Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Charge against doctor dropped in drunk driving death of jogger

Carlson's DWI Charge in Menzies Death Dropped

Jul 01, 2014

 RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) - The DWI charge against a Mechanicsville doctor accused of hitting and killing a jogger in Hanover County in January has been nolle prosequi, or dropped.

Dr. Michael J. Carlson, 47, is charged in the death of Meg Menzies, a mother of three and avid runner. Menzies was married to Sergeant Scott Menzies of the Ashland Police Department. 
An additional charge of involuntary manslaughter was sent to the grand jury.
Around 8:15 a.m. on Jan. 13, a 2014 Toyota Sequoia was traveling west on East Patrick Henry Road when it ran off the right side of the curved roadway and struck Menzies, who had been jogging east on the westbound shoulder of the road. The crash occurred near the intersection of East Patrick Henry Road/Route 54 and Hickory Hill Road.

Menzies was transported to VCU Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Menzies was an active member of the Richmond Road Runners club.
Stay with 8News on air and online for updates on this developing story.


Compare the above outcome with the very different result in a similar case:


Drunk Driver Who Killed Young Man Gets Nearly 12 Years in Prison


A motorist who drove drunk the wrong way on two freeways before getting into a head-on collision that killed the other driver has been sentenced to 11 years and eight months in state prison.
Nicholas Gervais, 29, pleaded guilty in May in San Diego Superior Court to vehicular manslaughter and DUI in the death of John M. Hajosy.
He had faced up to nearly 14 years in prison.
Gervais also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and DUI with a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent or higher in the Feb. 23 death of Hajosy, also 28.
Deputy District Attorney Lucy Yturralde told a judge at Gervais’ arraignment that the defendant was spotted driving south in northbound lanes of state Route 125 about 2:10 a.m. on Feb. 23.
An El Cajon police officer tried to get Gervais’ attention by flashing his lights at the wrong-way driver and tried to videotape what was happening, Yturralde said.
Eventually, Gervais got on state Route 94, driving his BMW west in the eastbound lanes up to about 80 mph, before crashing into Hajosy’s car, the prosecutor said.
Hajosy died at the scene of head injuries and a lacerated spleen.
Hajosy’s mother said her son had been out on an “amazing date.”
Gervais was taken to a hospital and breathalyzer test showed his blood-alcohol content at .23 percent and .21 percent about three hours after the crash, according to Yturralde, who said a marijuana pipe were found in Gervais’ car.
– City News Service

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