252 replies to this topic

[ducky]

Thanks for affirming what I've said about her post accident behavior. Glad I'm not the only one that understands that shock can make people do strange things.

I can understand why a person may not act like themselves after an accident. I have no doubt that can happen.

I think what we are all having a hard time understanding is the behavior before the accident. I won't even drive after taking a Benadryl because of the way it makes me feel.

What I can't fathom is driving that fast for that long with no headlights, turning on a red in front of other vehicles with my children in the car. When I had my Jeep Wrangler it was a bee magnet for some reason. I've driven down Highway 50 doing 65 trying to let a bee out the window many times and managed not to crash so I'm not buying the spider theory.

[normajean]

drinking alcohol...
taking vicodin...
killing a spider...
dropping something...
searching for something...

does it matter?

speeding excessively
hitting the median a couple times
no headlights at 9pm
3 elementary aged kids not in bed at 9pm on a school night
running a red light
turning in front of oncoming traffic

does it matter?

she blew it big time, regardless of the 'cause' or 'issues'....SHE is the cause and SHE is 100% responsible....

[mary56]

FTA... "None of the injuries appears to have been life-threatening."

So it sounds like the initial reports of one of the kids with life-threatening injuries is wrong?

Initially, the article stated one child had life threatening injuries. So, thank God for the children and they will be ok, physically. Who knows what they are going thru mentally. Now for the driver.... Sorry, no headlights, excessive speed, children not seat belted in........hmmm, and all she cared about was her purse.....Ok.....Sounds like a DUI to me or a possible combo alcohol and drugs or just drugs. If she had a medical condition, that would impair her that severely, she should not be driving, period. Sorrry. She deserves nothing and when it comes out that this was the case that it was a DUI /Drugs case then I hope she is prosecuted to the full extent of the law and those children are taken away from her.

To DAVE I am glad you are ok.... Hopefully no PTSD for you......

This could have been anyone of us.....but it was not anyones time apparently....

[mary56]

drinking alcohol...
taking vicodin...
killing a spider...
dropping something...
searching for something...

does it matter?

speeding excessively
hitting the median a couple times
no headlights at 9pm
3 elementary aged kids not in bed at 9pm on a school night
running a red light
turning in front of oncoming traffic

does it matter?

she blew it big time, regardless of the 'cause' or 'issues'....SHE is the cause and SHE is 100% responsible....

Sorry did not see post when I posted, but you hit the nail on the head. Also I did not comment on the Durango Driver, I hope she will not suffer any ill effects either.

[Bill Z]

I can understand why a person may not act like themselves after an accident. I have no doubt that can happen.

I think what we are all having a hard time understanding is the behavior before the accident. I won't even drive after taking a Benadryl because of the way it makes me feel.

What I can't fathom is driving that fast for that long with no headlights, turning on a red in front of other vehicles with my children in the car. When I had my Jeep Wrangler it was a bee magnet for some reason. I've driven down Highway 50 doing 65 trying to let a bee out the window many times and managed not to crash so I'm not buying the spider theory.

Before the accident, going with the premise she was at least looped on vicodin, and possibly alcohol (do not take with alcohol as this can magnify the effects), suffice it to say, she probably wasn't thinking too clearly, hence, forgetting to turn on the headlights when she started the car.

As for the high rate of speed, running a red light and crossing over into oncoming traffic, I wouldn't be at all surprised if that is all the result of actually having fallen asleep at the wheel. But as the impact obviously awoke her, I doubt we will know for sure if she was awake at those last moments, but my gut says, she probably wasn't.

I'm not attempting to excuse her actions, I'm just laying out what makes the most logical sense to me.

[mylo]

As for the high rate of speed, running a red light and crossing over into oncoming traffic, I wouldn't be at all surprised if that is all the result of actually having fallen asleep at the wheel. But as the impact obviously awoke her, I doubt we will know for sure if she was awake at those last moments, but my gut says, she probably wasn't.

I'm not attempting to excuse her actions, I'm just laying out what makes the most logical sense to me.

I agree. That is the most plausible scenario. It's easy to fall asleep hopped up on vicodin and wine, especially if only a few hours ago you felt like you were going to pass out.

[supermom]

I agree. That is the most plausible scenario. It's easy to fall asleep hopped up on vicodin and wine, especially if only a few hours ago you felt like you were going to pass out.

hmmm-- where did you get wine?

Why are we looking for plausible scenario's? I would say it is prolly more constructive to buy that mercedes and plant it in concrete in the road divider, on E. Bidwell--right next to the area where there is a proliferation of bars and liquor stores.

We can call it a passive aggressive statement against DWI's or education since that location would be literally halfway between two schools...

Or---we could plant it in concrete by the LR in old town and tell people weekend evenings, LR tickets going one way out of town are on the city of Folsom?

[Bill Z]

hmmm-- where did you get wine?

Why are we looking for plausible scenario's? I would say it is prolly more constructive to buy that mercedes and plant it in concrete in the road divider, on E. Bidwell--right next to the area where there is a proliferation of bars and liquor stores.

We can call it a passive aggressive statement against DWI's or education since that location would be literally halfway between two schools...

Or---we could plant it in concrete by the LR in old town and tell people weekend evenings, LR tickets going one way out of town are on the city of Folsom?

some of us like to understand the reality of what happened. It doesn't excuse her poor decision to get behind the wheel, but in fact, to better understand the events leading up to the incident, may help prevent someone else from making the same kind of mistake.

[irish1]

Irish1

even if someone does have a medical marijuana card....if they were pulled over by a copper and found to be under the influence...

they would still be arrested, right? (I'm not talking about possession of pot, just be under the influence)

Are they treated differently, in court, if they do have possession of a card--like a fine?

Nope, no difference. The DUI stands and would be dealt with the same as it is now. Penalties remain the same.

[M.E.G.]

I am not defending the driver of the Mercedes, but I have automatic headlights on my car. They are most always on the "auto" . Occasionally I have to turn the "auto" off for some reason. Then I head out in the evening and drive down the street and I have gotten a few blocks away realizing my lights aren't on! And of course no drinking. Sometimes it is hard to tell you have no lights on if you are in the middle of a lot of businesses, etc.

And a little judgmental on the school age kids out at 9pm on a school night. While I don't like my kids to be out at 9 on a school night, it can happen. Not the end of the world.

M.E.G.

[Steve Heard]

I am not defending the driver of the Mercedes, but I have automatic headlights on my car. They are most always on the "auto" . Occasionally I have to turn the "auto" off for some reason. Then I head out in the evening and drive down the street and I have gotten a few blocks away realizing my lights aren't on! And of course no drinking. Sometimes it is hard to tell you have no lights on if you are in the middle of a lot of businesses, etc.

And a little judgmental on the school age kids out at 9pm on a school night. While I don't like my kids to be out at 9 on a school night, it can happen. Not the end of the world.

M.E.G.

We all make mistakes, and I'd be willing to bet that most of us who enjoy an alcoholic beverage now and then have driven home after consuming such beverages, and could have easily been arrested for it.

I am trying not to be too judgmental, but if felt like I was going to pass out earlier in the evening, had taken Vicodin, had been drinking, and had headlights that I sometimes forget to turn on, I probably wouldn't be driving my kids around in the dark at 70mph, but then again, booze and pills can cause lapses in judgment.

[Mr. H]

Have any of you actually driven by the scene and looked at everything with your own eyes? Dave, have you been back? I'm not judging, but it's kind of hard to have a detailed breakdown of what happened seeing it through your rearview mirror not to mention you were more concerned with cleaning your shorts out. I live right there. I see the scene every single day. I judged right off the bat. I am always harping on my wife to pay attention at that intersection. It was too easy for me to automatcially assume somebody ran the red and t-boned somebody pulling out of the neighborhood. I am disappointed in myself for judging. Now that I have looked at the scene and all of the reminants, I can tell you that the major "accident" was a result of a previous accident. This lady in the Mercedes wrecked about 200 feet before the intersection. She hit the median divider head on. With a car that has no ground clearance, you can clearly deduce that it blew her entire front end up. Blew her steering out, severed her brake line and blew her headlights out. Without brakes, her car continues to travel eastbound. With her left front wheel totally ruined and probebly pointing to the left, her car tended toward the left. You can see all of the fluids still on the roadway. Once the center divide stopped, the car bared left right into the path of the oncoming traffic. I'm not excusing her and I have no idea why she hit the median to begin with, but let's use a little good judgement here when you're wishing death on someone.

[ducky]

Have any of you actually driven by the scene and looked at everything with your own eyes? Dave, have you been back? I'm not judging, but it's kind of hard to have a detailed breakdown of what happened seeing it through your rearview mirror not to mention you were more concerned with cleaning your shorts out. I live right there. I see the scene every single day. I judged right off the bat. I am always harping on my wife to pay attention at that intersection. It was too easy for me to automatcially assume somebody ran the red and t-boned somebody pulling out of the neighborhood. I am disappointed in myself for judging. Now that I have looked at the scene and all of the reminants, I can tell you that the major "accident" was a result of a previous accident. This lady in the Mercedes wrecked about 200 feet before the intersection. She hit the median divider head on. With a car that has no ground clearance, you can clearly deduce that it blew her entire front end up. Blew her steering out, severed her brake line and blew her headlights out. Without brakes, her car continues to travel eastbound. With her left front wheel totally ruined and probebly pointing to the left, her car tended toward the left. You can see all of the fluids still on the roadway. Once the center divide stopped, the car bared left right into the path of the oncoming traffic. I'm not excusing her and I have no idea why she hit the median to begin with, but let's use a little good judgement here when you're wishing death on someone.

That's a really interesting theory.

Couple questions, though.

Wouldn't there be sparks if her car were sliding 200 feet with a totally ruined front left wheel? Surely the witnesses would have seen that.

I'm not real clear on exactly where this happened, but wouldn't eastbound be on an incline there? Why would she travel so far after causing the kind of damage you speculate on a median?

If her car had such a low center wouldn't it have high-centered on the median? If not, wouldn't it have veered to the right and not the left? What blew out the headlight? Is the median higher than a curb there? Were both headlights blown out or just one? The pics newsblaze posted looks like the driver's side headlight at least was still intact.

[glad2Bme]

I agree with Dave about needing to keep your eyes open and being aware of what's going on 360degrees around you.....imagine if Dave had been on the phone or texting at the time. He probably would NOT have noticed danger coming his way! Really, people please make your car, if you are driving, a NO PHONE ZONE and we will all be better off. You don't need to check your blackberry just because an e-mail came in or read a text, even if you are stopped; these things can wait. Even hands free cell phone calls are said to be too distracting to drive safely.

[Inwit]

Have any of you actually driven by the scene and looked at everything with your own eyes? Dave, have you been back? I'm not judging, but it's kind of hard to have a detailed breakdown of what happened seeing it through your rearview mirror not to mention you were more concerned with cleaning your shorts out. I live right there. I see the scene every single day. I judged right off the bat. I am always harping on my wife to pay attention at that intersection. It was too easy for me to automatcially assume somebody ran the red and t-boned somebody pulling out of the neighborhood. I am disappointed in myself for judging. Now that I have looked at the scene and all of the reminants, I can tell you that the major "accident" was a result of a previous accident. This lady in the Mercedes wrecked about 200 feet before the intersection. She hit the median divider head on. With a car that has no ground clearance, you can clearly deduce that it blew her entire front end up. Blew her steering out, severed her brake line and blew her headlights out. Without brakes, her car continues to travel eastbound. With her left front wheel totally ruined and probebly pointing to the left, her car tended toward the left. You can see all of the fluids still on the roadway. Once the center divide stopped, the car bared left right into the path of the oncoming traffic. I'm not excusing her and I have no idea why she hit the median to begin with, but let's use a little good judgement here when you're wishing death on someone.

I wonder if the above matches any info from the onsite investigation report. It would be nice to compare notes. I know for me, that is one section of East Bidwell I rarely travel on.

I am wondering how one crashed head-on into a center divide and then continues down along it. It seems head-on requires one to be perpendicular to it, or maybe I'm not picturing it correctly.