New Jersey DWI Lawyer Blog
If you don’t think a drunk driving arrest can affect your livelihood or way of life, just take a look around. There are many people whose lives have been turned upside down due to a DWI or DUI conviction. As a New Jersey DWI defense attorney, the lawyers in my firm have a great deal of experience defending hard-working people all across the Garden State. Consider the case of a grade school teacher who lost her job as a result of an accident she allegedly caused while driving under the influence of alcohol.
According to news reports, Alicia M. Pickul, a resident of Hammonton, NJ, was arrested by police in mid-July following an accident in Dennis Township. Police reports indicate that the 27-year-old elementary school teacher was driving her Honda Accord westbound on Sea Isle Boulevard when she allegedly hit an Isuzu Rodeo from behind. The Isuzu, driven by Alexa Zauck, was traveling in the same direction as Pickul’s Honda.
Following the impact, the Rodeo crossed into the eastbound lane, overturned and rolled into an adjacent wooded area. Zauck and her passenger, Tracey Ruffino, were both trapped inside their vehicle until emergency crews from the Ocean View and Dennis Fire Departments arrived at the scene.
Zauck reportedly was transported to Cape Regional Medical Center by Sea Isle Ambulance Corps for minor injuries. Ruffino was airlifted to Cooper University Trauma Center in Camden by South Star medevac where she treated for serious injuries.
According to the police, Pickul’s blood alcohol content at the time of the accident was 0.21 percent. She was charged with driving while intoxicated and assault by automobile. Although the accident was still under investigation and Pickul has not yet had her say in court, published reports show that administrators at the Folsom Elementary School where she taught first grade fired Pickul as of July 28.
Drunk Driving Arrest Cost 1st Grade Teacher Her Job, CapeMayCountyHerald.com, August 27, 2009