Tuesday, July 5, 2011

** California EMT faces up to 10 years in jail for drunk driving death

** Florida EMT student charged after threatening to blow up EMS class

UNITED STATES NEWS

** Sentencing has been set for August 5 for a California EMT convicted in the drunk driving death of a college student. The Valley News (Paul Young/July 1) said Elva Diaz, 32, who was found guilty last week in Riverside, could face up to a decade in jail. According to the newspaper, Diaz was intoxicated while behind the wheel of her pickup truck on February 20, 2008 when she struck Rachel Amaris Elliott, 19. Elliott was driving a sedan and died hours later in hospital. Trial testimony indicated Diaz had been drinking at a bar in Corona for several hours prior to the crash. Her then boyfriend attempted to dissuade her from driving, but she declined to take his advice. Fleeing shortly after her arrest, Diaz was found last August in Mexico and extradited back to the US.

** A Florida EMT student has been charged with threatening to discharge a destructive device after becoming agitated when his EMS class was cancelled last Wednesday. Bay News 9 (June 30) said St. Petersburg resident Devin Colley, 19, allegedly uttered his threat twice at the Pinellas County Job Corps Center. According to the news site, he quickly recanted, but not before being heard by 10 other students.