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Marine claims brain trauma led to fatal DUI crash

The Columbian
Published: September 22, 2011, 5:00pm

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A Marine captain awaiting trial in Tampa on a DUI-manslaughter charge will offer an insanity defense because he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, conditions he acquired during combat.

The 38-year-old Scott Sciple is charged in the death of Pedro Rivera. Florida Highway Patrol troopers said Sciple was drunk and driving the wrong way on a Tampa interstate when he crashed into Rivera’s car.

Sciple’s lawyer says he was having a “dissociative episode” at the time of the crash and believed he was on a military deployment.

Marine officials wrote an 860-page report on Sciple’s case and acknowledged that the corps should be more thorough in evaluating and treating PTSD.

Sciple is in jail in Tampa while awaiting trial. A hearing is scheduled for Nov. 14.

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