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The CHP says that at about 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Stephen Gritsch was heading southbound on Highway 101 just north of Novato, when he crashed his SUV into the center divide.
"The officers ran him through field sobriety tests which he failed to perform as instructed," said CHP officer Patrick Ensley. "Mr. Gritsch was arrested for DUI and booked into Marin County Jail."
Gritsch's 2001 Ford Explorer was damaged in the accident, and the left front end of his vehicle was caved in. The airbags deployed in the crash, but Gritsch was not seriously hurt.
The San Francisco Fire Department would not comment on Gritsch's arrest.
"I cannot comment on something I have no knowledge about," said SFFD spokesman Ken Smith. "Until we get further information, we are not going to comment on [the incident]."
Last week, Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White asked the San Francisco Fire Commission to terminate Gritsch for allegedly being drunk on the job. There is speculation the Gritsch incident also led to last week's sudden retirement of Deputy Chief Fred Sanchez.
For some time now, the San Francisco Fire Department has been plagued with complaints about alcohol problems. But firefighters union president John Hanley denies that there is any drinking on the job.
"The firefighters union categorically denies there is organized drinking ... happening," Hanley said.
Hanley says no firefighter would tolerate such activity and, referring to Gritsch, said, "This is one guy out of 1,800. This is one person with a problem. This is one guy who tested positive.
KRON 4 News could not confirm whether Gritsch remains with the department, but according to Hanley, he has retired from the department, and the union hopes he and his family can get through the incident.
The fire commission will take up the chief's request to fire Gritsch at their April 26 meeting.
http://www.kron4.com/Global/story.asp?S=3227196
Edited by tinystar, 18 April 2005 - 05:45 PM.
