Well, last night in Las Vegas, we had what the Metro Police are calling the second worst accident in recent Las Vegas memory. (The first was a few years ago when a young woman -I think her name was Michelle Williams- plowed into I think 6 teenagers that were doing -I think- community service. She killed 'em all. Pretty gruesome. She was stoned at the time... and I think some other drug(s) were involved... possibly prescription. She's doing time now.)
Anyway, last night, a drunken 19 year old was speeding and ran thru a stop sign and plowed into a SUV carrying a family of 8. It instantly burst into flames, and though bystandarders pulled out a few survivors, 8 members of the family were killed -including the 32 year old mother, an infant, a toddler, and two young boys.
19 year old Ronald Jayne Jr., the driver of the vehicle that hit the family's SUV suffered minor injuries and faces at least 20 criminal counts of driving under the influence involving a death and five counts of reckless driving involving a death or injury.
The 32 year old mother/driver and two young boys died instantly on the scene from the impact, and the approximately 18 month old child and less than a year old child died on the way to the emergency room. The three survivors are currently listed in very serious condition.
Kind of like what you've described, huh, David? Naturally, the driver escaped unscathed. Of course, given the carnage, it's unlikely he'll escape with a light sentence -first time offense or not... not that that will mean much to the survivors of his carnage.
Obviously the sentencing for these crimes is far too light. It doesn't matter to me, because I dread the thought of doing something like this to other people, and would never ever allow myself to drive in an impaired condition nor recklessly run through stop signs without regard for the safety of others.
But for others who lack their own internal motivations and ethics, there need to be laws that will may them live in fear of the consequences of such reckless behavior.
A few years ago, a woman won the largest Megabucks jackpot in Nevada history -over 33 million dollars. A few weeks later, she was transformed into a parapoligiec and her sister killed by a drunk drive who had SEVENTEEN prior arrests and convictions for DUI and/or DWI. Seventeen. Of course, he was put away after that. But why, WHY, did it take the crippling of that poor woman and the death of her sister for the maniac to be put away?
Something needs to be done... and the people yakking on the cell phones are about as bad. Recent studies indicate that people yakking on their cell phones -and text messaging... while driving!!!- are more dangerous than drunk drivers.
Just a little sunshine to share with everyone.
Sorry for the ugliness, take care gang.
And be safe everyone.
My girl was almost in TWO serious accidents caused by idiots changing lanes without signaling today. If she had been the slightest bit distracted, I might be identifying her body now.
Please be safe... don't become the next statistic.
