The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's report, which was being released Thursday, calculated the fatality rate per 100 million miles driven. NHTSA considers a crash alcohol-related if a driver had anything above a 0.01 blood-alcohol level, which is far lower than the 0.08 legal limit in 45 states.

South Carolina saw the greatest increase in its death rate during the four-year period, followed by Kansas, South Dakota, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. The states with the highest numbers of alcohol-related deaths per miles traveled were Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, Nevada and Louisiana.

Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Washington-based Governors Highway Safety Association, said experts can't explain why some states have far fewer drunken driving deaths than others.

"There don't seem to be any patterns," she said. "Some have seen increases after a period of decreases and they're doing the same things as they were in the past."

Harsha suspects rates remain high in some places because of a growing number of alcohol-related motorcycle accidents in the last five years. She also said motorists are driving faster than they used to, so they're more likely to be in fatal crashes that may be fueled by alcohol.

Drunken driving deaths declined markedly during the 1980s and early '90s as organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving were formed and drew attention to the problem.

NHTSA's report showed 26,173 alcohol-related traffic deaths in 1982, or 60 percent of all traffic deaths, falling to 16,572, or 40 percent, in 1999. For 2002, the figures were 17,419 alcohol-related deaths, or 41 percent of all traffic fatalities.

"We seem to be stalled or stuck at relatively the same fatality rate," said Dennis Utter, the chief mathematician for NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis.

Earlier this month, NHTSA administrator Dr. Jeffrey Runge said the nation needs to establish special drunken driving courts, screen medical patients for alcohol abuse and enlist the help of alcohol manufacturers in order to combat the rise in death rates.

Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia saw their alcohol-related death rates decrease, NHTSA says in its new report. Four states — Vermont, Indiana, Oregon and Iowa — and the District of Columbia saw their rates fall by 25 percent or more.

Vermont, Utah, Maine, New York and Indiana had the lowest overall death rates.

Vermont was the only state that showed consistent annual declines in its alcohol-related traffic deaths, NHTSA said. The state had an overall decline of 54.1 percent between 1998 and 2002.

Chuck Satterfield, a deputy sheriff and spokesman for Vermont's highway safety office, said Vermont put a number of measures in place after finding it had the worst rate of teen alcohol-related crashes in the mid-1990s.

Satterfield said police set up drunken driving checkpoints twice a year and coordinate them with a media campaign. Vermont also has one attorney who helps local prosecutors go after drunken drivers and another who keeps track of convictions and has the power to take vehicles from repeat drunken drivers.

NHTSA's numbers don't necessarily match data collected by states, since states vary widely in the amount of information they gather at accident sites. In cases where the dead weren't tested for blood-alcohol levels, NHTSA uses estimates and statistical procedures to determine the likelihood that alcohol was involved.

********************************************************** Woman Sentenced In DWI Fatal Tells Family She's Sorry
By ROBIN SMITH, Staff Writer
Thursday December 2, 2004
NEWPORT CITY
Andrea Poutre of Irasburg apologized Wednesday for causing the death of her friend Amy Willey of Glover in a drunken driving accident two years ago.

But not all of Willey's family accepted that apology in a sentencing hearing in Orleans District Court.

Poutre, 22, has pleaded no contest to charges of drunken driving, causing injury and death. She faces at least 10 years of counseling, screening and probation, and cannot drink alcohol for at least that long, ordered Judge Dennis Pearson. She will serve two months in jail.

"I don't believe she understands or cares," Willey's sister Amanda said in a statement about Poutre. "I feel that Andrea deserves to be punished. I don't believe she has or ever will learn from this."

Marijah Pike, who is still injured because of the accident, sobbed and screamed at Poutre as Poutre left the packed courtroom: "You are still a bad person Andrea."

The accident also affected the lives of two little girls. Amy Willey's daughter Brianna is now 4 and living with her grandmother Julie.

Poutre's own 4-year-old daughter is undergoing counseling to prepare her for her mother's time away in jail.

"This community has suffered a tremendous loss," said Orleans County State's Attorney Keith Flynn.

State police used forensic and DNA evidence to accuse Poutre of driving drunk on Route 58 in Evansville Dec. 2, 2002, after a night of bar-hopping with Willey. Police said her vehicle strayed into the other lane and hit a pickup head on. Pike, a passenger in the truck, suffered a broken leg.

The Willey family is suing Poutre's insurance company and the now closed bar, Chuck's Pub in Westmore, where the women drank before the accident, said attorney Vincent Illuzzi.

Poutre sobbed as she spoke Wednesday.

"It was just another night of relaxing and socializing with a good friend," she said.

Now, her life has become "a nightmare that never seems to end," Poutre said. "My heart goes out to Brianna. I am truly very sorry."

The Sentence

Building on a plea agreement, Pearson sentenced Poutre to 5 to 15 years, all suspended except 60 days in jail and 60 days of furlough and work crew.

She must successfully complete intensive alcohol abuse counseling and participate in group counseling with the families.

She faces at least 10 years of probation, including conditions that began Wednesday that she not purchase, possess or drink alcohol.

Poutre can't drink alcohol "any time, any reason, anywhere," Pearson said.

Probation officers can ask her to undergo alcohol screening at any time, anywhere, over at least 10 years, he said. She must sign a waiver to allow her probation officer to talk to her counselor about how the treatment is progressing. And the probation officer can restrict with whom Poutre associates for the next 10 years at least.

Pearson also said Poutre cannot apply for discharge from probation for at least 10 years from Wednesday's date. Probation, Pearson said, will continue indefinitely, only ending when the court decides it is over.

Poutre must also perform 200 hours of community service, particularly speaking to students about drunken driving and its consequences.

She must work, or be looking for work, and can gain her driver's license back after a year. She must pay $10,014 in restitution, at $100 a month to start after the sentence.

Pearson delayed the start of the jail sentence until Jan. 5, agreeing with Poutre's attorney that Poutre's daughter needed to complete counseling before her mother went to jail. Pike and some supporters muttered angrily about the delay.

"She can party on New Year's," one person complained.

Pearson said the sentence will provide ample supervision and monitoring.

"Poutre's life will be controlled by the probation officer for at least 10 years," he said.

He agreed with Flynn that simply sending Poutre to jail for a length of time without treatment or supervision afterward is not sufficient.

Both families have supported the plea agreement, said Poutre's attorney, Paul Volk. He said he believed she would not violate the conditions set upon her.

The sentence is just and fair, Pearson said, offering punishment, rehabilitation, limited risk to the community and deterrence to others.

The community will be watching, said Volk. "She is going to be judged by her actions. She knows that."

Pearson said drunk driving "will not be tolerated by the court."

A friend of Pike yelled at the judge: "You do more time for a joint (of marijuana) than for killing somebody."

The woman was escorted from the courtroom by a sheriff's deputy.

"This does send the message loudly and strongly enough," Pearson said.

The judge acknowledged that Poutre did not apologize to Pike, and said the court could not make her do it. Pike had said to Pearson that she forgave Poutre but muttered bitterly from the audience throughout the hearing.

"Hopefully at some point Ms. Poutre will find it in her heart to offer a direct and sincere apology," Pearson said.

The Statements
Victim's advocate Ann Vining read the statements of the Willey family.

Mother Julie asked that the community remember her daughter, who lived with her, and her granddaughter.

"We go to the cemetery often whenever Brianna asks to go and this seems to help her," Julie Willey said. "It has been almost impossible for me to deal with the emotions that Brianna goes through, while I am dealing with my own emotions."

Julie Willey asked that Poutre get jail time, followed by counseling and lots of supervision. "All the conditions given by this court won't mean anything if she is not supervised to be sure she follows them," she said.

She also asked that the state help victims get information and better treatment from the police after crimes.

Pike, who was too distraught to give more than a few statements, had friend John Clark speak for her.

Pike, he said, missed six months of school, takes 46 pills a day for pain, and still suffers from a bone infection that could threaten her life one day. She suffers from depression, limps and has a horrible scar, Clark said.

The Poutre family and the community share "collective guilt" for ignoring and condoning pervasive alcohol abuse, Clark said.

As a Christian, Pike has forgiven Poutre, he said.

Still, there appears to be bad blood between Poutre supporters and Pike. As Pike continued to yell at Poutre after Poutre left the courtroom, one woman said to Pike, "very Christian of you."

****************************************************

Seeking $5M For Wrongful Death Of Amy Willey

Mother Suing Pub Over DWI Fatal

BY ROBIN SMITH Staff Writer
Wednesday December 15, 2004
NEWPORT VERMONT
Orleans Superior Court --The mother of the young woman killed in a 2002 drunken driving crash is suing the former pub where convicted drunk driver Andrea Poutre reportedly became intoxicated.

Julie Willey of Glover, mother of the late Amy Willey, is suing on behalf of herself and Amy's 4-year-old daughter, Brianna Cotnoir.

Amy Willey died after the car she was a passenger in crashed into another vehicle Dec. 4, 2002, in Evansville. The driver, her friend Poutre of Irasburg, has pleaded no contest to charges of drunken driving, causing a fatal accident that killed her friend and left another young woman with injuries.

Poutre and Willey were bar hopping, and had their last drinks before the accident at Chuck's Willoughby Pub in Westmore.

Amy Willey lived with her mother and daughter.

Julie Willey is seeking $5 million in punitive damages from Chuck's Willoughby Pub Inc., owner Charles Nebelski, and building owners William and Deborah Watson, according to court complaints filed in Orleans Superior Court.

The pub on Route 5A closed after the accident. Owner Nebelski, a Brownington resident, had state licenses to sell beer, wine and liquor, according to the complaint.

Attorney Vincent Illuzzi said Julie Willey is suing the pub corporation and the companies which insured the pub and building. Willey has already settled a lawsuit with Andrea Poutre's insurance company, Illuzzi said. He would not reveal the amount of that settlement.

In the complaint, Illuzzi said Poutre drank two double drinks of Kahlua and milk at Mulligan's in Newport City before driving with Amy Willey to Chuck's pub. Amy Willey had one beer at Mulligan's and one beer on the way.

During sentencing this month, Poutre called the evening a normal one of relaxing and having a few drinks with a friend.

At Chuck's pub, Poutre drank Kahlua and Firewater, a bright red cinnamon, 100-proof schnapps, according to the complaint.

The pub owner and employees "knew and was familiar with Andrea Poutre's drinking habits because Ms. Poutre was a Ôregular customer,'" according to the complaint.

Defendant Nebelski "knew she had a Ôdrinking problem' and that she was Ôquite a drinker,'" the complaint said.

Illuzzi wrote that the pub served Poutre alcohol when she was apparently intoxicated, based on Poutre's own recollections. That was "habit or routine practice" at the pub, according to the complaint.

The pub is to blame, in whole or part, for Willey's death, Illuzzi wrote.

Nebelski also was regularly served alcohol when he was apparently intoxicated, he said.

The Watsons knew or had reason to know that the pub served alcohol to intoxicated customers, and are liable as landlords, Illuzzi stated.

Nebelski was apparently intoxicated at times in the Watsons' Willoughby Restaurant after drinking in his own pub, Illuzzi wrote. The restaurant and pub were connected in the one-story building.

The Watsons had sought to have Nebelski stopped for drunken driving after driving away from the pub, Illuzzi wrote.

The Watsons owned the building until Dec. 16, 2002, according to their response to the complaint. The sale came 12 days after the fatal accident. The restaurant had closed earlier in 2002.

Deborah Watson of Brownington and William Watson, now of Lowell, Mass., denied the complaint, according to court records.

State liquor control officials said they have been investigating to see if liquor laws were broken at the pub leading up to the accident.

***************************************************

Irasburg Woman Accused Of DWI, Causing Death
Plea Agreement Sought In Fatal Accident Case
By ROBIN SMITH, Staff Writer
Wednesday July 7, 2004

An Irasburg woman accused of a 2002 drunken driving accident that killed a friend is expected to cut a plea agreement this summer.

Andrea Poutre, 22, pleaded innocent to three charges, including drunken driving, death resulting.

State police say Poutre was driving her car on Route 58 in Evansville on Dec. 2, 2002 when it crashed into another vehicle, killing young mother Amy Willey, 21, of Glover, and injuring Marijah Pike, a passenger in the second vehicle driven by Christopher Fuller.

Poutre did not remember who was driving her car that night. Both women had been drinking since the afternoon at Mulligan's in Newport City and then later in Chuck's Pub in Westmore.

It took a year before police charged Poutre for the accident. Police relied on forensic evidence - the location of the women's shoes and bodies, and DNA evidence, according to affidavits.

Now, a change of plea hearing is expected within 60 days, according to court records. A pre-sentence agreement - in advance of the plea agreement - was requested Tuesday in Orleans District Court.

Poutre is also charged with DWI, injury resulting, a felony, and possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor. Police said she admitted smoking marijuana and drinking before the accident.

She has been free on condition she report to police for breath tests.

Willey left behind a daughter, Brianna.

The maximum sentence for the most serious charge is 1 to 15 years.

************************************************

Teen In Irasburg Crash Dies
Two Crashes, Three Deaths
BY LARA HUETH, Staff Writer
Friday December 6, 2002

The one-car crash on Creek Road in Irasburg Saturday night has claimed another life, that of 15-year-old Joel Perron of Irasburg.

Perron suffered head trauma in the crash and state police were informed of his death early Thursday morning.

Monday morning, a spokesman for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center had listed Perron's condition as critical.

Perron had been wearing a seat belt when the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier he was driving slid off icy Creek Road into Lord's Creek around 11:50 Saturday night.

Perron and front-seat passenger Renee Delabruere, 17, of Newport Center, were trapped in the partially submerged vehicle. Delabruere drowned in the Cavalier and was pronounced dead at North Country Hospital in Newport 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

The third passenger in the vehicle, Evan Maxwell, 15, of Irasburg, suffered minor injuries, and was able to go for help after the crash.

State police said the crash is still under investigation, adding that there is no evidence of alcohol.

Alcohol Possible Factor In Wednesday Crash

Alcohol may have played a role in the two-car crash on Route 58 in Evansville Wednesday night, said Sgt. Kevin Charboneau.

Amy Willey, 21, of Glover, died in the Evansville crash. Police still do not know if Willey was the driver or passenger of a 2000 Mazda. Neither Willey nor the other occupant, Andrea Poutre, 21, of Irasburg, were wearing seat belts, and the two young women were thrown around inside the vehicle, Charboneau said. Poutre suffered a broken jaw and bruises in the crash.

It appears that one or both of the Mazda's occupants had been consuming alcohol, said Charboneau. Criminal charges are pending, which is common in all severe auto crashes.

Charboneau added that the roads were clear at the time of the crash, around 10:15 Wednesday night.

The Mazda, headed west on Route 58, skidded into the opposing lane of traffic and collided with a 1992 Plymouth Colt. The driver of the Plymouth, Christopher Fuller, 17, Orleans, suffered lacerations and contusions. Fifteen-year-old passenger Marijah Pike received a broken leg. Pike and Fuller were wearing seat belts.

Charboneau added that it's been a hectic week for the state police in Derby.

"People have to learn to slow down," he said.

******************************************************
I am a survivor of a drunk driver.I was a backseat passenger when a drunk driver,drag racing another car,rear-ended the car I was in ,going over 100mph.This happened aug 23,2003.I was ejected 45ft from the car.I suffered a opsipical fracture,with brain swelling,c-1 fracture,broke all of my ribs,shattered my right shoulder blade,severed my right bi-cep muscle,fractured my pelvic bone,fractured my right hip,knocked my left hip out of socket, and twisted,broke in 2 places my spine and severed my spinal cord.

I am now a paraplegic.

I pray that if any one has to get drunk, please do not get behind the wheel of a car.I was very lucky that I was thrown from the car,other wise I would be a permanent fixture.

This happened on rt.3, granite city,il.