Potential Risks Posed by Drivers with Medical Conditions

Date: December 29, 2010
Location: Hillsboro, OR
Name: Unidentified Male Adult

Concerned callers to 9-1-1 helped the Oregon State Police (OSP) find a man having a diabetic emergency and prevented possible tragedy.

On December 29, 2010 at approximately 2:00pm a number of people called 9-1-1 to report that they had seen a possible DUII driver heading west on Highway 26 from the 185th Avenue interchange. The yellow Ford Mustang reportedly drove into the center grass median, swerved into traffic and nearly missed causing several crashes.

OSP Recruit Trooper Pat Peltier spotted the Mustang near Harrison Road and got the driver to pull over and stop. Senior Trooper Mark McDougal arrived on the scene and together the officers recognized that the driver was having a life-threatening diabetic emergency. They rendered medical care until emergency crews arrived. The 35-year-old man was transported by ambulance to St. Vincent Hospital where he was stabilized and was resting comfortably at the time of this report.

Oregon State Police appreciate the citizens who called to report the possible DUII driver. Even though the driver, whose name was not released, was not intoxicated, the citizens’ calls helped the troopers find the man before his medical condition deteriorated further and before a traffic crash happened.

We applaud the quick response and active participation of the citizens who called 9-1-1. We also appreciate the life-saving actions of Troopers Peltier and McDougal, and hope that the driver will experience a return to health very soon.

In this case, everybody won because an accident was avoided and the driver got the medical help he needed. But sometimes traffic accidents are caused by drivers suffering from various medical conditions. Here are some possibilities:

• The driver may have been on medication that specifically stated he shouldn’t drive. That would make it the driver’s fault.
• The driver may have been on medication that did not state he shouldn’t drive, but should have! That would make it the fault of whoever produced, tested, and labeled the medication.
• The driver may have been on medication that should state that he shouldn’t drive, but the pharmacist mislabeled it. Pharmacy’s fault.
• The driver’s doctor may have misdiagnosed a condition, and therefore failed to tell the driver that he shouldn’t be driving.

In the case of traffic accidents caused by drivers with medical conditions, it can get complicated. A competent Portland personal injury lawyer can help guide you through the process.