Whitmore Lake woman sentenced to jail in drunken driving crash that injured passenger
A 19-year-old Whitmore Lake woman was sentenced today to a maximum 120 days in jail and three years of probation after causing a serious crash while driving drunk while her license was suspended last March.
Tiffany Ann Watt pleaded guilty Nov. 22 to charges of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury and driving while license suspended causing serious injury, according to court records.
Tiffany Ann Watt
According to the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department, Watt was driving on Barker Road near Hamburg Road in Webster Township on March 24 when her vehicle was involved in a one-car crash that seriously injured a passenger. The passenger was flown by helicopter to the University of Michigan Hospital for treatment.
Judge Melinda Morris sentenced Watt to 120 days in the county jail, but said Watt may be released from jail after serving 30 days to attend a long-term, in-patient substance abuse rehabilitation program.
Watt told the court she wanted rehabilitation.
"I'm very sorry for all I've done, I've learned greatly from my mistakes and I take full repsonsibility," she said.
She added, "I could learn a lot more in rehab than sitting in jail."
Watt cried and hugged her mother after the sentencing was read.
"Tiffany was really sorry about what happened. She was giving a friend a ride and never meant any harm," said Watt's attorney, Stephen M. Adams.
Adams told the court the incident was Watt's first offense, and said Watt also was injured in the crash.
"The intentional act was simply to have a drink or two drinks and then drive," he said. "Sure there were horrible injuries, but they weren't intended by Tiffany at all."
Comments
Peggy
Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 2:09 p.m.
whitmore lake parent, you ask where are these "kids" parents. Not too hard to figure out, they are at home partying or out partying. Where do you think these kids learned their behavior? When you have a child, planned or not, you MUST grow up and start setting an example or you will end up with kids that behave just like you.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Jan 11, 2011 : 12:34 p.m.
Oh, Nick. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? The girl hurt someone badly because she broke the law. That's more than a little mistake like choosing the wrong line at the supermarket or buying a house in 2005 when you should have waited until 2009.
nickcarraweigh
Tue, Jan 11, 2011 : 10:20 a.m.
Apparently unlike the previous commenters, I have personally made mistakes. Not only that, I expect to make more of them. Might as well lock me up right now. But if 30 days in jail ain't enough to make me perfect, who in their right mind would think 120 days in jail will do the trick? Who's zoomin' who here? What are these people smoking? These writers belong in either Knee Jerk Anonymous or the Tea Party, which are pretty much the same thing.
Snehal
Tue, Jan 11, 2011 : 8:51 a.m.
"The intentional act was simply to have a drink or two drinks and then drive" Isn't this itself subject to stiff punishment? And why was she not charged for underage drinking and why were the person(s) who served her alcohol not charged? Where did she get the alcohol from? Any reports on this one so far?
datter
Tue, Jan 11, 2011 : 8:46 a.m.
My parents are from Norway. It has always been, from day 1 there, the law that no one drives if they intend to drink. It is normal for Norwegians to plan a designated driver for an evening out. Either that, or public transportation or even walking. What is so difficult about learning this behavior in our society? If you wish to drink, plan a cab ride afterwards or have a designated driver. That said, the legal drinking age in Norway is 18, but that is because no one would dare step foot in a car after drinking. The police can arrest someone before they move the vehicle and smelling it on their breath constitutes enough cause to test them and if positive, send them to jail. In the days when I was a kid there, a person's driving privilege was permanently taken away if you dared to get into a car and drive after drinking. And you served jail time and paid huge fines, as well. We need to get serious about law enforcement in our country concerning all these unnecessary deaths and injuries.
DBH
Tue, Jan 11, 2011 : 8:42 a.m.
I think there is a good chance (though not certainty, of course) that 30 days in jail, particularly for a 19 y/o, will have a major beneficial effect on her and significantly reduce her risk of driving while impaired in the future.
Barb's Mom
Mon, Jan 10, 2011 : 10:40 p.m.
I agree. Let her spend the 120 days in jail, then see how anxious she is for rehab.
RJA
Mon, Jan 10, 2011 : 9:41 p.m.
Under age and drinking and driving? License suspended to boot? I wonder what her intention was, and I personally think she should spend the 120 days, and get the help while on probation. Of course the judge rules.