~ Was arrested for drunk driving ~
PHILIPSBURG–Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure VROMI Miklos Giterson has denied being drunk when he rear-ended a bus in the wee hours of Thursday morning, while suspected of being under the influence of alcohol.
He declined to answer a number of questions about the accident posed by The Daily Herald, but said in a “personal statement” that the “rumours” about him being drunk at the time were “not true.”
“I would like to state that the rumours of my intoxication at the time of the accident are not true. I will allow the legal process to run its course and will continue to cooperate in any way necessary,” Giterson said in his statement to this newspaper.
“I would like to extend my sincerest apologies to the driver and passengers involved in this incident. They have been in my thoughts since the immediate aftermath and while I am thankful that no one was seriously injured, I will follow up on their recovery.
“While attempting to overtake the vehicle, I miscalculated the proximity of the concrete road-divider and attempted to return to my lane, where I then collided with the passenger bus.”
He was driving his official government vehicle MR-6 when he rear-ended a Toyota HiAce bus on L.B, Scott Road around 5:45am Thursday.
Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Ricardo Henson said in a press statement that reports indicated that MR-6 had rear-ended the bus while traveling in the same direction.
There were five passengers in the bus at the time of the accident. Passengers who were injured in the collision were transported to St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). According to information made available by the hospital, all passengers were released after examination and medical treatment. The nature of their injuries is unknown, Henson said.
When investigating officers arrived on the scene and based on the information gathered on the scene, Giterson was arrested at 5:50am on suspicion of driving a car while under the influence of alcohol. “Such act is considered a crime in St. Maarten,” Henson said.
Giterson was taken to the police headquarters in Philipsburg where he was led before the acting prosecutor and was allowed to speak to his lawyer. After being questioned by the acting prosecutor, Giterson remained in custody to go through the entire legal process and to allow for the investigating Traffic Department officer to continue the investigation. After being questioned, he was released by orders of the acting prosecutor.
Giterson said, “As I am cooperating fully with authorities, I cannot provide specific details of the incident.”
The Police Traffic Department is investigating the accident.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/80374-update-giterson-denies-being-drunk-when-he-rear-ended-bus-in-govt-vehicle
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