Police: Man arrested in wrong-way accident knew he was drunk
This undated booking photo provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office shows Stephen B. Martin. Authorities said the Phoenix man arrested in a wrong-way freeway accident in which a fire department dispatcher was fatally injured had a blood-alcohol level nearly four times the legal limit. The Arizona Department of Public Safety also said that 39-year-old Martin said after the Tuesday morning accident that he knew he was drunk and shouldn't be driving. (AP Photo/Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)
PHOENIX >> Authorities say a Phoenix man arrested in a wrong-way freeway accident in which a fire department dispatcher was fatally injured had a blood-alcohol level nearly four times the legal limit.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety also said that 39-year-old Stephen Martin said after the Tuesday morning accident that he knew he was drunk and shouldn’t be driving.
According to DPS, a woman in Martin’s SUV said they couldn’t find a place to turn around on Interstate 17.
DPS said he had a blood-alcohol level of .313. The legal limit is .08.
Martin remained jailed on suspicion of second-degree murder and other crimes.
When Martin appeared in court Wednesday, defense attorney Vicki Lopez said the case resulted from an “unintentional act.”
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