Most alcoholics fear losing their license and serving a stint in the county jail as a repercussion of being charged with a DUI, maybe worst case scenario is vehicular homicide… or is it? Not if you consider the case of Joseph Hazelwood who has been fined $2.5 billion for destroying one of the world’s most pristine environments while driving intoxicated.

Washington - It is becoming very clear and apparent that the pilot of the Cosco Busan, the 900-foot vessel that crashed into a support tower of the Bay Bridge last November, dumping tens of thousands of gallons of oil into San Francisco Bay, was suffering from medical issues.

During testimony as well as documents being released at a federal hearing on Wednesday, it became clear that he should have never been at the helm as the captain of the vessel.

Capt. John Cota, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, was attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.  He also suffered from migraine headaches, sleep anpea, pancreatitis, among other things.  He has been convicted of DUI in the past as well.

He was taking prescription drugs to help treat his anxiety and depression, as well as to help him sleep.  This could have easily made him very drowsy.

The Coast Guard is taking a lot of heat as the testimony and documents have revealed that Cota should have never been granted a mariner’s license after his physical last year.

Following the incident last Novemver, the Coast Guard asked Cota to turn in his license because of his medical issues, but it was too late.

He has pleaded not guilty to criminal negligence as well as violating environmental laws.