Hospital Refuses to Take Blood

Police Hit Roadblock in DUI Investigation

Police say Danny Balderas was drunk, but when they drove him to Metro General to get a blood sample they didn't get any cooperation.

Witnesses told police Balderas' was driving his SUV on Woodmont Boulevard when he ran through the traffic light at Hillsboro Road.

Danny Balderas was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after Metro police said he drove through an intersection and slammed into another car, injuring a female passenger.

Police found alcohol in Balderas' SUV. The officer also smelled alcohol on his breath and said Balderas was slurring his speech. The officer said he took a field sobriety test and he failed it.

When they took him to the hospital for a blood alcohol test, he said he only had some drinks with dinner.

When the officer took Balderas to Metro General to have blood drawn, he says the nurse on duty and supervisor would not do it because Balderas would not consent.

The accused drunk driver refused to take a breathalyzer or have blood taken, but according to the arresting officer, under state law a hospital must draw blood for a test even if the arrested person refuses.

The officer then got one of the Davidson County DA's on the phone in the middle of the night to tell the hospital about the law.

But the hospital still refused to take the blood.

Now, the family of the victim in the crash has hired an attorney to look into the legal question.

"There is an exception to the implied consent," explained Alan Poindexter. "That is if the person is charged with vehicular homicide or aggravated assault then you don't need their consent because of the exigent circumstances that exist. Now, [if] the blood [is]dissipating quickly over time and you really don't have time to obtain a search warrant, then you can take that blood by force."

Metro General's legal department said it has not been able to find any case law or specific statute giving its staff the authorization or mandate to take blood without a person's consent, unless the police have a police warrant.

The blood sample was not taken, but at this point it doesn't look like it will hurt the case, according the officer.

However, without having that BAC, or blood alcohol concentration level number, Balderas may get a lighter sentence if convicted.

Rescuers had to use the Jaws of Life to get to the victim. Lorie Kindrat,19, is still in the hospital undergoing surgery.

Her family says she has bleeding in her brain, a cracked vertebrae and she may lose her eye.

See Article: newschannel5.com