Street racer charged with manslaughter

[Sluggo]

Link to local story

The two 18-year-olds were friends who worked together. At the end of their race one was able to brake, but the other couldn't stop in time to avoid a highway and an oncoming semi-truck.

Steven Davis lost his life in that race. He was unable to stop his car before skidding onto the highway and underneath a semi.

"The victim's vehicle was trapped underneath the trailer portion of the truck and was dragged about 615 feet," said Sgt. Branon Bowen, spokesman for the Seminole police department.

What do you think, is there enough reasoning for the kid to be charged?

EDIT

An aside if it makes any difference in your opinion, the guys werent racing hot rods, outlandish ricers or anything like that. The kid who was killed was driving something along the lines of a Corsica.

 

[m0rbid]

Yes, for sheer STUPIDIDTY!

 

[minendo]

Sure. That makes two less asshats on the road.

 

[Lager]

Originally posted by: m0rbid
Yes, for sheer STUPIDIDTY!

Who were you before you were banned?

 

[Hammer]

no, the other driver was a willing participant and he didn't force him into that truck or anything.

 

[conjur]

Ayup.

 

[amcdonald]

This guy doesn't deserve jail time.
Why can't the guy who lost control be responsible for his own life?
Did the other kid force him into a street race?
I'd bet money that this guy won't ever race again.

 

[BatmanNate]

I never feel bad when I hear about street racers dying. For all of the other people that are minding their own business that get killed because of them, there really isn't any pity left for the jack asses.

 

[palad]

Is street recing illegal? If so, then the law probably views it as a case of 'engaged in an illegal activity which resulted in the death of another person', which would probably tote up as manslaughter.

 

[bradruth]

Yes. They endangered countless lives, not just their own. As such, they should be prepared to face the consequences when someone dies because of their actions.

 

[Dissipate]

Who cares about that. These idiots are two reasons why my insurance rates are so damn high. I think the one that survived should get the electric chair. :|

 

[MercenaryForHire]

That's the one good thing about Ricers - their countless excuses for not racing means they're not racing.

- M4H

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
That's the one good thing about Ricers - their countless excuses for not racing means they're not racing.

- M4H

Unless there's a lot of traffic, in which case they figured they can "beat" everybody by cutting people off, forgoing the turn signal, speeding up as fast as they can between lights, tailgating, and driving in the HOV lane alone. It's like going to the zoo to heckle the animals on the other side of the bars. I just love it when one of us animals turns out to be a cop and the ricer gets mauled.

 

[UNCjigga]

Weird, I read 'Steven Davis' and thought "noes!!!1 Tragedy strikes the Panthers AGAIN!"

But anyways, I agree with the manslaughter charge. You knew the risks when you decided to race on public streets, so own up to the responsibility.

 

[Ryan]

I don't care. People who participate in street racing deserve whatever they get.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: bradruth
Yes. They endangered countless lives, not just their own. As such, they should be prepared to face the consequences when someone dies because of their actions.

That someone died because of his own actions, and he faced the consequences. They should charge him with reckless endangerment of innocent bystanders, but not with manslaughter of a racer who knowingly put himself at risk

 

[Doggiedog]

Yes. What if the guy hit a minivan full of kids and not a semi instead?

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
I don't care. People who participate in street racing deserve whatever they get.

Yeah well what about all the people under 25 with car insurance who DON'T street race? Do they deserve the high premiums THEY get?

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: bradruth
Yes. They endangered countless lives, not just their own. As such, they should be prepared to face the consequences when someone dies because of their actions.

That someone died because of his own actions, and he faced the consequences. They should charge him with reckless endangerment of innocent bystanders, but not with manslaughter of a racer who knowingly put himself at risk

So do you suppose this person would have died had the other decided not to race?

 

[DougK62]

Either we've got some real morons here or several people in the thread need to actually read the story.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: bradruth
Yes. They endangered countless lives, not just their own. As such, they should be prepared to face the consequences when someone dies because of their actions.

That someone died because of his own actions, and he faced the consequences. They should charge him with reckless endangerment of innocent bystanders, but not with manslaughter of a racer who knowingly put himself at risk

So do you suppose this person would have died had the other decided not to race?

Yes, he could have been speeding by himself. Or he could have lived if HE decided not to race. His own decisions killed him, not anyone else.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: bradruth
Yes. They endangered countless lives, not just their own. As such, they should be prepared to face the consequences when someone dies because of their actions.

That someone died because of his own actions, and he faced the consequences. They should charge him with reckless endangerment of innocent bystanders, but not with manslaughter of a racer who knowingly put himself at risk

So do you suppose this person would have died had the other decided not to race?

Yes, he could have been speeding by himself. Or he could have lived if HE decided not to race. His own decisions killed him, not anyone else.

It's hard to say whether or not someone would have been hurt since it's all speculation. The main point behind the manslaughter charge is deterrance. We had a similar case up here in Grand Forks a couple years back and the people who lived were convicted of manslaughter. The idea is that if you're going to accept the personal risks behind something so blatently stupid, you can accept responsibility for those who may be effected as well.

 

[Thraxen]

Yes, he could have been speeding by himself. Or he could have lived if HE decided not to race. His own decisions killed him, not anyone else.

I agree with this. Look, I hate street racers... they are fvcking idiots. But to charge this kid for actions taken by another individual is a dangerous legal line to cross. May seem just fine to a lot of you now, but what about down the road when you or someone you know is charged with something you/they didn't do?

 

[Hammer]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Yes. What if the guy hit a minivan full of kids and not a semi instead?

um... but he didn't?

 

[Black88GTA]

Nobody held a gun to that other guy's head and forced him into the race. The choice was his, and his alone. He paid the ultimate price for something many people (including, I'm sure, some of those in this thread that are calling for swift execution) have done when they were younger and stupid. That said, I've raced on the streets before (when I was younger) and won't do it again. I will say that I was never dumb enough to race towards an expressway interchange (I mean, WTF ).

I very highly doubt that anyone in this thread can honestly say that they never did ANYTHING when they were younger that had the potential to harm themselves, or others. Methinks there are quite a few hypocrites here.

Just my .02, and I'm sure I'll be flamed for it.