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Accidents at Crowded Festivals

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

Drunk-driving accidents can destroy lives in the blink of an eye, and near a crowded festival, they can be catastrophic, as recently highlighted by an accident at the Oklahoma State Festival. In Stillwater, Oklahoma, around 10:30 a.m. on October 24th, a 25-year-old intoxicated driver plowed her vehicle through a crowd of people at the festival’s homecoming parade. She was allegedly driving around 50 m.p.h. at the time of the crash, and some of the spectators she struck were thrown into the air by the impact. The crash killed four people, including a male toddler, and injured dozens of others. The woman was arrested that day and is awaiting charges, including four counts of second-degree murder. This tragedy came about a year and a half after a similar incident in Austin Texas. In March 2014, 21-year-old Rashad Owens was driving while intoxicated and being pursued by police after making an illegal turn. He allegedly sped up upon realizing he was being chased and began going the wrong way, and eventually crashed through a barricade and into a crowd of spectators at the South by Southwest music festival; three were killed and nearly two dozen were injured. He was found to have had a blood-alcohol level of .114 at the time, certainly beyond the legal limit of 0.08, and is currently awaiting trial for no less than twenty charges. Chicago hosts a variety of large festivals throughout the year, and all visitors have a right to feel safe and secure at these events. Here are some common safety measures which are taken by those who oversee these events and, in light of this recent tragedy which earned nationwide attention, may also be enhanced and bolstered for the future: – Increased police presence in designated areas – Blockage and increased control of heavily-crowded streets – Checkpoints and traffic stops for intoxicated drivers – Ensured availability of public transportation, including more buses and extended hours – Holiday/festival programs in conjunction with, for example, AAA and Budweiser, which tow cars home and provide a free ride to the driver if he/she has drunk too much to drive If you or a loved one has been injured in a traffic accident, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.

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