DUI gets another one, an innocent one,

[contender]

Well, we got some sad news this morning. A local older gentleman whom I've known all my life, a farmer & very, very nice,,, was killed early this morning because of a drunk (or high) driver. The other guy, another local, used to own property adjoining mine. He used to own property next to my property. According to the news, he has had several arrests for DUI in the last couple of years. And, he may have been driving on a revoked license. We just saw his wife in the grocery store 2 nights ago. Miss Penny & I were discussing how such a sweet lady could have ended up with this guy. He's always been a bit of an arse.
The gentleman killed,, a widower, local farmer, nice as he could be. His sons & I are also good friends. Small community where we all know everyone. I get a lot of excess produce from them each year. We have deer hunted together, & I've hunted on their land. One of the sons, the one I see more often, his wife & him have adopted kids over the years & raised them as their own. Good folks.
Big news in a small town.
Sad news indeed.

 

[Oldman11]

Sad

 

[powder smoke]

My condolences, sad to have to leave this world in that manner.
I wish his family the best, and hope that man gets what he deserves.
DUI with a fatality needs to be treated as murder because that is what it is.
BTW My brother got killed by DUI while checking the mail box for my folks.
Right in front of the house it was terrible my mother saw it happen
The grief was almost unbearable for her. RIP. ps

 

[pete44ru]

.

Drinks that drive are an abomination on society - bad cess to them, and condolences on your loss of a friend.

.

 

[graygun]

sad indeed

sorry for your loss

 

[Selena]

Please give the sons my sincere condolences. My opinion of drunk drivers is well known and I see reason none to stand in this man's blood to state them.

 

[Big Old Boy]

Sad news for sure sorry for your loss a a good friend and neighbor. I can’t stand drunk drivers.

 

[Ordguy]

I became a single parent when my kid was 3 because of a drunk sob.

Sheriff wouldn't let me give the s.o.b a tape of the kid frequently asking "mommy come home?"

 

[eveled]

I worked with an older guy who took very good care of himself. A real health nut. When I asked him about it, he said he had to make sure he lived long enough so that he would be there when the drunk who killed his daughter got out of jail.

That drove home the impact of drunk drivers to me.

I'm sorry for the loss your community has suffered. Very sad indeed.

 

[Pat-inCO]

DUI with a fatality needs to be treated as murder because that is what it is.

While I completely agree with you, I think that would be hard to sell to
all of the liberals. - - - My suggestion is along those lines, but brings in
a concept used in other places - - - three strikes and you're OUT!

If the person in involved in an "accident" with less than three DUIs, but
the severity of the incident warrants, treat it as the incident indicates.
Once a person has his/her THIRD DUI and anyone is severely hurt or
killed, treat it as manslaughter or assault with a deadly weapon. If there
is more than one person killed, the charge becomes murder. . . . Period. .
. . No exceptions.

At the same time, anyone who receives their first DUI should (must?)
have their driving license suspended for six months. A second DUI must
carry a one year revocation of their license. Third strike, they are
OUT!

Anyone receiving a DUI with revoked or suspended license (no injuries)
gets six months added to the number they would have received otherwise.
DUI with suspended or revoked license but injuries (no death) gets a five
year revocation and is charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Any
DUI that involves death, and the license is suspended or revoked, the
charge is murder, with a minimum time of twenty years. Let them do some
time in the pen with hard core criminals (which they are becoming) to see
what happens IF they ever get out.

Not that I feel strongly about it or anything. :D

 

[toysoldier]

First offense, take the car. Period. Whether it belongs to the driver, is borrowed, or rented. Maybe having to get around on a 49cc scooter would drive home the seriousness of the act.

In Turkey, a drunk driver can get the death penalty.

 

[blackhawknj]

In Germany DUI is a felony.

 

[Kevin]

In Bulgaria the penalty for a DUI is pretty harsh too. I’m not sure what it is exactly, but severe enough no one wants to drink and drive at all. A taxi is far far better.

Contender, I’m sorry to hear about your friend.

 

[blume357]

Sad and a tragedy that will now involve two families that you know.... I had a customer that was the father of a friend of mine who was killed by a drunk driver that had just been released from jail after serving a sentence for guess what? Yep, you got it. Some folks have a problem and don't seem to be able to admit it.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

I haven't seen many charged so far, but in certain cases a fatality caused by a DUI prior offender can be prosecuted as murder in CA. Here's what an LA County attorney who specializes in DUIs has to say about it:

https://www.losangelesduiattorney.com/glossary/dui-murder/

Rick C

 

[roashooter]

It is a tragedy ...when one loses a family member....or close friend....to a drunk/drugged driver.....but in todays society.....you are more likely to be injured/maimed/killed...by someone on a "smart" phone......and it seems that people as a whole do not want more stringent laws against "distracted" drivers......I want them to be treated just like drunk drivers....and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.....

 

[WendyZXZ]

Sad news to hear about the loss.

 

[GP100]

Please give the sons my sincere condolences. My opinion of drunk drivers is well known and I see reason none to stand in this man's blood to state them.

I agree with Selena.. I feel the same way.. I will however offer my sincere condolences to the family and to you for the loss of this man..

 

[contender]

First off,,, many thanks for all the kind words. Please direct anything like prayers for the family,,, I'll be ok.
Now an update. The accident happened Wednesday morning,,, not this morning like I was first told. And it made the local news tonight. Apparently this impaired guy was "seriously injured, but is expected to survive."
Now this individual,,, has other impaired driving charges FROM A PREVIOUS ARREST in a few weeks. He's been caught before too. And he's wrecked a few other vehicles,,, just not involving anybody else. And they haven't charged him yet with anything as the investigation is ongoing.
The elderly gentleman actually swerved as far to his right as he could trying to avoid the oncoming truck,,, to the point that the impact happened mostly OFF the highway.
Services are Saturday.

This hits a bit hard as just a few weeks ago, a couple, out on his motorcycle were hit & killed by a guy in a Hummer, who was also DUI. He has been charged with 2 counts of manslaughter. Miss Penny & I knew this couple,, as they used to have an auction house,,, he was a bear hunter,,, and we'd gone to his auctions for several years. I've bought guns & such from his auction.
Another senseless killing.

I'm all for VERY stiff penalties for repeat DUI offenders,, and especially when they involve other innocent people. But taking their license hasn't stopped many of them. And making them ride a moped,, where (in this state) they are not required to have a license, or insurance is almost a non-penalty. I think they should NOT be allowed to operate ANYTHING on a highway. And if caught just once,,, lock them away for at least a year,, at hard labor. Confiscating autos, property etc etc is also an idea I can support.

Sigh,,, it's been a long day too. Late in the day,, a guy I know via the FoNRA (different committee,) called me about a RSSMX. We discussed it & all, and then he told me that 7 weeks ago he suddenly had sight issues, emergency surgery, became blind in his right eye & partially blind in his left eye. Seems he's a diabetic, and had blood leak into his eyeball. He has a lot ahead of him as well trying to recover. He's only in his 40's. I told him I'd had enough bad news for today.

 

[jgt]

I can agree some people have a problem they can't seem to control. Driving while not controlling their problem is something they could control, so, pox on them. May they experience all the punishment they deserve.

 

[Mus408]

Very sad and sorry for the loss of a good friend.