Search
In Michigan DUI Causing Death Case Victim’s Intoxication Probably Not Relevant
With marijuana use on the rise in Michigan more and more drivers are found to have marijuana in their system or to even be intoxicated from using marijuana containing products. This is exactly what happened in a causing death case recently decided by the Michigan Court of Appeals. The name of the case is People v. Baase. In this case, the driver was not intoxicated but was he was driving on a suspended license. The victim on the other hand had THC in her system. The defense attorney argued that the accident would not have happened but-for the victim’s diminished capacity to “react to the world around her.”
The Michigan Court of Appeals did not agree with the defense attorney’s arguments and found that the victim’s THC was not relevant. It is not clear from the opinion if the victim had used recreational or medical marijuana. And while this case did not involve an intoxicated driver, the ruling would likely have been the same whether a DUI driver who caused death or serious injury was under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or both.