More Huffing, More Driving

In South Dakota, a 25-year old man abused computer duster (or, incorrectly, 'compressed air') and crashed his vehicle into several others.

Maconnell Baker is believed to have inhaled the duster as he was driving. Lieutenant James Johns, from the Rapid City Police Department, called it "a classic example of a 'huffing' or 'dusting' crash."

Baker struck a Jeep Cherokee travelling in the same direction, causing it to spin. He then hit the curb and drove on the sidewalk for awhile until he hit the side of a Honda Accord, whose driver was waiting to turn at an intersection.

He then ran into a parked motorcycle, owned by a nearby crossing guard who was helping children across the street as Baker drove out of control. According to the guard, none of the children were hurt, and that they were "very fortunate that it wasn't worse than it was."

The driver of the Accord was taken to the hospital and last reported in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

The passenger in the Accord, a two-year-old, was not hurt.

The driver of the Cherokee was not hurt.

Baker was treated and released. He faces charges of driving under the influence and vehicular battery.

According to the article,

"This is not the first time Rapid City police have dealt with incidents allegedly involving huffing. A Rapid City teen was arrested Dec. 17 after crashing his vehicle into electrical boxes near the Rapid City Swim Center on Milwaukee Street. Police said they believed the 17-year-old was huffing compressed air shortly before the crash. He was arrested for driving under the influence and several other charges. At the time of the accident, police said it was the fourth crash in the past two months involving the abuse of compressed air."

There was another incident in addition to the crashes due to inhalant abuse - three months ago, a house caught on fire in Rapid City after the inhabitants were inhaling paint fumes.

Crash article from The Rapid City Journal.