100 Hours Community Service for Killing a Motorcyclist

[FJ1100mjk]

Local story. Another "distracted driver" tragedy.

A teen, also gets 5-10 days in juvie, but still!?!?

http://www.kare11.com/story/news/local/2015/03/04/wilmar-family-pushes-for-tougher-distracted-driving-laws/24394619/

[TexasDave]

The article did not say what she was distracted by. Being a teenager she was most likely distracted by her cell phone--either talking or texting. Doing something intentionally that distracts and impairs your ability to control your vehicle should hold you accountable. Driving under the influence also impairs your ability to control your vehicle and results in serious charges for killing someone. In either case your primary responsibility while driving is control of your vehicle. I don't see a big difference between losing control of your vehicle from alcohol or intentially doing something which causes loss of contol. I don't think the laws will change anytime soon in this regard. However lawyers in vehicle lawsuits are starting to request phone records of drivers involved. Dave

[FJ1100mjk]

However lawyers in vehicle lawsuits are starting to request phone records of drivers involved. Dave

The lawyers for the victims (all children) in this case, shouldn't have any problem with burden of proof. One of the dead kids, was the driver's.

http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_27648071/charges-western-wisconsin-woman-facebook-when-crash-killed

[PaulG]

This case came to a conclusion late last year.  A woman in Quebec stopped her car on a highway to "rescue" some ducklings.  A father and daughter on a Harley slammed into her Civic and were killed, while the wife on another bike also hit it but survived.

http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/emma-czornobaj-who-caused-fatal-accident-while-helping-ducks-to-be-sentenced-thursday

The fact the woman in the Civic still contended she did nothing wrong was a factor in her sentencing.  The description of the accident I feel is unnessecarily graphic, but the explanation of the judges decision is revealing.  Basically there is no excuse for your monumental stupidity in causing these deaths. I disagree with serving the jail time on weekends.  Thats just free B&B in my opinion.

We've all done some bonehead things on the road, but I wouldn't expect myself to be slapped on the wrist for things this serious.

I would hope there is a trend to no longer writing off stupidity as "oh well, it was just a terrible accident".  It's just a matter of finding how to gauge the level of stupidity versus the amount of harm done.  Stephen Hawking might be able to figure out a calculation, but I think his search for the single equation to define the beginning of the universe will be easier.

[aussiefj]

There was a news story over here a week or two ago about some moron that stopped his car in the middle lane of a three lane freeway to change a flat tyre, after many near misses somebody finally ran in to the back of him, by a miracle nobody was badly hurt. I just can't understand how someone can be that stupid, trouble is we have to share the road with them. Be careful out there the morons are breeding.

John

[JMR]

There was a news story over here a week or two ago about some moron that stopped his car in the middle lane of a three lane freeway to change a flat tyre, after many near misses somebody finally ran in to the back of him, by a miracle nobody was badly hurt. I just can't understand how someone can be that stupid, trouble is we have to share the road with them. Be careful out there the morons are breeding.

John

Stupidity knows no boundries.