SXSW Accident

Early details of the driver who evaded police barriers and plowed into SXSW crowds in Austin, Texas early this morning, killing two and injuring dozens, some critically.  Also in the Tribune.  According to witnesses, "bodies were flying in the air..."

Is irresponsible, reckless driving, and running from the law, becoming the "macho" thing to do these days?

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on March 13, 2014 at 2:11am
A lot of chicago folks including the brewhub crew is there.
Permalink Reply by mike w. on March 13, 2014 at 2:16am

Not an "accident." (Perhaps the correct term is "incident" or "Mechanised mayhem.") "Accident" implies an unpredictable or unintended event or outcome.

 

The driver is facing a capital murder charge.

Permalink Reply by Bez on March 13, 2014 at 2:58am

It's 2 counts of capital murder on a highly publicized incident.  He'll go to jail, likely for quite a long time.  These were pedestrians that he hit, not cyclists...

clp said:

Good point Mike.  But to our car-centric society, most would still call this incident an "accident."  Because the driver was simply looking for an escape...he didn't MEAN to hit those people.  He wasn't purposely TRYING to run them over.

He may now be facing a murder charge.  But like so many other drivers, as his case comes to trial, I doubt he'll serve any time or pay any significant fines.  It is just the shameful state of our justice system generally, as it relates to injured, maimed or killed pedestrians and cyclists.

Permalink Reply by Duppie on March 13, 2014 at 2:59am

Not true. Jail times for traffic deaths caused by DUI have become longer in recent years, in part due to the work the court advocates like the ones for Bobby Cann have been doing.

And if convicted of capital murder, there is no chance that he will get off without long jail time at a minimum

But then again, it is easier to pontificate here on the chainlink on the wrongs of society then it is to spend the time to try and change the culture.


clp said:

[...]

He may now be facing a murder charge.  But like so many other drivers, as his case comes to trial, I doubt he'll serve any time or pay any significant fines. 

[...]

Permalink Reply by JMinHP on March 13, 2014 at 3:37am

This seems timely - DNA Chicago.  An off-duty Chicago cop was acquitted of felony charges after hitting a cyclist while suspected of being under the influence and fleeing the scene.

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on March 13, 2014 at 3:39am

I was going to post the update on a recent thread here. I'll look for it now.  

FYI - New site (about 2 months out) will allow you to search old threads by date.   


JM 6.5 said:

This seems timely - DNA Chicago.  An off-duty Chicago cop was acquitted of felony charges after hitting a cyclist while suspected of being under the influence and fleeing the scene.

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on March 13, 2014 at 3:42am

found it here - http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/chicago-cop-who-allegedly-...

Julie Hochstadter said:

I was going to post the update on a recent thread here. I'll look for it now.  

FYI - New site (about 2 months out) will allow you to search old threads by date.   


JM 6.5 said:

This seems timely - DNA Chicago.  An off-duty Chicago cop was acquitted of felony charges after hitting a cyclist while suspected of being under the influence and fleeing the scene.

Permalink Reply by ad on March 13, 2014 at 4:18am

I agree that it is unlikely that this driver will get off with a light sentence--namely, because there are multiple deaths involved, and this has become a national story because it is attached to SXSW.  I think the case involving the off-duty cop hitting the cyclist highlights the real problem with enforcement in these situations, though, which is that a driver is really only severely punished (or punished at all) by a court if he/she actually kills the person they hit while driving drunk.    

 
Duppie said:

Not true. Jail times for traffic deaths caused by DUI have become longer in recent years, in part due to the work the court advocates like the ones for Bobby Cann have been doing.

And if convicted of capital murder, there is no chance that he will get off without long jail time at a minimum

But then again, it is easier to pontificate here on the chainlink on the wrongs of society then it is to spend the time to try and change the culture.


clp said:

[...]

He may now be facing a murder charge.  But like so many other drivers, as his case comes to trial, I doubt he'll serve any time or pay any significant fines. 

[...]

Permalink Reply by Jim Freeman on March 13, 2014 at 5:56am

We attorneys like the word "collision." 

mike w. said:

Not an "accident." (Perhaps the correct term is "incident" or "Mechanised mayhem.") "Accident" implies an unpredictable or unintended event or outcome.

 

The driver is facing a capital murder charge.

Permalink Reply by Jim Freeman on March 13, 2014 at 5:58am



ad said:

I agree that it is unlikely that this driver will get off with a light sentence--namely, because there are multiple deaths involved, and this has become a national story because it is attached to SXSW.  I think the case involving the off-duty cop hitting the cyclist highlights the real problem with enforcement in these situations, though, which is that a driver is really only severely punished (or punished at all) by a court if he/she actually kills the person they hit while driving drunk.    

 
Duppie said:

Not true. Jail times for traffic deaths caused by DUI have become longer in recent years, in part due to the work the court advocates like the ones for Bobby Cann have been doing.

And if convicted of capital murder, there is no chance that he will get off without long jail time at a minimum

But then again, it is easier to pontificate here on the chainlink on the wrongs of society then it is to spend the time to try and change the culture.


clp said:

[...]

He may now be facing a murder charge.  But like so many other drivers, as his case comes to trial, I doubt he'll serve any time or pay any significant fines. 

[...]

Permalink Reply by Paul Michael Ignacio on March 21, 2014 at 4:49am
For the record, when murders happen, I tend to blame the murderer. But maybe this article lets us all know what we've really lost.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140321/rogers-park/sxsw-crash-vict...

So very very sad. There aren't specific details yet for the benefit at the Heartland, but I for one plan on attending.
Permalink Reply by Robert Underwood on March 21, 2014 at 6:52am

It looks like he was already being followed by a police car before he went into the crowds of people.  But I don't think the cop was in error for following him for evading the checkpoint.  Its his fault for being drunk and driving to begin with, obviously.

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