DUI Suspected for Beach City Crash

A woman confined to a wheelchair for most of her mobility, and crutches at times, struck eight people in a crosswalk in Redondo Beach, California on December 17. Authorities are currently waiting on toxicology reports to be sure, but it is believed that she was under the influence of prescription medication. Tragically, four of the crash victims lost their lives. An eight-year-old boy, his mother, and two elderly women all perished after the crash. Contact has been made with the DMV and Margo Bronstein, 56, had a perfect driving record until this fateful evening.

Bronstein was relegated to driving a vehicle that had hand-controlled brakes and an additional right side mirror to help her. While there was no record of any driving issues in the past, the DMV also had no record of Margo being a handicapped driver. On this fateful Wednesday night however, she was unable to keep control of her vehicle and crashed into several churchgoers who were leaving a weeknight service. Authorities do no believe she had been drinking but they had reason to believe she had taken some prescription medication, and it altered her state of mind. Bronstein is to be arraigned later today.

It is always suspected that a DUI involves alcohol, or some harder drug, but it is just as easy for a simple prescription medication to alter your mind enough to make you an unsafe driver. This is obviously an extreme case, but it does not take a lot for something like this to happen. Drunk drivers are not always a person who has been out drinking with friends, or a perennial alcoholic. It is just as easy for it to be a person with a perfect driving record who did not realize how a prescription drug would alter his or her reaction times.

It is always strongly recommended that if you are going on certain prescription drugs you should see how they will affect you before you get behind the wheel of a car, or operate any kind of heavy machinery. Sometimes these warnings fall on deaf ears, as we believe that we will be fine, but this instance is a perfect example of the tragedy that can happen when one poor decision is made. If your doctor has prescribed any kind of medication you should definitely avoid driving yourself anywhere until you know you will not be affected by it. Because even the slightest amount of altering can cause a horrible accident like that one the happened Wednesday.

Margo Bronstein is suspected of taking prescription medication before she plowed into a group of eight people in the crosswalk in Redondo Beach, CA. Toxicology reports are not yet back, and when they have returned Smart Start of California will update you. It is important to take from this the consequences of taking any drug and getting behind the wheel before you know how the effects it will have on you. Drunk driving can happen to anyone so make sure you are taking every precaution to be safe, and avoid any tragedies likes the one that took place in Redondo Beach.