth the risk to your life or anyone else's. I urge everyone to act responsibly and make safe choices on our roads.' Director of partnerships and external affairs at the RSA, Sarah O'Connor echoed the call: 'These statistics highlight the importance of targeted enforcement during off-peak hours to detect and remove intoxicated drivers from our roads. 'Combining this with education and awareness initiatives that focus on the dangers of drink-driving – especially late at night – is critical to saving lives.' Chief superintendent David Harrington of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said: 'Driving under the influence of an intoxicant, whether alcohol or drugs, is illegal and not only impairs your driving performance but removes your capacity to drive safely. 'Some people may take the risk of driving under influence because they believe they won't encounter gardaí on the road to detect them, but the reality is that we are on the roads conducting checkpoints and are called to the scene of every one of the fatal or serious injury collisions caused by a driver that has been drinking. 'You can avoid putting your life and the lives of others at such high risk if you heed our advice to not consume alcohol or drugs if you know you are getting into a car to drive,' the garda chief added. RSA appeal The RSA appeal coincides with the upcoming launch of a new RSA advertising campaign that addresses social acceptability of drink-driving. The TV-led campaign will go live on June 11, and calls on the public to protect their friends, and other road users, by ensuring their friends don't get behind the wheel after drinking. The RSA is also reminding the public that the summertime period typically sees an increase in cyclist and motorcyclist casualties. Road users are encouraged to slow down, expect the unexpected, and be especially mindful of vulnerable road users. With large crowds expected to travel to events like Bloom in Phoenix Park, Dublin, and BikeFest in Killarney over the Bank Holiday Weekend, drivers are reminded to stay alert, avoid distractions, and share the road responsibly. To help fight driver fatigue, the RSA, in partnership with Applegreen, will also be offering free coffee to drivers at participating service stations from 2:00p.m to 8:00p.m on Friday, May 30 and Monday, June 2. Motorists simply need to mention 'RSA' at the till to avail of the offer.
ABC News
5 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Drugs, inexperience, incorrect gear contributed to 2024 drowning, Tasmanian coroner finds
A 38-year-old man had "significant levels" of drugs in his system and was inexperienced in free diving when he drowned in 2024 in Tasmanian waters, a coroner has found. Coroner Simon Cooper said the man died "between 12 and 13 February 2024" in the vicinity of The Gardens, on the north-east coast. Mr Cooper found the man drowned whilst free diving — using fins, weight belt, wetsuit, face mask and snorkel but not scuba equipment. The coroner said the investigation into the death found the man's "weighted dive belt was too heavy for the wetsuit he was wearing". A toxicological analysis of samples taken at autopsy showed "significant levels of the illicit drugs THC (the active constituent of cannabis), methylamphetamine and MDMA" present in the man's body. The coroner added during the autopsy, a doctor found "significant evidence of myocardial fibrosis [build-up of scar tissue in the heart] which also probably contributed" to the man's death.
CBS News
25-05-2025
- CBS News
3 die after crashing into parked vehicle on Sonoma Boulevard in Vallejo
VALLEJO – Three people died after crashing into a parked vehicle in Vallejo early Saturday morning, the police department said. Just after 3 a.m., officers responded to Sonoma Boulevard and Valle Vista Avenue, finding a vehicle crashed into an unoccupied vehicle parked on Sonoma Boulevard. Officers were able to remove a rear passenger, but the driver and front passenger had to be extricated, police said. All three of the occupants in the vehicle died at the scene, police said. DUI is not known at this time and is pending a toxicology report after an autopsy, police said. The identification of the three people who died has not been released.
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Telegraph
Nottingham inquiry to examine why police didn't carry out toxicology tests on killer
The Nottingham inquiry will examine why toxicology samples were not taken from the attacker in the immediate aftermath of the killings, the Government has said. Valdo Calocane killed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before attempting to kill three other people in the city in June 2023. Calocane, 33, was originally charged with murder, but this was downgraded to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility because of his paranoid schizophrenia. He was given an indefinite hospital order last year, but the families of the victims have repeatedly raised concerns over the fact he was not tested for drugs in the aftermath of the attack. The Telegraph previously revealed that, the night before the killings, Calocane travelled to London and attended a barbecue with a violent, cannabis-using gangster. The next day he boarded a train back to Nottingham, dressed all in black and armed with a double-edged dagger, before launching his murderous assault in the early hours of June 13. After being arrested, Calocane refused to allow officers to take any blood or urine samples, and police did not take a sample of his hair for testing. Announcing the terms of reference for the public inquiry on Thursday, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that it would be looking at how Calocane was dealt with while in custody. It said it will review 'any assessment of medical and mental health issues and drug testing, and provision of appropriate medical support'. It will also look at the forensic strategy used by Nottinghamshire Police, such as the lack of toxicology and decisions made with regards to taking samples. During Calocane's sentencing hearing, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, Grace's father, questioned why no toxicology tests had been carried out in the immediate aftermath of the killings. Psychiatrists insisted there was no suggestion that substance misuse had played a role in Calocane's declining mental health. The inquiry aims to report back within two years with recommendations to prevent similar incidents. Witnesses from Nottinghamshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) could also be compelled to give evidence. The inquiry will look at the acceptance of Calocane's diminished responsibility plea, and whether enough information was obtained prior to making that decision. The Independent Office for Police Conduct previously concluded that officers failed to properly investigate an assault on warehouse workers by Calocane, which could have stopped his murders a month later. The Ministry of Justice said the management of Calocane's risk to others in the lead-up to the attacks and public servants' accessing of information without authorisation will also form part of the inquiry. The victims' families previously said claims that healthcare staff illegally accessed medical records belonging to their loved ones were 'sickening' and 'inexcusable'. Three Nottinghamshire Police officers faced disciplinary action for viewing material about the case without any legitimate reason. There have also been alleged data breaches by staff working for HM Prison and Probation Service and HM Courts and Tribunals Service. Emergency services staff who responded to the attacks will also be scrutinised by the inquiry as part of a 'detailed examination' of events on the day of the killings. Senior retired judge Deborah Taylor, who jailed Boris Becker, the former tennis star, after he avoided paying his debts, will chair the inquiry. Shabana Mahmood, the Lord Chancellor, said: 'The bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham attacks, who have suffered so much, deserve to know how these horrific incidents were able to happen. 'I am pleased this inquiry is now under way, and I know her honour Deborah Taylor will undertake a fearless and thorough examination of the facts to prevent tragedies like this happening again.' The announcement comes as the victims' families said they have made plans to return to Nottingham to mark the second anniversary of the attacks. Barnaby's mother, Emma Webber, said she had approached both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham city council, but had not yet received a response in how they could support marking the anniversary. She said: 'The people of Nottingham continue to shower us with their love, empathy and support, something that the leaders of the city fail to do. Given that it is less than two weeks until the 13th, we have decided that we will, as united families, travel to the two terrible locations where the vicious attacks were carried out. 'Whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, we will ensure justice is served, and all of those who failed will be held fully to account.'
