DUI and Death on Harrison

[Anonymous]

This group of kids have been drinking in Cherry Valley Park for almost a year now, on and off. They sit on the park benches until late at night by the entrance to Custis Trail. I have filed several reports with Arlington County Police asking them to stop, called the non-emergency line. And now one of those kids is dead. Shame on this kid and his parents, but shame on the Arlington Police, absolutely worthless…

[Anonymous]

How do you know it’s the same group of kids?

It’s so sad- lives ruined in an instant.

[Anonymous]

You're shaming a dead child and his grieving parents?

[Anonymous]

These kids were home from college on fall break. Many lives were ruined for stupid mistakes. It could have been anyone.

[Anonymous]

Throw the book at him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These kids were home from college on fall break. Many lives were ruined for stupid mistakes. It could have been anyone.

That’s not at all true and your attitude and language are really dangerous and immoral. Seriously. It’s not a “stupid mistake,” a “stupid mistake” is an inexperienced driver taking a turn a little too fast, or something like that. Driving when you’ve been drinking is pre-meditated, intentional, and well-informed reckless endangerment. Getting in the car with a drunk driver if you’re a college student in NOVA is also really bad and not a “stupid” “mistake.” You’re only responsible for your own death, but you’re also endorsing the driver in a way. The alternatives are very accessible. Call an Uber. Get a bus. Nobody was in distress with no alternatives in Arlington.

When you call this a “stupid mistake” you contribute to a culture that tell kids that it’s not a big deal. It IS a big deal and it’s completely unnecessary. You can drink yourself stupid without hurting anyone. Deciding to drive is a very, very, very different matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These kids were home from college on fall break. Many lives were ruined for stupid mistakes. It could have been anyone.

He was driving drunk. This is not an accident.

[Anonymous]

It’s not the same kids, OP. The kids in the park are teens- MS and HS students. The kids in the crash, on a separate part of Harrison, were college students driving to/from a party. Two separate issues the community needs to address.

[Anonymous]

https://www.arlnow.com/2024/10/12/just-in-arlington-man-killed-in-overnight-crash-18-year-old-driver-charged/

[Anonymous]

Shame on parents? Do you think children are robots who always follow the rules? I ou think kids are a reflection of their parents at all times? This kid made a terrible, deadly mistake. You have no idea about his parents or what they have taught him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This group of kids have been drinking in Cherry Valley Park for almost a year now, on and off. They sit on the park benches until late at night by the entrance to Custis Trail. I have filed several reports with Arlington County Police asking them to stop, called the non-emergency line. And now one of those kids is dead. Shame on this kid and his parents, but shame on the Arlington Police, absolutely worthless…

You think Cherry Valley Park (not near the accident- 2 mi away) is the only spot where kids drink? What a strange assertion with no evidence.

[Anonymous]

Many adults in this community enable and look the other way and normalize a high school drinking culture. Most kids aren’t a part of it but the ones who are, everyone knows it. That’s just how it is and for those of you getting your first window into it, you should be shocked. Don’t let that feeling wear off.

Terrible tragedy for all those affected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many adults in this community enable and look the other way and normalize a high school drinking culture. Most kids aren’t a part of it but the ones who are, everyone knows it. That’s just how it is and for those of you getting your first window into it, you should be shocked. Don’t let that feeling wear off.

Terrible tragedy for all those affected.

These were college kids FWIW. Agree though there’s a huge drinking culture in APS. The parents are just as guilty; so many happy hour then drive to football games. I don’t let anyone else drive my teens at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These kids were home from college on fall break. Many lives were ruined for stupid mistakes. It could have been anyone.

I agree many lives were ruined for stupid mistakes and it could have anffected anyone who was out on that road with them that night who was minding their own business in the wrong place and wrong time. Thank god that didn’t happen.

However I also don’t think acting like this is some random lightening strike act of fate is correct either for the kids who were in that car. Actions have consequences and these ones are far bigger than anyone should ever have to pay. It sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many adults in this community enable and look the other way and normalize a high school drinking culture. Most kids aren’t a part of it but the ones who are, everyone knows it. That’s just how it is and for those of you getting your first window into it, you should be shocked. Don’t let that feeling wear off.

Terrible tragedy for all those affected.

These were college kids FWIW. Agree though there’s a huge drinking culture in APS. The parents are just as guilty; so many happy hour then drive to football games. I don’t let anyone else drive my teens at night.

I know. They were kids who had been at college about 6 weeks. Barely out of high school.