Test Shows Petersburg, VA, Firefighter Nearly Twice over Legal Limit
The breath test registered .145 -- nearly twice the legal limit.
That's what a firefighter behind the wheel of a Petersburg fire truck blew Tuesday afternoon after the rig hit a parked vehicle.
A person who saw the fire truck stopped in the middle of the street initially thought it had broken down.
"When I saw the officer giving him a sobriety test, that's when I knew something was off with the situation," a witness told WTVR.
Aaron M. Hinspater, 34, was charged with driving while intoxicated. He was released on $1,500 bail.
Hinspater, who has been with the department for nine months, admitted to officers that he drank 18 beers, court records showed.
A source told the reporter that Hinspater stopped drinking about 3 a.m., five hours before his shift started.
He was placed on administrative leave.
"That's scary because they're supposed to be there to help us when we call them. And, if you're not functional and stuff, that's scary to know that they're not going to be there to help if under the influence of alcohol," a witness said.
Susan Nicol | News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.
