Police: Billiards hall crasher was drunk at 5 times legal limit
By Katie Jones. CREATED Jul 22, 2015
CAPE CORAL, Fla. -- A police report on the crash that killed a Cape Coral man when a truck barreled into a bar is reavealing a stunning detail about the man behind the wheel.
According to Cape Coral Police, William Gulliver's blood alcohol concentration was .402, quintuple the legal driving limit of .08, when he was tested that night at Lee Memorial Hospital.
Monday afternoon, Gulliver had been drinking at Diamond Billiards on Pine Island Road when he reportedly was kicked out after two beers for acting inappropriately and groping at women. He returned to his truck in the parking lot and minutes later crashed through the front of the building.
His truck powered approximately 30 feet into the business and pinned three people to the bar. One of those people, 60-year-old Ron Gravel, an employee at the bar, later died from his injuries.
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75-year-old Gulliver has not been formally charged yet as the investigation is still under way.
Medical Toxicologist Dr. Timothy Dougherty says he sees patients with well over the legal limit blood alcohol levels far too often. "Unfortunately for me, to see levels above 400 that other people would think how could that person be functioning? And they're talking to you," Dr. Dougherty said.
Gulliver's BAC of .402. seems outrageous, but Dr. Dougherty said people react differently based on their tolerance. He said no matter how much you've had to drink, getting behind the wheel could end in a deadly disaster. "Your reaction time gets poor, your vision gets narrower so you don't see things like you're supposed to, you weave, you go faster," Dr. Dougherty said.
Bobby Slabe, general manager of Stevie Tomato's Sports Page in Cape Coral said his bartenders and servers are sent to school for safety. "We have a Responsible Vendors class that we need them to attend to make sure they're able to spot the signs for someone who's been over served," Slabe said.
Slabe said they have the right to refuse service, but can't physically forbid someone from leaving or take their keys. He said if someone gets hurt or injures others, the business could be held responsible. "It can be that way. It's not typically that way, but it all depends on how the prosecutors turn their case. There's a very good chance we are liable for anybody that steps through the doors, so it's our responsibility to make sure that they are able to wake up the next day," Slabe said.
According to SelfCounseling.com, at a BAC of .400, most people lose consciousness, and some die.
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