The Fairfield Police Department has confirmed that 62-year-old old Henry Blank of Vacaville died in this weekend’s fatal Christmas Eve Collision. Two passengers in the vehicle driven by Blank, a man from Fairfield and woman from Vacaville, were transported to a local hospital with mild to moderate injuries and have since been released.
Speed and alcohol/drugs were likely factors on the part of Dominic Lyons, who was previously identified as the driver of the vehicle that struck the victims’ white Buick. Lyons was observed traveling eastbound on East Tabor in a Ford Explorer at around 10:15 pm on Christmas Eve at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at the stop sign posted to Clay Bank Road, just prior to the collision. Lyons was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI resulting in bodily injury.
Drinking and driving occurs year-round but is especially prevalent during the holiday season and, unfortunately, sometimes the seriousness of this issue doesn’t hit home, until the day it does. Don’t let it hit home for you.
Don’t drive while intoxicated and don’t let the people you know drive under the influence either.
There are so many other transportation options available – Uber, Lyft, a designated driver - and just as many, if not more, consequences for failing to take advantage of those options. Coming up with a transportation plan before indulging is a safety precaution that will ensure you, and those around you, live to ring in a new year.
