This appeal is from appellant’s conviction of three counts of vehicular homicide and one count of failure to maintain no-fault insurance. We affirm.
1. A nurse employed by the hospital to which appellant was taken for treatment of injuries received in the collision giving rise to the charges against him testified that, at the request of emergency room personnel, she took a blood sample from appellant. When the law enforcement officer who was investigating the collision arrived at the hospital, he informed appellant of his implied consent rights and requested that another blood sample be taken in his presence. The first sample, which had been taken in the presence of a deputy sheriff who had also explained appellant’s implied consent rights to him, was discarded. Appellant argued at trial and on appeal that the second sample, which was the only one tested for blood alcohol, should not have been taken and that the results of the blood alcohol test should have been suppressed.
We find this issue to be controlled by the principles stated in
Montgomery v. State,
2. A witness from the State Crime Lab was asked about the effect of the passage of time on a person’s blood alcohol level and about the effect of adding fluids to a person’s blood. Appellant objected to that testimony on the ground that the State should have been limited to the first sample taken from appellant. Since we have determined that that argument has no validity, it follows that this one does not. In addition, we note that appellant stipulated that the witness was qualified to testify concerning blood alcohol levels and their effects and
3. The indictment alleged that appellant was guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol and of reckless driving. Appellant moved for a directed verdict on the issue of reckless driving and enumerates as error the denial of that motion. The test to be applied is the sufficiency of the evidence test set out in
Jackson v. Virginia,
The evidence in this case showed that appellant came over a hill around a curve, crossed over into the wrong lane, and stayed there until his car collided head-on with another. Although appellant argued that the evidence showed that his car hydroplaned on a wet road, there was substantial evidence that, although the road was wet, there was no standing water such as would cause hydroplaning at or near the collision site. The evidence was sufficient for any rational trier of fact to find beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant’s conduct in driving on the wrong side of the road constituted “reckless disregard for the safety of [others].” OCGA § 40-6-390. There was no error in denying appellant’s motion for a directed verdict.
4. Defense counsel sought to question each juror separately concerning their opinions about drinking. The trial court refused to allow appellant to question each juror individually or to ask such a general question. The court required the jurors to respond to a question about conscientious opposition to drinking, then asked those who responded whether they would nonetheless be able to give appellant a fair trial. Appellant contends that the trial court erred in refusing to permit individual questions and in limiting the scope of the questions.
The trial court’s decision not to permit individual questioning was based on Rule 10.1 of Uniform Rules for Superior & State Courts: “The court may require that questions be asked once only to the full array of the jurors, rather than to every juror — one at a time — provided that the question be framed and the response given in a manner that will provide the propounder with an individual response prior to the interposition of challenge.” The trial court’s action was clearly within the Rule and was, furthermore, in accordance with the holding in
State v. Hutter,
Appellant’s second contention is controlled adversely to him by
Rielli v. State,
5. Appellant has enumerated as error the trial court’s refusal to charge the jury that if the evidence presents two theories, one of guilt and the other consistent with innocence, the justice and humanity of the law compel the acceptance of the theory which is consistent with innocence. “The requested charge . . . has been criticized from the date it was written . . . and [has been] relegated to a role in cases ‘dependent solely upon circumstantial evidence.’ [Cits.]”
Lang v. State,
6. Appellant’s final enumeration of error concerns the denial of his motion for a directed verdict of acquittal on the charge of driving without no-fault insurance. The evidence presented by the State showed that appellant’s coverage had expired prior to the date of the collision and that he had not renewed his coverage with his previous insurer. In addition, considering the record as it existed at the close of the trial (see
Causey v. State,
Judgment affirmed.
