Drunk Driver Causes Crash With Deputy's Cruiser: Sheriff's Office

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — A drunk driver caused a crash with a police cruiser in Stafford County on Wednesday night, the Stafford County Sheriff's Office said.

Nobody was injured in the crash, which involved three vehicles. The vehicles sustained "significant damage," police said.

Authorities said Bernard Griffin, a 31-year-old man from Stafford, caused the crash. He was charged with DUI second offense in five to ten years and following too closely. He was held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober on an unsecured bond.

If convicted, Griffin could face up to 12 months in prison in addition to a fine.

The crash occurred around 9 p.m. on Wednesday on U.S. 1 at the Aquia Park Shopping Center. A Stafford County deputy said he was stopped at the traffic light in his marked police cruiser with another car, a Hyundai Elantra, stopped behind him.

The sheriff's office said an Acura MDX slammed into the back of the Hyundai. The force of the crash caused the Hyundai to collide with the deputy's cruiser.

Another deputy who responded to the crash identified the driver of the Acura as Griffin. Police said Griffin has bloodshot, glassy eyes and the smell of alcohol on his breath. The deputy performed field sobriety tests and took Griffin into custody, according to the police report.

Virginia's drunken driving laws are among the harshest in the nation, the DMV said. If a driver is convicted for a first DUI offense, the minimum punishment includes a $250 fine and a revocation of the driver's license for one year. A DUI conviction can also require the installation of an ignition interlock device.

Across the country, 28 people die in drunken driving crashes every day, according to the DMV.

Resources are available for people who are struggling with addiction. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration operates a 24/7 hotline that can help people find resources and get the help they need.