Update: Balmoral Park DUI Death Results in 9-years Imprisonment

A Michigan horse trainer, Angus D. Lake, 42, convicted of DUI, was sentenced to nine years in prison for causing the death of his girlfriend, Michelle Eustis, as she went for a horse ride on Backstretch Road at Balmoral with one of her good friends. Eustis was riding a retired racehorse named Reendezvous bareback with Heather France. After a night of drinking at the racetrack, Lake got into his white Dodge Ram pickup and went after them speeding about 50 mph, more then twice the speed limit. The truck struck the horse, causing Eutis to be thrown and suffer fatal injuries. Eustis, who was riding on the back of the horse, died a few hours later. France suffered a broken leg and other injuries. The horse was gashed in its hindquarter, but survived. Lake’s blood-alcohol level was reported to be .147 shortly after the accident. The legal limit in Illinois is .08.

Michelle Eustis is survived by a seven-year-old daughter, Haley. A Will County judge had lectured Lake for failing to learn anything from his three prior alcohol-related arrests. Lake stated in court “I replay it over and over in my head almost every night. I wish I would’ve stopped myself from getting behind that wheel. I wish I could go back and change everything. All I can do is take responsibility and tell everyone how sorry I am.”

For more information please view: Boyfriend Charged in Horse Trainer’s Death After DUI Crash in Crete Michigan man gets 9 years in DUI fatality at Balmoral Park, www.chicagotribune.com, April 13, 2012 Balmoral DUI death brings 9-years in prison, www.daily-journal.com, April 14, 2012