Like vehicular homicide suspects Mark W. Mullan and Michael A. Robertson, I, too, have driven drunk in North Seattle. Unlike them, my stupid decision several years ago did not have horrific consequences.
On the afternoon of March 25, Mullan allegedly struck and killed Judy and Dennis Schulte and critically injured their daughter-in-law, Karina, and her 10-day-old infant son while the family was walking in the Wedgwood neighborhood.
On the morning of April 4, Robertson was allegedly driving the wrong way on state Route 520 near the University of Washington when he crashed head-on into another car, killing Morgan F. Williams.
Both men had recent DUI arrests. Both were not supposed to drive. So how do we stop chronic offenders like Mullan and Robertson from drinking-and-driving? How do we stop people like me who make a spontaneous, reckless choice?
How many chances?
Since 1990, Mullan, 50, of Seattle, has been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) at least five times.
On Oct. 8, 2012, he was arrested in Snohomish County, with an alleged blood-alcohol level of 0.142 percent; the legal limit in Washington is 0.08 percent.
On Christmas Day 2012, he was arrested at a motel on Aurora Avenue North and his breath-alcohol content was 0.32 percent.
In January, he arrived drunk at the hearing in Snohomish County for his October arrest; this time, his breath-alcohol content was 0.14 percent. Mullan was ordered by the judge in Snohomish County not to drive his pickup truck without an ignition-interlock device; Mullan agreed.
He was driving the same pickup truck March 25 when he struck the Schulte family. His breath-alcohol percent was allegedly 0.22 at the scene.
In December 2012, Robertson, 25, of Tacoma, was arrested in Tacoma for DUI after allegedly hitting another vehicle on a freeway off-ramp and driving away. A witness called 911 and followed him until Tacoma police pulled him over. His breath-alcohol content was measured at 0.18 percent. When he was released from the Pierce County jail, Robertson was ordered not to drink any alcohol.
On April 4, witnesses reported that his SUV made a sudden U-turn on SR 520 and drove head-on into Williams’ car at approximately 100 mph. An almost-empty bottle of whiskey was found on the seat next to him.
Why were these men allowed to continue to drive with suspended licenses? Mullan posted $10,000 bail after the Snohomish County hearing when he showed up drunk. While the judge ordered him not to drive without the ignition-interlock device, the state cannot force a person to put one on his car if he says he is not going to drive.
According to a Seattle Times article, there are currently 43,784 people in the state Department of Licensing database who are required to have an ignition-interlock device to legally drive; of those, 26,768 actually have the device.
The three recent deaths have sparked a bipartisan group of state lawmakers to begin work on strengthening drunk-driving laws, including more treatment for people convicted of DUI, making drunk driving a felony on the third conviction, requiring cars impounded after DUI arrests to be outfitted with ignition-interlock devices and bringing a person arrested for DUI before a judge more quickly.
Driving the wrong way
While these new measures would help, ultimately, it is up to an individual not to drink-and-drive. The tragic accident on SR 520 reminded me of a shameful decision I made about a dozen years ago.
One night, I spent a couple hours drinking with a group of friends in the University District. We decided to move to another bar in Fremont. As we left, I told my friends I would meet them there. I walked to my car and started driving to Fremont, even though I knew I shouldn’t have.
I drove along the water, took a wrong turn and ended up crossing the University Bridge. When I reached the other side, I turned around and crossed again. As I drove up Eastlake Avenue Northeast, I turned left onto the oncoming, one-way lane from Northeast 40th Street. A driver coming toward me slammed on his brakes, blared his horn and flashed his car lights.
I immediately realized I was driving the wrong way with my lights off. I did a U-turn, crossed the bridge again, turned around and exited the bridge the correct way. But even after that, I didn’t wise up: I still drove to the bar in Fremont — although I did switch to drinking soda.
Thinking about it now, I still shake my head at my stupidity. I could have killed someone that night.
I’m confident I have since learned my lesson. I just wonder how many people driving in Seattle tonight — or tomorrow morning or afternoon — haven’t learned that lesson or are unable to learn it. When it comes to preventing these tragedies, we all hold the keys.
MATTHEW WILEMSKI is an award-winning columnist.
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