Browne stated that his motorcycle slid on cinders, which caused the accident. Troopers claim that Browne’s speech was slurred and he exhibited signs of intoxication. As field sobriety tests were conducted, he told officers that he suffered injuries in the crash. He was then taken to a hospital for treatment of a broken foot, cracked ribs and a punctured lung. The Pennsylvania State Police say that testing indicated that the Senator’s blood alcohol level was .09, which is marginally above the legal limit of .08 for the state.

Brown issued a statement apologizing for his actions and vowing to get help for his problem with alcohol. He also stated that he was glad his actions did not cause injury to anyone but himself. Browne admitted that he suffers from an illness and will get the help he needs in order to gain control over it.

The consequences of drunk driving could potentially affect every aspect of Browne’s life, including his position as a state senator. His public admissions to being intoxicated at the time of the crash make any criminal defense that much more of a challenge. It is not known at this time whether he and his counsel will attempt to negotiate a plea bargain with prosecutors in order to limit any penalties he may incur.

Source: 6abc.com, “Pa. senator charged with DUI in motorcycle crash”, May 8, 2015