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Rivkin’s Blood Alcohol was .295 When She Hit, Killed Bicyclist
July 3, 2009
When Christina Rivkin hit and killed a bicyclist on his way to work on June 10, her blood alcohol level was more than three and a half times the legal limit.
Friday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol released its results of Rivkin’s blood tests; The FHP says Rivkin’s blood alcohol levels tested at .297 and .295. The legal limit in Florida is .08.
The FHP said Rivkin was so drunk that she did not know her own name when she hit the bicyclist. 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 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.
Rivkin remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Comments
10 Responses to “Rivkin’s Blood Alcohol was .295 When She Hit, Killed Bicyclist”
Christina got twenty years in prison and 20 years probation..
Thats pretty bad compared to other dui homicides that get 3 to 6 years..
She screwed up big time for pleading guilty to all of this..
And this woman might get six months in jail for this.
The “Dram Shop” law should be repealed.
First and foremost DJ…..if you truly are a spouse of an LEO…. Then you would truly know the situation. Second….I don’t know if you have been out of town or whatnot, but she has not had any special treatment being an “LEO spouse”! Her mugshot and ESTRANGED husbands name were smeared all over the news! Lastly, understand that there are two families involved in this tragic accident! Being a law enforcement officers WIFE, I would think you have better things to do than blog about something you have learned from the news!!
First & foremost, this sorry individual is the spouse of a LEO, and I DO NOT agree with the fact that their is a law that PROTECTS them or any other member of LEO when they commit a crime. By the way my husband is a member of LE too! If anything our standards are held higher because of the jobs we do and therefore, should not be rubbed underneath the rug, so to speak. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims family. Hopefully, this time around Rivkin will not be let go so damn easy! The justice system NEEDS to throw the book at her and stop hitting her on the hand. That’s what’s wrong with our justice system…they are given way to many chances. The 3 strike law is a JOKE!
A law should be passed to pull license for first time duiMaybe it could have saved this young mans life if she was at a bar i hope that the person that sold her gets as much time qs she does ever bar should be required to have cameros in them for this reason then they would not worring about making a sale they would worry about someones life
I hope someone’s going to find out where this lunatic did her drinking. Additional charges may be forthcoming.
This is so very sad. I have a problem with her even being allowed to continue to drive a motor vehicle after having two DUI’s and five moving violations. Did she have a current driver’s license, or had it been suspended? Not that it really matters, as there are so many drivers out there driving drunk or under the influence of drugs that have had their licenses suspended.. But, God forbid, don’t let them light up a cigarette!!! Maybe the legislature needs to look further into their priorities and start coming down on alcohol and drug abuse like they have on smokers!
It is pathetic comment on today’s society when people are allowed to drink so much that they destroy this young man’s life and the life of his wife when he is doing everything right.
When is the legislature going to make a law requiring bars and restaurants to sell only to people who have a designated drivers with them?
When are the vendors of alcohol going to be made, by law, more responsible for giving alcohol to people who are already drunk?
This is a tragedy and a shame for our society.
Please keep this woman in jail. She is a great danger to herself and anyone else that comes near her. She cannot stop drinking without help and this may be the only way to control the problem. Maybe she will get help and be sorry for the loss of a precious life but don’t count on it.