"It is not for gain that the girl be held accountable for killing another.You say we have been lucky because we have not killed anyone while driving tired? Is that what I face when I drive? It is a prevledge to drive.And a preson assumes a responsibility to all when they accept this honor. I also do not feel we need to lose another life because of a careless act that kills someone.Yet a fine and a slap on the wrist is not enough deterent to end this type of crime.
The laws should fit the crime.Lets not down play what this girl has done.Perhaps she should be liable for a higher degree of the crime she committed since she was not so "lucky".Remember if she ,or anyone else thought for a moment they would be loked up for this crime You can bet your behinds they would be more attentive while driving.I do not believe we should be driving relying on "luck" to get us to our destination.The problem has been touched upon here. People are not willing to provide the attention that is needed to operate a motor vehicle. And because some lack azz has some how got them selves in to a position of inforcement,or lack there of, our laws do not cover this sever of a infraction.
Times have changed and I know that our laws must change to be of any use in protecting us all, even those of you who live your lives on "luck".You are the ones who will end up in this very situration.And I think deep down you realize this.There needs to be more of a deterent for stopping people from killing others.
If there was , people would pay more attention to what they are doing or suffer the consequences.What does it matter if she was drinking or not! If people want to put them selves in anothers shoes then why not the guy who was killed. Why coddle the killer. Is it because you have a greater chance in killing someone your self,instead of being killed? Why make a simple issue so confused with a bunch of would of ,could of ,instead take it for face value.That way a person does not have to wonder what the penalty is for killing another human life is. I think the fine for shoplifting is much higher than killing a person in a neglectful car crash. And this makes sense how ? OH ! I get it now! The world is over populated so lets not hold any one accountable for killing people. It just makes more room for us all.
Anyone who argues against this driver from being accountable for this death is just not thinking clearly.(probably been drinking)I just hope they are so nonchalant if the same happens to one of their own. I betcha they are the same people who spout off about killing anyone who kills one of their own huh? Is it self centerness that makes a person think this way?
We do need change.And I'm not talking about the tax rate here. If It is against the law for me to protect myself today then there better be stronger deterents to help those who ARE suppose to protect me.
A restitution of $ 1.00 a week for the rest of the killers life paid to those directly connected to the one killed may be a idea? At lest that way one time every week the killer will have to conciously remember what they have done.And show remorse. Not just a "you were wrong , see you next time". Perhaps they should make amends for the rest of their life? After all they took one. Give one back.
I personally have taking on a quest to have a law passed here that is enacted in most other states. It is a very up hill climb because of the stupid thinking like those who have commentted negatively about this tragity.But as my life has been ended as I knew it, I have nothing but time. And welcome any support to, at the very least, help to get our laws modernized.
I have been where the wife of the man who was killed is, AND I hope you are strong enough to allow time to heal. As I , you will never forget but know the path does continue for us.It just takes us smaller steps to continue on. There is a plan for us. It just is being hidden behind the greif we feel for our losses. Please take advantage of a local group of people who have been in the same situration. It will help. And as for those heartless people that read this this far....Be extra careful on the roads because this very occurence may be heading your way.Funny how that happens."
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Eve though the girl wasn't drinking, but was rather "sleeping", I've always thought the following,
ReplyDeleteAttempted manslaughter if you're caught drunk driving and there was no harm done. It should be prosecuted under strict liability, meaning you're automatically guilty if proven to be drunk. There should be jail time for the first offense, not a fine or community service.
Assault with a deadly weapon if your drinking and driving injures someone; as well as attempted manslaughter.
Voluntary manslaughter if your drinking and driving kills someone.
*Strict liability would apply for all three.
I have to agree that the punishment here was way too lack. Having said that, the person that caused this accident will either wrestle with this in the back of their mind forever, or they may deny they caused the accident in their mind. That's something in that person's character and nothing we can do will change that.
ReplyDeleteThe problem we do have is not addressing these crimes early on, long before someone gets hurt or killed. A few years back, I went to court over a speeding ticket I was wrongly charged with. As I sat through case after case before me, I watched as the judge didn't even slap the wrist of the DUI cases time and time again. Several case were second time offenders (DUI) that walked out with less than $200 fines. The one that really shocked me was a man who was charged with his second DUI, but get this, a DUI while driving on a revoked license! Again less than $200 and no jail time. COME ON! What needs to happen is we MUST get these offenders off the streets period! Any second time offender has demonstrated they are not going to stop unless you lock them up so they cannot drive. AND yes, we can lock people up and still allow them to function. Work release programs offer a partial solution and to solve the financial burden on the state, charge the inmate for transportation to and from his work, and room & board for that matter. Again we aren't looking to treat them to a holiday, but instead insure our safety.
The bottom line is we must INSIST our courts punish these DUI's to the fullest potential of the law at this time. We also must DEMAND stricter laws be passed for both first and second time offenders. Then other issue that comes to mind is we must make VERY PUBLIC the punishment the offenders receive to serve as both a WARNING and EDUCATIONAL TOOL to the public that this is what WILL happen to you, should you take the risk.
Threats don't work, promises do!
I wonder how many of you that have made a comment about this accident
ReplyDeleteknow what happened? Did she really
cause this accident? I don't know too much about it , other than than what I've seen in the paper and this blog. I do however , wonder how a car can force a tractor-trailer off the bay bridge.
Anon 8:06 am
ReplyDeleteI'm the friend of the widow who sent Joe the info in the first place. She had been to her Mothers wedding and was driving back home across the bridge. She had been drinking, but fell a sleep at the wheel. She crossed the center line and he took the other lane to avoid hitting her head on. In doing this the load shifted causing him to lose control of the truck. From what the police have told his wife it appears he fought hard to keep the truck from going over but was unable to do so when the jersey wall gave way.
These are the facts of the accident as I was told by John's Wife.
MA
Should Laura Bush have gone to jail for 7-10 years? None of you have answered that question yet. She killed someone when she was 17 and sailed right through a stop sign. What good would it do to lock this person up? Community service, including many, many presentations to high school students, is the appropriate criminal punishment. The family can also pursue a civil case to help compensate for the financial loss. It is a terrible tragedy--losing a loved one is an awful thing. But what would be the better result here? Sending someone to jail at taxpayer expense, or possibly preventing a similar accident because her community service activities reached someone? Every one of you reading this has either gone through a red light, a stop sign, or drifted into another lane at some point in your diving career, just as Laura Bush did. the LUCK you had was that there was not another car coming through. Laura Bush and the person she killed were tragically unlucky. The truck driver here was tragically unlucky. Should Laura Bush go to jail?
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:33 she doesn't want the girl to go to jail for the rest of her life. But the fines are just a slap on the wrist for what she did. At this point it doesn't even look like she will lose her license. Tell me how that is justice. For going to wedding, having a few drinks, falling a sleep on the way home, crossing the center, causing a tractor trailer to go over the bridge and taking the life of a very good man in the process. Nothing can bring John back, but her punishment does not fit the situation.
ReplyDeleteMA
9:33
ReplyDeleteYes, she should have been prosecuted with voluntary manslaughter.
-7:13
You lost me after your first spelling error. Made the rest of that drivel pointless.
ReplyDelete9:41,
ReplyDeleteSo how long SHOULD she go to jail? And how will that benefit society? She was not found guilty of DUI, by the way, let's keep that in mind. She fell asleep and did a terrible thing. 2 teenage boys just lost their lives in Laurel in a car accident. Who should go to jail for that, and for how long?
9:33 AM,
ReplyDeleteYou are talking about a society from 50 years ago. Things are much different now. There wasnt even such a thing as DUI then, the cops just drove you home. You must be a friend/relative of the girl who murdered the truck driver. IMO, failing to see a stop sign and consciously choosing to drink, and drive drousy are comparing apples to oranges. Your comparison doesnt have merit. She should face more than a fine period.
8:06 AM, you are stupid. If you do not know the circumstances, then shut up. Dont be sarcastic and insinuate that the car "forced" the truck off the bridge. No one is dumb enough to be suggesting that. The truck driver attempted to save the persons life in the vehicle that crossed into his path, and unfortunately sacrificed his own. This death is a direct result of this girl and her poor choices (drinking, drousy). If you are going to take the stance that it will do no good to send her to jail, then why dont we just apply that across the board. No jailtime for anyone. It wont bring people back, it will save money, etc, etc. Dont be so friggin stupid.
10:48,
ReplyDeleteNope, I don't know the girl at all. I am trying to get people to see that "there but for the grace of God go I" in this case. You think there is a distinction between sailing through a stop sign and killing someone, and driving drowsy and killing someone? What is it? In both cases, inattentive drivers killed someone. Both cases are tragedies. Nothing will bring back the people killed, but requiring the inattentive driver to do community service will at least serve some good.
Anon 11:22
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you take a look at the pic about halfway down on the link below. It was a pic taken from the girls MySpace page right after the accident. There were others on here on page 3 and 4 but look like they have been removed since the accident. She is clearly driving a car with a Capt. Morgan bottle in her hand.
http://kentisland.proboards41.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=2380&page=5
Punishments are supposed to deter crimes. It's not about this one case, but think about it this way. Did this girl think at all about what might happen to her if something happened? Probably not. Why would she, nothing happens to ANYONE who gets a DUI. Now, if the penalty for DUI becomes severe, MAYBE she or other MIGHT think about it first. That is what has to happen. People have to know if they are caught drinking and driving, they will receive a very harsh penalty. That will make them think about what might happen. Nobody ever thought they would kill someone. If asked now, they'll probably tell you "if I screw up, I'll have to pay another lawyer payments for a few more years." And that IS the problem.
ReplyDeleteAs for Laura Bush, would locking her up have changed anything for her? Probably not. But the question is, would someone who saw her go to jail NOT drink and drive or drive negligently? Even if you can say one person thought about it before driving, then the jail time would have been worth it.
First of all, I don't know how I can say it any more clearly--she was not found guilty of DUI!!!! You keep ignoring that, people. Pictures of her acting like a moron have no bearing on this case. She was not drunk, she was tired. Had she been drunk, I would have no sympathy for her because that is clearly wrong and illegal. Driving while tired is something we probably all have done, and we should not do. So you want her to go to jail for driving while tired? Ok. Then pass a law and figure out how we will determine when someone is too tired to drive. This is not a DUI case, so those of you who keep going back to that are simply discussing the wrong thing. It is terrible that a man died. It is terrible that two teenagers in Laurel just died. Who goes to jail in that case?
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:35
ReplyDeleteShe's not being charged with DUI because they can't prove she had the legal amount of alcohol at the time of the accident. They can't prove this because the testing was not done until many hours after the accident. Doesn't mean she wasn't impaired at the time of the accident. It just means it can't be proven.
I am personally sick of hearing people trash Mr.Short and suggest he may have been at fault.If any of you people knew anything about the professional truck driving industry, you would know that big companies like Mountaire only hire the best and most qualified to drive their rigs.They require not only a CDL license but 3 or more years actual driving experience as well.They do not just put anybody behind the wheel!
ReplyDeleteThere just seems to be alot of bias against this profession, especially apparent on this topic.
Response to the sender:
ReplyDeleteA restitution of $ 1.00 a week for the rest of the killers life paid to those directly connected to the one killed may be a idea? At lest that way one time every week the killer will have to conciously remember what they have done.And show remorse.
I read of a similar incident years ago. The Judge ordered the person to display a large picture with a light, of the person that died in their livingroom. That way, the person had to actually SEE the victim everyday.
Did you hear on WBOC tonight that they know she was drinking earlier in the evening, but were not charging her. The cops screwed up by not doing a test immediately. She had been drinking. She was a known party girl. She should be getting a little something more then traffic violations. I don't say she needs to spend the rest of her life in jail, but she should definitely lose her license, her car should have breathalizer put in it and a hell of a lot of community service. One part of that service speaking to teenagers about drinking and driving.
ReplyDeleteIf a few mis-spelled words loses your attention, what would a few negligent drivers heading straight towards you do? Idiot.
ReplyDeleteI am the anonymous eho posted this coment that Joe felt was blog worthy.The point I wanted to get acrossed, at least to those of you who arnt lost because of my spelling or inferior computing skills, is that people are not attentive while operating a motor vehicle.Maybe the new airbags are giving them a false sense of security and they are not concerned about the other drivers on the road. This is not about "being tired" or about being drunk as far as that goes.Its about being illresponsable while in control of a motor vehicle. Unfortunatly there is not a way to tell if a person has acted in this manner untill after a incident has occured. What I feel to be the direction to move to would be to make the penalty fit the degree of the incident. This would instill the real danger involved per say for "driving with your eyes shut". For the negative people who are to busy being the opposition against, God knows why, this blog; I am using a metaphor I think. Lets ask the grammer guy. Any how , I personally don't run around killing people for two reasons: first is that I beleive I will not go to heaven and second that I will have to go to JAIL. This is a very strong deterant.
If people were to be held accountable for their actions to a degree that is comparable to the result of their neglect , this would help deter these more severe negligent occurences from taking place. Am I thinking along the right lines here? There have been alot of deaths because of neglect. My own son included. The driver proceded to pick up two more speeding tickets since.And I'm not talking about 32 mph in a 30 mph .More like 90 mph in a 65 mph . And a 60 mph in a 35 mph. So a fine and the death of my son has had no effect on detering this guy. But I think the lose of his right to drive and some jail time would cause him to think twice and if he is so un-encouragable then at least the rest of us will be safe from him.
Its about being responsible.If a person refuses to be , then a person should not be allowed.Thats what I was trying to get across to those who appear to be a litle dim.
STRONGER DETERANTS are needed in our growing society . Amen.
Oh and yes, barbra bush should have gone to jail to answer that question. It will deter running stop signs don't you think?
ReplyDeleteThe mother of the little boy who was killed while waiting for the school bus in Cambridge is trying to get stiffer penalties against drowsy driving. Leah (SP) is a great woman who is attempting to make a positive out of her tragedy. Her sons killer was heading home after a nights work when he fell asleep behind the wheel while in the town of Cambridge. As a result he stole that little boys life and ripped that mothers heart out.
ReplyDeleteI took in a family of 4 two years ago because they had no where to go. I have 3 kids of my own in a 3 bedroom house so it was hard, but we were determined to help this woman and her 3 kids. I was asking around for old furniture or even clothes for this family when Leah overheard me she was the FIRST and only person to offer things for the family. I had the pleasure of meeting her son only a few times but he was a very sweet kid. Hopefully people will join with her in insisting this law is passed.
I am one who will argue that this woman should not be held accountable for the man's death. How many of us have crossed a center line, I have. It was the driver of the tractor who over reacted to the car crossing the center line that caused his own death. He was certainly bigger in size than she was, and should have stayed in his lane, especially on a bridge. Horn blowing or flashing lights could have gotten her attention. She made no contact with him to cause his death. The law did the right thing.
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:33 pm
ReplyDeleteYou need to get your facts straight. She crossed the center line and he took the other lane to avoid killing her. She side swiped the back of the truck causing him to lose control of the truck. This is the account of the accident given to his widow by the police. John was a great man and a darn good driver. Believe me if there was any way he could have avoided going off the side of that bridge and avoided killing that girl at the same time he would have done it. He sacrificed himself in order to save someone else. That was just the kind of person he was.