Driver Was Under Influence of Alcohol, Resident Has Serious Injuries
Dennis Balasabas has serious, non-life threatening injuries, said Summit Police Lt. Richel, and driver was arrested, charged for being under the influence, failure to yield in crosswalk.
The Summit resident who was struck while crossing Summit Avenue on Monday evening sustained serious injuries that appear to be non-life threatening at this time, said Summit Police Lt. David L. Richel. Dennis Balasabas, a 39-year-old Summit resident, was crossing Summit Avenue at Union Place around 5:30 p.m. Monday, Richel said. Mark Boettcher, a 51-year-old Springfield resident, was driving a 2002 Toyota southbound on Summit Avenue when he hit Balasabas, who was in the marked crosswalk. “The driver was arrested at the scene and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, and failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk,” Richel said. The Union County Fatal Accident Team assisted in the investigation due to the initial report …
LF
3:30 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
I drive through downtown nearly every day and while I make my best effort to stop for pedestrians, I often encounter pedestrians who don't even look to make sure I am going to stop and just bolt out into the road. I have trained myself to be looking for these walkers every time I pass the crosswalks, but the pedestrians bear some responsibility, too. i think it is very important for the … more ›