[kaloo]

My husband just shared with me a little bit about this awful accident. Anybody has more info?

[newday]

Not sure about one on Iron Point, but last night I believe there may have been one on Folsom Blvd. near Glenn. The road was closed for what looked like a single car accident and a helicopter landed in the parking lot nearby, but they weren't taking anyone away in it.

Please don't tell me we had two fatals in this town this weekend alone.

[MikeinFolsom]

Road racing....and an innocent woman from Shingle Springs was the victim.....

[tgianco]

It was in the Bee this morning (metro section, page 2). Teenagers racing on Iron Point, traveliing between 60-80 MPH, killing mother of two young children. The teen that hit her was treated for minor injuries and arrested.

We've been saying that something like this would happen for a long time. There are a few spots here in town where the police should rotate speed traps knowing that these areas tend to have lots of speeders, especially young people racing.

[davburr]

It was in the Bee this morning (metro section, page 2). Teenagers racing on Iron Point, traveliing between 60-80 MPH, killing mother of two young children. The teen that hit her was treated for minor injuries and arrested.

We've been saying that something like this would happen for a long time. There are a few spots here in town where the police should rotate speed traps knowing that these areas tend to have lots of speeders, especially young people racing.

Hope that ALL those punk teenagers involved are now in jail for manslaughter

what a tragic waste of life!

I don't understand why the police here do nothing about that. Never ever see them around that area, but I do see them parked at the parks a lot chatting on their cell phones.

[Robert Giacometti]

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families involved in this tragic accident.

I will encourage all of us to refrain from prejudging what happened based upon the information in the article ( teen aged males, street racing, driving red Stealth & white BMW).

Allow the police to complete their investigation, so they can determine how fast the cars were going at impact and who had the right away at the intersection. These will be the facts used by our justice system to judge the drivers responsibilities.

Again, my thoughts and prayers go out to ALL of the families involved in this tragedy!

[stacycam]

I want to know why these 17-year-olds were driving a BMW 5-series and a Dodge Stealth. I can't even afford to drive those cars. Just another illustration of the spoiled rich kids in Folsom.

So sad for that mother's children.

[camay2327]

Here is the article...

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/107841.html

Regional digest: Police say woman killed in street racing incident

Published 12:00 am PST Sunday, January 14, 2007
Story appeared in METRO section, Page B2

FOLSOM -- A 53-year-old wife and mother on a weekend shopping trip was killed in a car wreck Saturday by a teenage driver who was street racing, Folsom police said.

The woman, driving a black Toyota Solara, was pulling out of the Folsom Premium Outlets and turning onto Iron Point Road when a red Dodge Stealth broadsided her about 2:45 p.m., said Officer Michelle Beattie, Folsom police spokeswoman.

As officers and a civilian performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, an ambulance took the woman to Mercy San Juan Medical Center.

She was pronounced dead about 5 p.m., according to the Sacramento County Coroner's Office.

The coroner identified the victim as Susan McNew of Shingle Springs and said she was married with children.

Beattie said witnesses had seen the Dodge and a white BMW 5-series vehicle apparently racing and changing lanes erratically for some distance.

Witnesses said the cars had reached speeds of 60 to 80 mph in an area where the speed limit is 45 mph, and there was substantial weekend traffic, Beattie said.

"There were a lot of people out shopping and going to restaurants," she said.

The Dodge and the BMW each carried a 17-year-old male driver and passenger. The Dodge driver was taken to the hospital and treated for pain, then arrested. His passenger also was treated and released.

The BMW driver, who was unhurt, also was arrested. His passenger was sent home.

All the teens knew each other, Beattie said.

"They're all 17," she said. "They're all boys. They're all friends. A woman shopping and heading home is caught in the middle of their game and killed. It's tragic."

Both drivers will be charged with vehicular manslaughter and reckless driving, Beattie said. Their names were not released because they are minors.

No drugs or alcohol were involved in the collision, she said.

-- Hudson Sangree


----------------

NOTE: I also saw the news on TV last night and this morning. The mother of one of the boys came out and said that her boy just would not do such a thing (street race). With all the witnesses I can not believe she could say such a thing. I am sorry, as parents we just can not be with our children 24-7.

My wife and I really feel for the family of this 53 year old woman.

[Jaxx]

Well, the parents gave their 17 year-old boys Dodge Stealth's and BMW's to play with and this is what happens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4oaPqb0q1E

[4thgenFolsomite]

the kids were from fair oaks and orangevale. I don't think its fair to generalize about "spoiled rich kids from Folsom." I think its a general lack of respect for speed and the safety of others that is prevalent in our culture. I am always amazed when those road racing movies come out and no one seems to object. We live in a car culture that is causing many many problems in our environment (i.e. dependence on foreign oil, air pollution, global warming, suburban sprawl). People use their cars to project their personality, rather than using it as a tool.

now I'll get off my soap box and say that as long as there have been teenagers driving cars, there have been teenagers taking risks with cars. nothing new there and nothing to do with being middle class, etc.

what a damn shame for everyone. my first thought was that I go in and out of that intersection all the time with my family and it might have been us.

Does anyone think more traffic police on the streets would help? I am kinding of thinking it would. People, including teens, mind their manners and watch their speed when they know they might get a ticket. Have we opened up the traffic court in the police station yet? It would be nice, so our police wouldn't have to take the time to drive down to Howe Avenue or whereever it is, to appear at hearings.....Maybe they would give out more tickets then and increase enforcement. They do a good job in this town, but there is a lot of speeding going on, teenagers or not.

[bordercolliefan]

What a shocking, sad story. Such a tragedy for all the families, but especially for the family of the woman, who was an innocent victim of such stupidity.

What kind of parents give teenage boys expensive sports cars to drive?? What do they think 17 year olds are going to do with such cars?? Such overindulgence contributes to these kinds of incidents.

That said, I agree with Robert that we don't really know all the facts. Was the accident at the traffic light? Did the boys blow through the light, or did they have the right of way? Even if they had the right of way, however, their excessive speed and reported recklessness will probably make them at fault.

Dumb, dumb, dumb. Guess the boys' college funds will be going to pay their legal bills instead. Or perhaps the parents will need to sell those nifty cars... (And if I sound mean, please forgive me-- it's only because I am feeling so sad thinking about that poor woman, and her children left behind... )

[mylo]

Tragic

[granto]

[quote name='Jaxx' post='141215' date='Jan 14 2007, 10:40 AM']Well, the parents gave their 17 year-old boys Dodge Stealth's and BMW's to play with and this is what happens.

/quote]


Even better was the mother of one on TV stating that her kid was innocent that he never speeds, and we need to wait for the investigation to see what really happened. Yet witnesses all say the cars were speeding.

[Terry]

/quote]
Even better was the mother of one on TV stating that her kid was innocent that he never speeds, and we need to wait for the investigation to see what really happened. Yet witnesses all say the cars were speeding.
[/quote]

Yeah, I saw her on the news, too. Queen of denial...............

[stacycam]

I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who drives a Stealth who doesn't speed. Why bother? I have no doubt those boys were speeding. Now, whether they caused the accident or not, remains to be seen. I know when I was a teenager I drove fast and I drove a crappy Datsun 510. Also, street racing is nothing new. My brother was killed in 1963 when some neighborhood kids were drunk and drag-racing and hit him head-on while he was stopped at a stop sign. Of course, back then the boys didn't even get a ticket until my dad threatened to tear down the police station. Luckily times have changed. I do think stricter enforcement would help, but I don't think the threat will do it. I think the kids have to actually be caught. IMO

Regarding the mom on the news, while I feel for her and would hate to be in her position, I think it says a lot that she is so naive (in denial, whatever) to think her boy doesn't speed. I hope when my kids are teens, I won't be so clueless.

Finally, no matter who was at fault, this situation is awful. That boy will need to live with the fact that he killed a woman, and that woman's family will be without her.

[camay2327]

I would also like to know if they ran a red light at that corner. Anyone know??/

[ducky]

Such sad, sad news for all involved.

I know the PD can't be everywhere at once, but didn't the Folsom PD just get some sort of grant to crack down on street racing? Instead of stabling another police horse, I would like to see more done to crack down on speeders and red-light runners.


I also saw the news report last night and was very troubled by the report that the boys were more concerned about getting the speakers out of the damaged car before it was impounded than the victim who died. Hope that wasn't true.

[benning]

Let's listen to what Robert had to say and try not to pass judgment so the investigation can continue. I feel very sorry for these families -- ALL of them.

BTW, you don't have to be 'spoiled' or rich to own a Dodge Stealth or a BMW 5 series. There are many available between 3 and 10k, which puts them in the range of pretty much any other car today and definately in the range of a teenager who has been saving for a while. My 21 year old drives a mustang convertible, which he paid 2/3 of, and I would hate for someone to blame his car for his driving mistakes. I would have prefered that he got a Volkswagon Passat or something like that but it was his money, to a point, so it was his choice, to a point.

The other thing that troubles me is that they say between 60 and 80 mph. That's quite a range. I'm sure most honest people on this forum would admit to having gone 55 or so in that stretch at some point in our lives. One difference is that we're not 17 and we have more experience driving defensively and most of us are better at paying attention to our surroundings.

It could be that they were just speeding and goofing around --- NOT street racing. Most teens I know are not heartless idiots who care more about stereos than they do about people. No one knows what stuff would come out of people's mouths when they're in shock. I remember when I received the news that my mom had died, I was about to go to an exercise class and actually considered going to the class and waiting till it was over to go to Modesto where my family was. Luckily I got my senses pretty quickly and was helped by my husband.

Very Very Tragic...
Tragic.

[tgianco]

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families involved in this tragic accident.

I will encourage all of us to refrain from prejudging what happened based upon the information in the article ( teen aged males, street racing, driving red Stealth & white BMW).

Allow the police to complete their investigation, so they can determine how fast the cars were going at impact and who had the right away at the intersection. These will be the facts used by our justice system to judge the drivers responsibilities.

Again, my thoughts and prayers go out to ALL of the families involved in this tragedy!

No offense, Robert, but I won't refrain. I see it way too much in this town.

Agreed that prayers go out to the families of the victims.

[Silverado]

I just drove by there, and it would appear its the intersection at the Applebees parking lot. There are some long, heavy black skid marks on westbound Iron point. I have seen accidents at this location before. Iron Point is 6 lanes wide curving and dropping in elevation at that point, which hinders visibility for anyone exiting the parking lot. Its just a bad intersection to begin with, even without having to worry about speeding cars. Short of putting up yet another traffic light, it might be a good idea to make the exit right turn only.