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Highway Cross Memorials Really a Problem? - READ ONLY

55 messages,  Last post on Mar 10, 2007 at 12:03 AM

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Messages Page 7 of 7

#53 of 55 Re: Getting out of hand [210delray] by habitat1

Mar 05, 2007 (10:34 am)

Replying to: 210delray (Mar 03, 2007 8:42 pm)
"The case never went to trial, because the district attorney decided against charging the teenage driver. I don't know the details, such as how far she swerved to the left. Maybe the Monte Carlo driver overreacted."
 
Again, my point was that the DA should have charged her with reckless driving and let the judge/jury decide on the facts. Not charging someone that causes a fatal accident is NOT what I would want to see my tax dollars supporting in the form of a justice system.
 
Reminds me of an incident about 35 years ago in front of our house at 9:00 p.m. on a summer night. A girl walking on the shoulder of the road was struck from behind by a car that was going in the other direction and had swung out to pass another car, well over the posted 35 mph speed limit. The driver was a prominant local businessman, heading home with his wife after having a few cocktails with dinner. My father was the first on the scene and couldn't do much other than attempt CPR as the girl died. It was clearly a case of DUI (at a time when that resulted in a slap on the wrist, at most), speeding and reckless driving. We were shocked when the DA, after reviewing the evidence, decided not to press charges. This was obviously a case of abuse of office to show favoritism - and ultimately resulted in the DA being fired, with the help of testimony from my father. But, still, the driver was never charged and, several years later, killed someone else in a DUI.
 
At a minimum, if a driver can't keep a car under control when a bee flies in the window, they shouldn't have a license, period. A tree falling or even a deer running on the road is one thing. Insects another.

#54 of 55 Re: Getting out of hand [habitat1] by 210delray

Mar 05, 2007 (10:48 am)

Replying to: habitat1 (Mar 05, 2007 10:34 am)
Well, our DA at the time was a pretty level-headed guy from the conservative side of the political spectrum. I'm not going to second-guess what he did (not pressing charges), because I don't know the detailed facts behind the start of the crash sequence. Certainly he and the investigating police officers would have had this information.
 
Clearly, he wasn't corrupt as in the the case you described, and AFAIK, the teenager wasn't the daughter of any prominent local figure.

#55 of 55 RORR...... by rockylee

Mar 10, 2007 (12:03 am)

Drive around here in the Texas Panhandle and you will see some sort of a shrine where ever a car fatality took place. The Tx Panhandle folks do this very often. I have mixed emotions on this subject and can see why people do it and see why people oppose it.
 
Rocky

Messages Page 7 of 7

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