Ryan Dunn was Drunk and Speeding when He Crashed

Police report that Ryan Dunn, one of the "Jackass" stars, was drunk and speeding when he crashed his Porsche. This is another sad example of why you shouldn't speed, drive drunk, or do both at the same time.

Since Dunn's death on June 20th, people have wondered exactly what happened. The crash happened less than 100 yards from Dunn's home and around a mile from the establishment where he was drinking the night away. This is the case with most traffic accidents--they occur within 10 miles of home.

The horrible truth about this fatal accident is that Dunn killed himself and his passenger, Zachary Hartwell, by driving too fast while he was intoxicated. Reports show that Dunn's blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit of 0.08. His blood alcohol level was 0.196%. Driving at even normal speeds while that intoxicated can lead to a fatal accident.

It is also reported that he was driving at a speed between 130 and 140 MPH. Now, when you combine the level of alcohol in his blood with the speed he was going, a tragic result like this one isn't much of a surprise. Just driving at a high speed like these can lead to a fatality.

The real surprise that comes to mind in this case is that a photo of Ryan Dunn and two other men drinking at Barnaby's was posted on Twitter two hours before his death. Didn't anyone who was with Dunn stop and think that he shouldn't be allowed to drive home? At least one person there probably thought about stopping him and then didn't do it. It seems like his friends would have said something to him to let him know that he didn't need to drive.

And, why did Hartwell get into the car with an obviously-intoxicated Dunn? Surely he didn't think that his friend would be able to control the vehicle. Or, maybe he thought that Dunn could keep it together on the one mile journey home.

It is sad to think that Ryan Dunn and his passenger died because he didn't have the sense to call a cab or ask someone to take him home. Let this tragedy be a lesson to everyone that drinking, driving and speeding don't mix. No parent should have to bury a child because of a drunk driving accident, but sadly, this is an occurrence that happens all too often in our society.