Driver Keeps Going After Buddy Loses Head

[Herbster]

OK. I was a party animal when I was younger, but this just leaves me speechless...


The wire sheered off the truck's exterior right-side mirror and Brohm's head, police said.

Hutcherson continued driving several miles to his house where he parked in the driveway -- with Brohm's headless body still hanging out the passenger side window -- and went to bed.

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20...42938-5876r.htm (http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040830-042938-5876r.htm)

[Joe]

WOW!!!!

[thevillageinn]

that is so messed up! how plastered must the driver have been?

[ljmyers]

I have a question for you guys. The passenger was drinking as well. They both were in this together and the passenger started out the night when he was sober knowing that one of them were going to be driving while under the influence since both started out drinking. Charging the driver with DUI and the other things I whole heartedly agree with; but do you think it's fair to charge the driver, in this particular case, with first-degree vehicular homicide of his friend who willingly went along with the nights plan?

[dbmasters]

Of course he should be charged for vehicular homicide. Don't even turn this in to some left wing "he was a victim" crap (OK, I know you weren't but it's aimed in that direction). He got drunk, decided to drive (done it), his buddy was drunk and hanging out the window (done it), the driver, being drunk, went off the road (done it) and his buddies head got lopped off (can't say I've done that) while he was driving the vehicle...uuummm, yes, he killed the guy, should he have stayed on the road and the dude fell out it may be a different matter, when the car left the road, it became his fault...

The rider paid for his decision by losing his friggin head, the driver should pay for his as well.

[tnas]

I agree with Dan on this one. The driver has the responsibility of the car and the passengers. Sure, the passenger made a bad decision getting into the car, but that does not reduce the responsibility of the driver at all.

[ljmyers]

Wasn't going the left wing route at all Dan. :) I don't even disagree with the points of view on the subject that either of you guys added. I was just curious of the general opinion in a situation like this. Honostly, my cousin was "very" recently killed in an accident envolving alcohol and/or drugs with the driver. I think I'm just still trying to deal with it, is all. I actually am unsure of how I feel about it. Maybe being personally effected by something like this, it should leave me angry and want the driver in jail for the rest of his life. But I also know the life she lead which was filled with drugs and such; so as much as I loved her and as sad as it makes me, I find myself kind of stuck in the middle on the issue. So no worries and no big debate or anything. I was only curious about your opinions. :)

[dbmasters]

I can think of two friends right off the top of my head that has died in similar situation (though, never lost a head, one was halved at the abdomen), prolly come up with more if I thought about it. In both of those cases the driver was a friend too...one went to prison and the other got suspended sentence with a bunch of probation. They deserved it.

Sorry for your loss Lana.


Sure, the passenger made a bad decision getting into the car, but that does not reduce the responsibility of the driver at all.
Well stated.

[ljmyers]

Thanks Dan. It has been a really difficult thing because her mother and I grew up more like sisters than aunt and niece due to the small age difference between us. Our daughters were born all within a couple years of each other and grew up close until my cousin begin to get into drugs and gangs. (She and my oldest daughter were only 2 months apart in age.) It was at this time I began to keep the girls away from her and the things she was getting into. She actually played a roll in my oldest daughter's drug problem that I have mentioned to you before. (Although I am aware of the fact that my daughter was responsible for her own actions.) I suppose it is because of this that I can see both sides. Because I knew the situation so well and the chances she took with her own life on almost a daily basis. I think your right about the guys deserving prison and probation. I do think the guy driving the car she was in should pay for it in some way. I just don't know how or how much I guess. I just thank God that my daughter finally got it together when she did because it very possibly could have been her in that car with my cousin at one time. OK, I will stop pooring my heart out and leave you guys be. Thanks for the feedback.

[dbmasters]

I personally consider every morning I wake up to be borrowed time. Due to my own choices and lifestyle years back there is absolutely no reason I should be alive right now. I've been living on borrowed time for over 10 years now...

[ljmyers]

Maybe, but you are here and you do not live your life that way anymore. That counts for something Dan. :)

[dbmasters]

no, I take more calculated risks now...

[Herbster]

Glad to see people took the post in the spirit intended. With the Labor Day weekend coming up, I thought it would be a good reminder.

The charges would stick here in Oregon. I know because a friend swerved out of her lane driving home causing a headon that killed a young father and his two little girls. The only thing that kept here out of prison was her age - mid to late 70's - and the fact the accident left her in a wheelchair requiring medical attention she wouldn't receive in prision. She lost her license, faced huge fines and recieved five years probation.

Additionally, the bar she was at - I know the owners - was almost sued into bankrupcy. In Oregon, the bartender and the bar owner face criminal charges and civil liability. My mother was at the bar that night - simply another customer - and, yes, she drove herself home - the last time she did that - and she was nearly named in the suit just for being there. This is serious guano in Oregon.

I've been trying to remember if it was Memorial Day or Labor Day. My friend Karl insisted on driving dead drunk from a local casino about 60 miles away back home. He was on a two lane road with hairpin turns that winds through the forrests when he cut a corner wide and had a headon with a motorhome. It sheared off part of the roof decapitating his 14 year old son. Karl was on life support for a couple weeks, in and out of consciousness. When he found out his son was dead, he just gave up the fight.

Have fun, but rent a room for the night, have a designated driver or call a cab.

[dbmasters]

Wow, thats some sad stuff Herbster. Odds are (statistically true) we have almost all been affected by drunk driving, or driving under the influence of something, either directly or indirectly at some point, in some way.

I do, however disagree with a bar being sued, I know it's getting pretty common, and I do see the logic in it, but it doesn't seem very right to me. It seems to me like just another way to pass the blame on to somebody else...and that, in my opinion, is one of the biggest problems in the US today, it's always somebody else's fault...the buck is always being past. I don't think it should be the bar/restaurants responsibility to babysit it's patrons. Unless the drunk in question is underage, they should be responsibile for themselves, if they are underage, well, then that bar has a whole lot bigger issues to deal with.

[ljmyers]

Herb...I say plaster it all over the place to remind every person possible. Great thinking on your part.

Here! Here! Dan. I totally agree with your last entry. We should all have to take responsibility for our own actions and not have the ability to pass it on to others.

We have never had anything like this happen in our family so this is all new to us.
The car my cousin was in was traveling so fast that it hit a bridge, went airborn and bounced off of the roof of the cab of a semi going about 70 mph, then flew 300 feet before it landed. This was on the West Virginia turnpike which runs through the mountains and deep long curves that go on forever in places, so you can imagine. She was thrown from the car and then ran over by semi trucks. So awful to even think about. The only way they could identify her was through a tatoo on her ankle, it was that bad. It's sad, the chances people will take and what they do to themselves and others. What makes it even worse is that we just had Amber's funeral last Wednesday and today is her birthday. She would have been 22yrs old. I can't even begin to conceive of what her poor mom must be going through. So Herb, you just plaster and remind all over the place darlin'. If it helps one person, then that is one family who won't be going through what we are right now.

[dbmasters]

That is very sad, my deepest sympathies to you and yours...