Jim Leyritz Arrested: DUI Manslaughter

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Posted By: TONY Galovich

He allegedly was drunk last nite & went thru a red lite with his truck & hit a car & killed the woman who was driving
Allegedly intoxicated
refused a blood test
released today on $12K bail

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Posted By: Richard L.

Anyone that drinks and drives is a LOSER, including Mr. Leyritz! So sad that an innocent person lost their life.

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Posted By: peter ullman

what an awful tragedy...i guess leyritz won't be at yankees fantasy camp next fall.


pete in mn

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

I lost two high school classmates to drunk drivers. The penalty for driving drunk is not harsh enough. It should be one and done..forever. You drink, you drive...you get caught...you don't EVER drive again.

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Posted By: barrysloate

I'm with you Dan...and you can add a little jail time too.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

This is sad. DUI is such a selfish crime it makes me sick. If he's convicted he'll surely be spending a decent amount of time and should be. Is driving drunk any different from firing a loaded gun into a crowd?

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Posted By: Steve D

I doubt he will do more then a few years in jail, if that. Sad. I lost a 15 yr old son to reckless drivers.

jeff it is no different as the outcome is the same , yet the law looks at it differently as you know.


Steve

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Steve, I'm sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine dealing with that.

I've seen drunk drivers responsible for deaths spend 15 years in jail; and I've seen them spend no time in jail. In my mind if you are using a loaded weapon recklessly -- whether it be a gun or a car while drunk -- the penalty should be the same.

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Posted By: Joe

I don't want to make light of drunk driving, but, my Brother died of liver disease/failure due to alcoholism. SP, This is a big problem,and I know drinking and driving is a major problem. Don't laugh, but this is a disease. He was addicted to cigarettes, alcohol and anything else that numbed your senses. He always took it to extremes. The people that drive over and over willl not stop until the problem is solved.

joe

Ty Cobb, Spikes flying!

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Posted By: Bob Pomilla

But do we know, in fact, that Leyritz is an alcoholic? His "disease" may just be arrogance.

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Posted By: anthony

joe, sorry about your brother and his problem. i deal with drunks on a regular basis, calling it a disease may be true but its the "weak mans" excuse. i dont buy it.

penalties for drunk drivers are always too light

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Posted By: Joe

I don't really think it is a weak person's excuse. sorry.

Joe

Ty Cobb, Spikes flying!

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Posted By: DD

Alcohol dependency aside, driving while drunk is ridiculous. Drink all you want; lot's of us do sometimes. But you can walk home, call a taxi, use public transportation if it's in your area, or any number of other ways.

You can plan these things ahead of time, and should. There are not many people who can walk into a bar and not come out at least buzzed (probably still over the legal limit at that time).

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Posted By: barrysloate

In 1987 a drunk driver had a head on collision with my aunt, uncle, and grandmother. My 91-year old grandmother was killed and my aunt critically injured. He received no jail time at all. Never understood why.

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Posted By: ItsOnlyGil

I do not know whether he is guilty or not.


Jim Leyritz Arrested: DUI Manslaughter
December 28 2007 at 8:17 PM TONY Galovich (Login tonygalo)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allegedly intoxicated
refused a blood test


Nobody is sticking a needle in my arm unless there is no other choice.
And you do not know whether he is guilty or not.


Edited to add:

Typical reporting.
How about: Did he pass the Breathalyzer?

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Posted By: CN

In New York State a breathalyzer is not mandatory. When you sign up for your driver's license you must agree to submit to any chemical test if requested by law enforcement whether it be a breath,urine or blood test. If you refuse your license gets revoked. In fatalities it is common for a search warrant to be obtained to take blood from the alleged drunk driver. I believe I read somewhere that after he refused his breath test blood was taken.CN

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

CN, that's right. You can refuse a breathalyzer but I think that merits an automatic 6 month license suspension. You can also refuse a blood test -- at least until a judge orders it.

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Posted By: Neal

Can you say LOSER! I hope he sits in jail for a very long time!

Your going to drink and drive you will pay the price,especially taking an innocent live away,mother of 2!!

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Posted By: leon

There is a new law in effect in Ft.Worth for Dec 31-Jan1, 2007-8....if you refuse a breathalyzer there is a magistrate on duty and he will order you to have a blood test....NO REFUSALS....It's been on all of the local news stations....(Dallas and Ft Worth are very close so most N.Texas folks get both news channels)...

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Posted By: Dan Koteles

was she out drinking and driving or coming or going to work? Being out at 3:40 in the am is past bar/breakfeast time. She didnt deserve to die, but most people do not belong out that late.I hope that she didnt die for being at a bar while 2 kids were at home. This is not me exonenrating Leyritz, what an idiot.

I remember in my bar days that one particular night I knew I was going to have a few....well a few too many. I had a cab take me and i had too many and walked the strip for 4-5 hours looking for my car. Finally after not finding it, I walked home and was going to report it stolen and there she was ,my Big Black shiny COupDeVIlle sitting right there in the driveway. Exhausted , I went in and went to bed .Very thankful I called that cab that day.

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Posted By: howard

The dead lady was a bartender and was working the late shift at a restaurant.

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Posted By: anthony

joe,
"calling it a disease may be true but its the weak mans excuse."

i should of added "in my opinion"

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Posted By: Dan Koteles

or any reason ,this is terrible. PERIOD

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Posted By: howard

The fact that he refused a blood test leads me to believe he is guilty. Maybe I'm wrong about him but if I killed someone with a car and I was not under the influence I would immediately agree to a blood test. Anything else looks like guilty behavior to me.

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Posted By: Mike

I live local and there will be more to this story as the times and locations dont match up.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Yeah, but Howard, she was also wearing a short skirt at the time she was plowed into by Leyritz. What did she expect was going to happen dressed like that?

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Posted By: Jerry Rucker

Excuse my Ignorance but who is Jim Leyritz?

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Posted By: Jerry Hrechka

I have diabetes. With this disease you can get a reaction called "Fruity Breath" - which smells like alcohol. Never had a DUI, but I was once arrested for it. I demanded a blood test since a Breathalyzer shows you as having a high alcohol level when a diabetic has a high Ketone (chemically similar to alcohol) level. Big expensive hassle but I was acquited. I now carry this card (Given to me by my doctor):

So, definitely, if innocent - demand a blood test. You might be an undiagnosed diabetic.

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

No excuse for what Leyritz did but the victim was not wearing a seatbelt. You always need to have your belt or harness on when in the vehicle. This is really tragic.

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Posted By: anthony

jerry, you must be a red sox fan like myself...i knew he played for a few teams but i had to google him...he played for the yankees for most of his career.

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Posted By: Jerry Rucker

I don't follow modern baseball to much.

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Posted By: Steve D

The whole situation is a shame. The woman dies and leaves a hubby and a children. Jim Leyritz has to live with that for the rest of his life.

I am sure Mr. Leyritz is feeling terrible right now. I wonder how many here have drove while intoxicated during their lifetime? We were just luckier.


Steve

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Posted By: boxingcardman

1. Leyrityz, if he was DWI, should do a long prison stretch and be bankrupted by the civil suit. That might deter someone watching.

2. I read she was ejected from the car. It is very rare for someone wearing a seatbelt to be ejected from a car, unless it is a convertible. Hopefully this will induce some people to buckle up.

As far as policy goes, IMO:

1. The penalties for DUI resulting in injury, death or property damage, and the penalties for repeat offenders should be commensurate with violent crimes causing the same degree of injury or damage. I am particularly galled by repeat offenders. One of my clients was nearly killed by a drunk driver who had already lost his license. He did heavy jail time, deservedly, for it. A first-time DUI with no damage or injury deserves a penalty but not jail time, IMO, and deserves a second chance. There are quite a few people who are picked up for a DUI after making a poor judgment who are not risks for future incidents.

2. Sorry folks, but alcohol dependence is a disease, a mental disease. http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=45

Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc

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Posted By: ItsOnlyGil

Maybe I am reading a bit more into this than belongs.
Or perhaps, I do not have my facts straight.
But it was reported that his bail was $12K.
Which to me seems like chump change for the alledged crime.
If they really think that he is guilty.
Did anyone notice his BAC from the breathalyzer, or other test?
I agree, do not stick a needle in my arm, if there is another choice.

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Posted By: howard

If alcohol dependency is a disease(I'm not taking sides on that) then it is incumbent upon an alcoholic to 1) get treatment and 2)make transportation arrangements before drinking.

As an ex-major leaguer Leyritz was well aware of programs for addicts that all MLB teams are associated with so if he is an alcoholic and is not getting help he has no excuse.

Actually, number two applies to everybody, alcoholic or not.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Gil, bail is usually determined based upon flight risk and danger to the community. 12K is about right considering Leyritz isn't going anywhere and there is a strong liklihood that he won't be drinking and getting behind the wheel anytime soon -- especially since his license has been yanked.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Not everyone who drinks alcohol has a disease. Maybe he had too many drinks celebrating his birthday, then did a really stupid thing and got behind the wheel.

Sometimes it's a copout to say drug and alcohol use is a disease.

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Posted By: Bob Pomilla

That's the point I was trying to make earlier, Barry, about maybe Leyritz just being "arrogant". We're too quick to give people who behave in an anti-social manner, a pass. There is such a thing as personal responsibility.

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Posted By: Anonymous

I personally could care less what people do in their lives. You want to smoke weed, hire a prositute, drink yourself into a stupor, snort cocaine - whatever. As long as it doesn't harm or endanger anyone else's person or property.

I see little difference between someone driving drunk, and randomly discharging a firearm - neither may intend to hurt someone, but if they do, it's gross negligence.

I'd like to see a mandatory 1 year license suspension for a 1st time DUI (with no injuries), with penalties from there. Let's face it - the overwhelming number of times someone is stopped for DUI, it's almost never their first time driving drunk.

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Posted By: Dan Koteles

I sometimes would rather challenge a drunk driver then a cell phone user. At least you may have a chance to get lucky noticing a swerving drunk driver opposed to an cell phone user that could be disrupted with a call or a call made.This IS A MAJOR problem and I wonder if someone could pull stats on this.

I have a cell phone and use only when iam going to measure a home and was given wrong directions, plus I pull over.I do not want to be found AND I will tell anyone who needs me you can call my store, the hours are 10-7 if you need me.

I at some point am cut off or someone veering in my lane using a phone everyday. Not everyone is quick in response ,wit, life....etc. Many drifty people that are "i" people with no regard for anyone else and these brain surgeons get in autos!

Life for everyone is not always the same wave-length,Iam glad I have a wit about me, it helps me to deal with the multiple personalities in society.

Nearly 90% of women seem to be on a cell phone .I realize they are more organized then most men AND have more responsibilities, but what the hell is there to talk about this FRICKIN much while driving?

edited for spelling

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Posted By: Richard L.

We all see dozens of cell phone users while driving everyday(how could these poor soul's ever survive without it). I commend the few states that have banned it. Unfortunately, the newest fad is text messaging while driving. In my home state of Massachusetts, a man killed a 13 year old boy just a few days ago while texting. It was also a hit and run, what a creep, glad he was caught.

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Posted By: ItsOnlyGil

Jeff,

I will admit that I am not up on this subject. However, since he was released on bail, I assumed that he has not yet gone to trial.

They don't yank his license before he is convicted, do they? I'd imagine that he is currently free to drive.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Gil, by refusing to take the breathalyer I have no doubt his license was immediately suspended. And his trial -- assuming he has one and does not plea bargain -- is months and months away.

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Posted By: Howard

What reason is there for not suspending his license anyway? He has given ample reason to believe that whether he was drunk or not he is an immediate danger to the community if he is allowed to drive. It is really no different than if a gun owner shoots someone. It doesn't matter if he shot someone while committing a crime, by accident or in self defense. Until the reason is determined the gun is taken away. Same with a knife, a pipe, a knuckle duster, a broomstick, or a salami.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

In many states, refusal to submit to a breathalyzer means an automatic suspension of the driver's license for one year-- irrelevant to what other tests prove or disprove. A driver's license is considered a privilege, not a right, and agreeing to the test is a condition of the privilege. One could have all charges dropped, all other tests come up roses, and still have the suspended license because of the refusal.

Whether innocent or guilty, refusing the test is a dumb thing for the testee, as it will only hurt him.

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Posted By: leon

I would guess if you are legitimately drunk your lawyer would tell you not to take the test. I am not defending driving drunk though..

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Posted By: Jerry Hrechka

I am not in any way excusing drunk driving - they should be severely punished. But under certain circumstances a diabetic will show a false positive on a breathalyzer test. I know it happened to me.
Only a blood test can prove the "Ketone Acidtosis" that the person is expieriencing. That's why I'm very leery about trusting breathalyzer tests and tend to doubt the validity of the results.
By the way I'm a Phillies fan.

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Posted By: Fred C

I think I'd demand a blood test (at a minimum) if I were the law enforcement agency in charge of investigating a "potential" drunk driving incident that resulted in a fatality. I wouldn't rely solely on a breathalyzer test to prove guilt. If he's guilty then I'd hope he'd take full responsibility for his actions. If he's guilty and he tries to get off on a technicality or he tries to get off because he has some crack legal team, then all you can do is hope he's found guilty and he is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

If what I read is correct, the police did a blood test of Leyritz anyway. So refusing the test did Leyritz no practical good, and will only do him harm.

Submitting to the test is required by law for a driver, and a lawyer would have to have extraordinary reason to advise his client to break the law. The client being drunk wouldn't be extraordinary reason.

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Posted By: Denny Walsh

I Guess He Knew Better!



Life Is Sooo Precious,
Denny Walsh