As reported by a staff writer with the Chambersburg Public Opinion, a woman was under the influence of painkillers, sleep aids, anti-anxiety medication and two muscle relaxers when she killed a teenager in a car crash.
M.B. is due in court in August to face charges stemming from the alleged DUI-fueled death of A.K.R., 16, on July 29, 2010. The trial date was scheduled with Judge Richard Walsh after he met with both M.B.’s attorney, Wayne Bradburn, and the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney David Rahauser. Jury selection is set to begin on July 9.
During the hearing testimony was presented by M.B.’s former Fayetteville family physician, Dr. P.D.O.
Dr. P.D.O. said that on July 29, 2010, his nurse injected M.B. with a substance –that is known to result in impaired driving – the same day M.B. was involved in a car crash that killed A.K.R.
M.B. had been Dr. P.D.O.’s patient for four years prior to the accident. During that time Dr. P.D.O. treated M.B. for chronic migraine headaches, elevated cholesterol and acid reflux with Lipitor and Fiorcet.
Lipitor was given to M.B. in sample form to treat her cholesterol and Fiorcet was given to her in a generic prescription form. Fiorcet contains caffeine, acetaminophen and the barbiturate pain reliever Butalbital.
Dr. P.D.O. instructed his patient to take the painkiller up to three times a day for migraines “if needed.”
During his testimony, Dr. P.D.O. said that also treating M.B. was a Hagerstown, Md. psychiatrist. The psychiatrist, according to Dr. P.D.O., was to have performed, or was about to perform, electroconvulsive therapy, ECT, on M.B. at the Brook Lane Health Services.
On the day of the crash, Dr. P.D.O. continued, M.B. had not had the ECT treatment. Dr. P.D.O. said that instead M.B. came to him due to symptoms of migraine and nausea that had plagued her for two days and complained of feeling “stressed and depressed.” He gave her a 50 mg shot of Phenergan in her right arm to combat the nausea.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine website says that side effects, when Phenergan is coupled with barbiturates, can include: drowsiness, confusion, decreased alertness, hallucinations and uncontrollable shaking.
Dr. P.D.O. said that every time that M.B had injections of Phenergan in his office she had “always brought a driver” with her – and that he had administered “numerous” injections.
The doctor contended that though he did not give M.B. the warning about driving that day, as he had at other times, he noted that she had her driver with her.
In Quincy Township, at approximately 2 p.m., M.B. crashed her Pontiac Grand Prix into the Mitsubishi Eclipse that held A.K.R. as a front seat passenger. The Mitsubishi’s driver, C.E.N., 17, was treated for moderate injuries.
Five controlled substances in all were found in M.B.’s system: The painkiller Butalbital; Tamazepam, a prescription sleep aid; Oxazepam, an anti-anxiety medication; along with Clonazepam and 7 Amino Clonazepam, both muscle relaxing drugs.
M.B. faces charges of DUI homicide, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, DUI controlled substance and summary traffic violations.
Charged with DUI, DWI, OUI or OWI? Then you must contact a DUI attorney that knows the DUI laws in your state to provide you with the best defense.