This morning, 6:15 am, cab driver veers onto sidewalk, hits a light pole, flips the cab four times or more, and hits and kills a 30-year-old man who was sitting on a bench waiting for the bus. So horrible. One commenter at the end of the story said her boyfriend witnessed this and estimated the cab driver was going 60 mph.
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Lisa, I completely agree. We cannot assume that he is guilty, which is why we shouldn't use the words "vehicular homicide" or imply that he acted with any intent, or even that he was reckless. We just don't know the full facts. However, we also cannot assume that there was no wrongdoing, which is why we shouldn't use the word "accident", which implies that it was just a fateful, unavoidable event. Instead, all we have concluded with certainty at this time is that there was a crash. The judge or jury will determine if there was any wrongdoing, or if this was an accident.
Lisa Curcio said:
until a judge or jury has rendered a final verdict based on full evidence, we cannot assume it was "just an accident".
Michelle, I usually don't disagree with you, but as to what we can or cannot assume, I do. The man is charged with a criminal offense. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
City records show Kesse [the cab driver] has been a licensed Chicago public chauffeur since May 1987 and had no outstanding moving violations or consumer complaints.
His attorney, Bruce Rafalson, told Judge Donald Panarese Jr. that the case was "a tragic accident" and hinted at possible mechanical problems with the cab, which was not Kesse's normal vehicle.
Rafalson said Kesse, of the 4500 block of North Clarendon Avenue, is a father of five and had never been arrested. In addition to his work with the church, Kesse served as president of a Chicago nonprofit that helps support African immigrants, Rafalson said.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-cabbie-ordere...
Maybe we will never know what happened exactly or where the fault lies, but these heart-rending and life-changing events are almost always terrible tragedies on both sides of the event.
It's possible to feel outrage and deep sadness at the same when one reads these reports. I know I do. At the end of the day, I mostly just want to go home and give my kids a long hug. Life is hard. It's important to be nice to each other.
Again, there is no bus shelter here. Not even a bus stop - just a bench.
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