New York media outlets have reported that the soap opera star Jensen Buchanan was taken into custody during the early morning hours of May 18 after allegedly being involved in a drunk driving accident in California. The 53-year-old actress is best known for her starring roles in the hit shows “One Life to Live”, “Another World” and “The Young and the Restless”.
According to the reports, Buchanan’s sedan was proceeding eastbound on California State Road 154 when it drifted into the path of oncoming traffic near the Santa Barbara County town of Buellton. Police say that her Mercedes then struck a westbound Ford C-Max driven by a 56-year-old man. Both drivers are said to have suffered injuries in the crash, and they were transported by paramedics to a nearby hospital for treatment. The injuries suffered by the driver of the westbound Ford were said to be serious.
While police did not say what Buchanan’s blood alcohol level was at the time of the accident, they did say that she was impaired by alcohol. After being taken into custody, the actress was transported to a nearby detention facility. Her bail was subsequently set at $100,000. The accident caused State Road 154 to be closed for about 20 minutes as emergency services personnel tended to the injured drivers and maintenance crews cleared the roadway.
When presented with facts like these, criminal defense attorneys may scrutinize police reports to ensure that toxicology tests were performed according to strict protocols using equipment that has been properly calibrated and maintained. Attorneys could also have the vehicle involved inspected to determine if a mechanical failure of some sort could have caused the accident. Motorists accused of drunk driving often feel that the evidence against them is overwhelming, but prosecutors sometimes have difficulty establishing proof beyond a reasonable doubt even when their cases are strong.
