Risk Management Magazine

When the night finally ended, my buddy asked, “Are you OK to drive?” Despite the amount of alcohol I drank, I thought I felt fine and believed my blood alcohol concentration was under the legal limit. I am embarrassed to say I was wrong, which I found out when I was pulled over by the local police and later arrested for driving under the influence.

I was driving my usual route. Since I didn’t have physical training that morning, my commute was during daylight hours, which I figured would be much safer. I had no idea what danger lay ahead.

The road has several improved low water crossings as it winds through the alluvial fans of eroded material along the eastern flanks of the mountains. All of these were dry as I proceeded up the canyon. The sun was still shining when I stopped at a picnic area in the canyon to stretch my legs and take in the scenery.