Further proof of the insanity of the disease of alcoholism

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This is from our local police department:

"Off Duty Officer Stops Serial DUI Offender with Children in Vehicle


At about 10:14 PM Tuesday evening, an off-duty officer was driving his marked patrol vehicle in south Anchorage when he observed a dangerous driver believed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.


APD Officer XXXX observed a minivan attempting to back out of a grassy median at the northbound ramp from the Seward Highway to Dimond Boulevard. The driver appeared to have tried to drive up the grassy hill to the on-ramp and, when unsuccessful, backed down the hill, turned around, and entered the northbound lanes of the Seward Highway driving southbound into on-coming traffic. A semi-truck pulling two trailers had to take evasive action and drove into a center median to avoid colliding with the minivan. Several other motorists veered off the roadway to avoid being struck as the minivan continued down the highway.


Officer XXXX pursued the vehicle by driving parallel to the suspect in the southbound lanes of the Seward Highway. Despite the officer’s emergency lights, siren, and verbal commands over the loud speaker, the minivan continued travelling southbound in the northbound lanes. Between Huffman and DeArmoun Roads, Officer XXXX drove through the center median of the highway, passed the suspect vehicle, and began slowing his vehicle in front of the suspect while other officers arrived and boxed-in the minivan, bringing it to a stop. The time lapse from the officer’s initial observation to the time of the stop was approximately four minutes. Surprisingly, no vehicles were damaged and no persons were injured in the incident.


Officers made contact with the driver, 33 year old XXXX, and discovered two small girls inside the vehicle, approximately 8 and 2 years of age. Officers questioned XXXX who was disoriented and unaware of her surroundings. XXXX was asked to perform field sobriety tests which she failed. XXXX was then taken to the Anchorage Jail where she continued to show signs of impairment, repeatedly falling asleep during processing.


XXXX was charged with felony DUI (3rd offense in 10 years), two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and driving with a revoked license. XXXX was on felony probation for an assault charge related to a 2007 DUI arrest. XXXX was remanded to the Anchorage Jail. The two small children were released to the custody of a family member."



FYI:  This woman totally could have been me 27 years ago.  I would get so drunk sometimes that I couldn't even speak my name.  This woman is NOT a "bad" person, but she's very sick.  Despite all the evidence that she cannot tolerate alcohol, she still found ways/reasons to drink, and I have no doubt she's completely remorseful while sober.  It just goes to show like it says in the Big Book of AA:  alcoholism is "...cunning, baffling, powerful".  Thank God no one was injured!  

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Reminds me of that terrible story a few years ago about the inebriated woman who drove the wrong way on the Taconic State Pkwy w a minivan full of kids. That one ended much more tragically.

There but for the grace of God go I.

[btay]

My stbxh drove drunk all the time, it was by far the most terrifying part of living with an alcoholic. I would always call the police when I knew he was doing it, but I didn't always know he was doing it until he was already home. I thank God every day that nobody was injured as a result, and the worst that came of it was a DWI for him (which was a blessing in my book)