From RCIPS

This past Saturday morning, officers responded to a number of traffic incidents in Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman, which appear to have been caused by Driving Under the Influence.

At about 2:20AM on Saturday, 1 June, officers in Cayman Brac responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision on Cotton Tree Bay Road involving a Honda sedan and a Jeep.

The driver of the Jeep, a man age 52 of Cayman Brac, was arrested for failing to provide a specimen. The driver of the Honda, a woman age 19 of Cayman Brac, was arrested on suspicion of DUI. The woman had also received minor injuries during the collision and was transported to the Faith Hospital by ambulance for treatment.

In Grand Cayman, around the same time, officers observed a vehicle travelling along Cypros Road which came to a stop in the vicinity of Kennedy Drive. The vehicle remained stationary with the lights on and the engine running for several minutes. Officers approached and found the driver asleep at the wheel. When awoken and spoken to the by the officers the driver appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. A roadside breath test was conducted, with a reading of over 3 times the legal limit. The man, age 52 of George Town, was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Earlier the same morning, just before 1:50AM, officers responded to a report of a single vehicle collision on South Church Street in the vicinity of Denham Thompson Way. Officers attended the location but found that the driver had left the scene. He was located nearby carrying a small bag. However, while speaking to officers he soon began behaving aggressively, making threats and damaging a phone belonging to one of the officers. In addition, officers detected the scent of alcohol on his breath.

As such, the man, age 24 of Bodden Town was arrested on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident, DUI, and damage to property.

After being placed in handcuffs the man continued to behave in an aggressive manner, and attempted to evade the officers, causing minor injury to himself and one of the officers. Officers also searched the bag that the man had in his possession, and found suspected ganja.

The man was further arrested on suspicion of possession and consumption of ganja, threatening violence, disorderly conduct, and assaulting police.

“These incidents serve as a reminder to the public to refrain from driving while under the influence of any alcohol or drugs,” says Superintendent Roje Williams. “All of the drivers involved are now facing court proceedings and various potential penalties. However, it is only due to chance that their actions did not result in more serious and life changing consequences, such as serious injury to themselves and other road users or, in the worst case, lives being lost.  As a community, we must urgently change our attitudes to driving under the influence if we are ever to see less carnage on our roads.”