Stoned Driver Gets 3 Years in Alaska Highway Death of Woman

[JonLP24]

Source: Fox News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A driver who was under the influence of marijuana was sentenced to three years in prison for criminally negligent homicide in the death of a 53-year-old woman killed on the Seward Highway.

Timothy Wood, 33, was behind the wheel when his Chevy Blazer crossed the center line and slammed into a car driven by Diane Bahnson of Girdwood in 2005.

Wood's blood tested positive for marijuana.

Troopers said Wood was driving erratically before the accident.

Wood was originally charged with second-degree murder, but technical problems with the blood test evidence made it hard to take the case to trial, according to prosecutors. In a plea agreement, the charge was reduced to criminally-negligent homicide.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,409641,00.html

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I don't like the headline, he could've very well been 'stoned' but someone can be sober and still test positive for marijuana thru a blood test.

[glowing]

1. Yep.. It tests out positive for a longer time, but the high is not ever-lasting.

Is it normal to do blood tests in the case of an accident?

[JonLP24]

2. Yes, I don't know if an all cases

I have a friend who was convicted of driving under the influence based on that he appeared high and blood tested for marijuana.

Not sure if there is a good way to determine if someone is currently intoxicated on marijuana. I know a saliva test can more easily determine recent use but not sure how it helps to determine if someone is currently high.


edit: He wasn't involved in an accident so I don't know the answer to your question, he had a broken taillight

[depakid]

3. Non-Fox link: Wood’s six year sentence suspended

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=8888352

[JonLP24]

4. I apologize for the source

I just ran across this and decided to post this

[depakid]

5. No worries- the headline was catchier

It's an interesting issue- and of course, there's probably much more to the story.

Looks as though the guy's been in jail waiting for trial for 3 years. And there are some criminal restition vs. civil judgment matters that legal minded folks might be curious about.