Woman So Drunk She Does Not Know Her Name Kills Bicyclist

June 12, 2009

A Pensacola woman who was so drunk that she did not know her own name is accused of DUI manslaughter for killing a bicyclist on Nine Mile Road. She left the scene, and nearly hit a deputy’s cruiser when she returned about an hour later.

Christina Rae Rivkin, 32, is charged with  DUI manslaughter, DUI with property damage, DUI and leaving the scene of a crash involving a death in connection with the death of Michael Adam Steele, 25, of Pensacola.

The Florida Highway Patrol says Rivkin was traveling westbound on Nine Mile Road when she crossed the white line near Brewster Street and struck Steele as he was riding his bicycle about 11:15 Wednesday night. Troopers say Steele and his bicycle were dragged under Rivkin’s GMC Yukon for about a quarter of a mile. Rivkin then fled the scene.

A passerby called 911 after discovering the body in the roadway. About an hour later, Rivkin returned to the scene, where she “skidded to an abrupt stop nearly striking the patrol car of Deputy Mark Smith,” the FHP report says. She “appeared extremely intoxicated. She smelled strongly of alcoholic beverage and her speech was slurred. She could not walk without assistance. (She) could not remember her name or say where she was,” the report continues.

Rivkin, according to the FHP, refused to perform a breath test, and a blood sample was taken to determine her blood alcohol level. Those test results are not yet available.

“He jumped out in front of me. What was I suppose to do?” Rivkin told a trooper at the scene.

The FHP says that the front of Rivkin’s vehicle had damage consistent with hitting the bicyclist, and “there appeared to be blood on the front of her vehicle.”

Rivkin is the estranged wife of Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Rivkin, according to an FHP report. For that reason, the sheriff’s department would not release her booking photo due to a law that protects the spouse of a law enforcement officer.

Rivkin had at least two prior DUI arrests and five other moving violations, according to the FHP.

Steele was riding his bicycle to work as part of the stock crew at the Nine Mile Road Winn Dixie when the accident occurred, according to family members. Steele and his wife, Brittney, 20, only owned one car, and family members said he wanted his wife to have the car for her morning commute. He rode the bicycle so that she did not have to drive him to work so that she would be well rested for her job.

Comments

18 Responses to “Woman So Drunk She Does Not Know Her Name Kills Bicyclist”

  1. Kat on June 13th, 2009 7:27 pm

    That woman should rot in jail for as long as the law allows for her charges . Mikey was a wonderful person who will be missed very much.

  2. William on June 13th, 2009 12:27 am

    judy — her bond is $500,000 total on five charges. See a new story here:

    http://www.northescambia.com/?p=8834

  3. judy on June 13th, 2009 12:21 am

    according to jail records, her bond is apparently set at $100,000 w/her next court date on 7/2…doesnt look like she made bond quite yet either…what a nightmare for everyone involved….condolences to the Steele family

  4. t on June 12th, 2009 9:25 pm

    to Mrs Steele, your husband was a wonderful and thoughtful man to have rode a bicycle to workso you could be well rested and have the car. I’m deeply sorry for your loss. Prayers are with you during this time. And for Scott, this is a difficult time, hold strong. Keep faith. To others, it was ESTRANGED wife. Quit blaming him for her actions!!!

  5. TH on June 12th, 2009 6:46 pm

    Hmmmmm, so this is her 3rd DUI?????? And how many more people will she kill before paying consequences, can you say ….1…..2…..3……AND I BET anyone amount of money that she will have a GOOD attorney that will use the argument ” HE JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF HER”
    I stand by what I always say………Drink/Drive/ & KILL…..Molest a kid…….get a slap on the hand………Write a bad check and go straight to JAIL for 18 months!!!!

  6. David Huie Green on June 12th, 2009 3:27 pm

    note to self: don’t ride bicycle near midnight, hard to see and too many drunks out

  7. David Huie Green on June 12th, 2009 3:25 pm

    “Her husband is ESTRANGED. That means they are not together. ”

    it also means they are still married

    maybe they will get back together

  8. David Huie Green on June 12th, 2009 3:23 pm

    “how does a bicycle “jump” out in front of a moving vehicle??”

    trees do it all the time

  9. Trey Banks on June 12th, 2009 2:35 pm

    her rehab should be jail.i would not worry about the husband, it was his estranged wife.

  10. Beegee on June 12th, 2009 2:31 pm

    I agree with Mofo…..and how does a bicycle “jump” out in front of a moving vehicle??

  11. Byrneville Resident on June 12th, 2009 1:41 pm

    I can’t imagine what kind of law would prevent publishing the booking photo of the spouse of a law enforcement officer. Why are they any different than anyone else arrested for a crime?? I think someone should look into getting this law changed……….

  12. Barricade on June 12th, 2009 12:52 pm

    How about you not type in all CAPS. For starters read the story. Her husband is ESTRANGED. That means they are not together. Just because he is in Law Enforcement does not mean he is responsible for her actions. She is an adult and she will answer for what she did. I hope she gets life in prision. My heart and prayers go out to the wife and family as it is a great loss.

  13. BRANDY on June 12th, 2009 11:49 am

    SHE NEEDS TO BE PUT IN A REHAB AND THEN IN JAIL. I WONDER WHERE HER SPOUSE WAS AT THE TIME OF HER DRIVING AND IF HE KNEW THAT SHE WAS DRUNK SINCE HE IS IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUSINESS. I THINK THAT SHE SHOULD BE PUT AWAY FOR A LONG TIME.

  14. wanderinghoo on June 12th, 2009 11:43 am

    simply tragic and totally senseless.

  15. noh8rs on June 12th, 2009 11:09 am

    If she makes a deal she will get about 15yrs.

  16. Ryan on June 12th, 2009 10:53 am

    This woman deserves to be put away for a very very long time. Especially with her proirs. She has no right to be putting my life or anyone elses in danger any longer!! What a disgrace, and a terrible loss of what I am sure was a great husband, and an earth friendly person.

  17. noh8rs on June 12th, 2009 10:06 am

    Where was she arrested for the prior DUI’s?

  18. mofo on June 12th, 2009 9:33 am

    didnt know her name but knew he jumped out in front of her what a crock

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News