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December 9, 2009 in City
‘Caffeine psychosis’ may have affected driver, lawyer says
COLFAX, Wash. — The Idaho motorist accused of striking down two pedestrians on the Washington State University campus may be suffering from “caffeine psychosis,” his lawyer said.
The lawyer for Dan Noble, 31, of Moscow, said Tuesday that his client was known to consume large amounts of energy drinks and Starbucks coffee. Attorney Mark Moorer described Noble as a financial analyst in the University of Idaho Trust and Investment Office who worked long hours.
Attorney Mark Moorer told Whitman County Superior Judge David Frazier that the caffeine could have accounted for Noble’s strange behavior. Frazier ordered Noble held without bail until his mental state can be evaluated.
Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy planned to file charges of vehicular assault, felony hit-and-run, and resisting arrest against Noble. He said Noble posed a risk to the community.
Drivers on the highway between Moscow and Pullman reported Noble’s car driving erratically in the westbound lanes Monday morning, according to WSU Police reports.
Noble then turned onto Stadium Way, the main street through the WSU campus, where he allegedly struck Hogun Hahm, 23, of Pullman, and Neil Waldbjorn, 19, of Malaga, Wash., in separate crosswalks about a block apart. Both pedestrians suffered a broken leg and other injuries.
According to documents, Noble stopped and exited the vehicle at the intersection of Stadium Way and Grimes Way, about 175 yards from the second victim. When WSU police approached him, Noble became “argumentative, incoherent, and resistive,” documents said.
Officers used a Taser to subdue Noble.
Tracy said Noble’s wife, Kathy, told investigators he started acting strangely about three days earlier, was not sleeping at night and seemed confused. During Tuesday’s hearing, Noble got up and tried to walk away from the defense table, but his lawyer pulled him back to his seat.
© Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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SarahF on December 09 at 3:25 p.m.
I’ve drank four servings or more of caffeine per day in the form of tea, coffee and diet sodas since I was fifteen… and this is honestly the first I’d heard of caffeine psychosis. Is this a new thing, or did I miss the memo on this?
Diana on December 09 at 4:50 p.m.
It’s like the Twinkie defense, except with coffee.
mfew on December 09 at 5:18 p.m.
That is a handsome wiener Diana
renata29 on December 09 at 5:42 p.m.
I think this means caffeine is more dangerous than marijuana…
-Renata Rollins
zelda on December 09 at 5:55 p.m.
Too much of anything — even water — can intoxicate.
This is the polar opposite of the Ambien sleep-driving excuse. Seems like a longshot, i.e., drunks can’t get off by arguing they were so intoxicated by alcohol they didn’t know what they were doing. Is Starbucks going to have to put warning labels on its lattes?
Ninch on December 09 at 8:17 p.m.
Sounds more like a brain tumor. This guy needs a medical not a psychological exam.
Fuschia on December 09 at 8:35 p.m.
According to the law,
if you drink your self drunk and cause an accident. You are to blame.
Likewise if you caffeine your self up and cause an accident. You are to blame.
There is absolutely no defense for being stupid. Caffiene cant make any one more stupid than you already are. It just makes you a WIDE AWAKE stupid. I guess the Sun got in my eyes defense was considered but tossed because it was dark out.
DrChas on December 09 at 10:15 p.m.
The last time I thumbed through the listing of mental illnesses set forth by the American Psychiatric Association, “Caffeine Psychosis” was not a recognized disability. PLUS Two stars to the defense attorney for a great imagination. MINUS three stars for the lack of a practical argument.
lewis8457 on December 10 at 11:04 p.m.
this another lawyers way of getting their client off the hook plain and simple and sadly with how screwed up our government is they will make a law you cannot drink more then two lattes and drive. God what will they think of next?