Being DUI doesn’t just mean driving under the influence of alcohol. Both legal and illegal drugs can influence levels of perception, inhibition, and reaction time when behind the wheel.
The U.S. Sun reported on Monday that a 16-year-old driver, whom authorities confirm was driving under the influence of drugs, struck a mother and baby as they were walking in Venice along a street in Venice earlier this month.
CCTV video footage taken near the intersection of Galleon Street and Speedway in Venice shows the speeding driver careens toward the mother who was pushing a stroller with her baby inside.
The video shows that the teen did not attempt to slow his vehicle while the young mother, sensing imminent danger, tries to protect her infant from the oncoming vehicle. Moments later, she is hit by the dark-colored sedan and sent airborne.
The driver crashed his car a short distance away and attempted to flee the scene. However, the teen was prevented from doing so by several angry eyewitnesses to the incident. Video shows that the eyewitnesses were clearly upset at what the teen had done to an innocent mother and child.
Thankfully, the woman was able to get back to her feet. Los Angeles Police Department officers responding to the scene confirm that both mother and baby did not suffer life-threatening injuries in the collision.
Police arrested the teen on suspected DUI, hit-and-run, and booked him into custody. Court documents indicate that he was released several hours later.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information was available at the time of the report.