Police, ambulance, and medical examiner's records were linked for all of the 739 traffic fatalities occurring in Maryland in 1985. Overall, positive blood alcohol levels were detected in 44% of the 640 decedents for whom testing was performed. Victims who were intoxicated were significantly more likely to die at the scene or be dead on arrival at a hospital than to be admitted for treatment.

The implications of these findings are that, given a serious vehicular crash, an intoxicated person may be at greater risk of immediate death, due to an increased vulnerability to shock and therefore decreased time available for effective emergency medical intervention.