DUI and Death on Harrison

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever one calls this, a mistake or stupid, this 18 year old will be in jail for many years. He will know he ruined his life.

If we are playing the blame olympics then the kid who got thrown out of the car wins the silver medal for not wearing his seatbelt.

Have they explained why he wasn't wearing one? Was it broken? Too many kids in the car?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I graduated ytown 35 years ago and we used to drive blinded drunk. Awful, inexcusable. But we always had our seat belts on - bc we KNEW the guy driving was drunk. And half 3-4-5 times i or people i knew lives were saved bc of that, all in single car accidents like the one here. The fact the deceased didnt have his seat belt on is close second in awful judgment to the driver, esp bc he knew for a fact the driver was drunk - it was his close friend. If I was that driver and sitting in Arlington jail my life over, I would be pretty pissed that the dude didnt wear his seatbelt. If If he had been, those kids would have flipped that car and all scurried away from the scene and would be texting one another about how crazy the night was.

There were multiple bad choices made that night that led to the fatality. Drinking + driving + riding in car with drunk driver + not wearing seatbelt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really the worst of DCUM, pointing fingers and exposing the name of the barely 18 year old who is at fault. Yes, technically I guess there is no reason not to since it's public information, but I would say that common decency would dictate that people recognize that these are actually people whose lives have been irrevocably changed. Can we take a few days to let the community mourn before we tear each other apart blaming parents? Many, if not most, of our children will be exposed to dangerous circumstances. Maybe not DUI, but there are pills at parties, sexual assaults, muggings, fraternity hazings, etc. It does nobody any good to have a bunch of parents up on their soapboxes preaching about how it couldn't be their children.

He's an adult. Teach your children that too. At 18, no longer any special treatment from the law, EVEN in Arlington. Stop being an apologist. Drill it into your kids' heads: at 18, you're in the big time, actions have consequences, you are an adult.

His name and mugshot are all over the media at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is those of us with kids in this age cohort with these boys know it’s not just some random it could happen to anyone situation. The situation 2 years ago wasn’t either with the carful of boys who killed the other kid. There are kids who behave this way and the kids know who they are. There are families who enable jt and many people know who they are.

It can sometimes be random and sometimes it’s all not that big of a surprise. Doesn’t change what a tragedy it is or empathy for the families.

Someone randomly got drunk?

A lot of people in this conversation seem very invested in the it could happen to anyone idea. What I meant is the kids involved could feel random and surprising. Kids never known to engage in the type of behavior. Shocking. A one off. Billy never had a drink, let alone driving drunk. One mistake the one time that led to the horrible outcome.

A lot of other posts in this thread seem very invested in the idea that they absolutely could prevent their teenager from ever being involved in something like this because they have the superior parenting skillz and their teenagers would never. I agree there are things you can do as a parent to prevent this, but I won’t pretend it’s inconceivable that something like this could ever affect my kids because of decisions they made. That’s hubris.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever one calls this, a mistake or stupid, this 18 year old will be in jail for many years. He will know he ruined his life.

If we are playing the blame olympics then the kid who got thrown out of the car wins the silver medal for not wearing his seatbelt.

Have they explained why he wasn't wearing one? Was it broken? Too many kids in the car?

I believe he was in middle back seat. No idea why he wasn’t wearing it. It’s tragic all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever one calls this, a mistake or stupid, this 18 year old will be in jail for many years. He will know he ruined his life.

If we are playing the blame olympics then the kid who got thrown out of the car wins the silver medal for not wearing his seatbelt.

Have they explained why he wasn't wearing one? Was it broken? Too many kids in the car?

I believe he was in middle back seat. No idea why he wasn’t wearing it. It’s tragic all around.

That’s what I thought. He was very tall. As an also tall person squeezed in the middle- I’m sure it was hard to find the belt and given it was a mere few miles from where everyone lived likely took a gamble many many many people do. How many have liked into an Uber, taxi or friends car and done similar? It really is so gross the people on here throwing darts. I guess it makes them feel like no tragedy could ever befall them or their loved ones.

Have some grace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I graduated ytown 35 years ago and we used to drive blinded drunk. Awful, inexcusable. But we always had our seat belts on - bc we KNEW the guy driving was drunk. And half 3-4-5 times i or people i knew lives were saved bc of that, all in single car accidents like the one here. The fact the deceased didnt have his seat belt on is close second in awful judgment to the driver, esp bc he knew for a fact the driver was drunk - it was his close friend. If I was that driver and sitting in Arlington jail my life over, I would be pretty pissed that the dude didnt wear his seatbelt. If If he had been, those kids would have flipped that car and all scurried away from the scene and would be texting one another about how crazy the night was.

what?? I really hope you don't have teenagers. You the driver would be pissed because you are in jail because he didn't wear his seatbelt? You've got this all wrong. He was very clearly going over the hill very fast and lost control. He'd be in jail either way.

[Anonymous]

He has a court appearance at 9 am. Can anyone weigh in on if he will be given the ability to get out on bond or will he have to stay there until this case goes to trial?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He has a court appearance at 9 am. Can anyone weigh in on if he will be given the ability to get out on bond or will he have to stay there until this case goes to trial?

My guess is if there is bond it will be very high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a tragedy for all involved.

I’m so glad this was a single car accident and they didn’t kill anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I graduated ytown 35 years ago and we used to drive blinded drunk. Awful, inexcusable. But we always had our seat belts on - bc we KNEW the guy driving was drunk. And half 3-4-5 times i or people i knew lives were saved bc of that, all in single car accidents like the one here. The fact the deceased didnt have his seat belt on is close second in awful judgment to the driver, esp bc he knew for a fact the driver was drunk - it was his close friend. If I was that driver and sitting in Arlington jail my life over, I would be pretty pissed that the dude didnt wear his seatbelt. If If he had been, those kids would have flipped that car and all scurried away from the scene and would be texting one another about how crazy the night was.

+1

Both boys made really bad decisions and while the kid driving would still be pretty screwed had he just caused an accident while driving none of us would be talking about this if a kid hadn't died in the car. the fact that 4 others walked away with minor injuries does prove that the kid not wearing a seatbelt does bear some blame for his own death. I know that is hard to hear but had he A. not gotten in the car with a drunk driver and B. worn a seatbelt he would very likely still be here. You can't pretend his series of poor decisions had no impact on the outcome of this accident.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever one calls this, a mistake or stupid, this 18 year old will be in jail for many years. He will know he ruined his life.

If we are playing the blame olympics then the kid who got thrown out of the car wins the silver medal for not wearing his seatbelt.

Have they explained why he wasn't wearing one? Was it broken? Too many kids in the car?

I believe he was in middle back seat. No idea why he wasn’t wearing it. It’s tragic all around.

That’s what I thought. He was very tall. As an also tall person squeezed in the middle- I’m sure it was hard to find the belt and given it was a mere few miles from where everyone lived likely took a gamble many many many people do. How many have liked into an Uber, taxi or friends car and done similar? It really is so gross the people on here throwing darts. I guess it makes them feel like no tragedy could ever befall them or their loved ones.

Have some grace.

Not since I was a young child in the 70s/80s (before seat belt laws were even a thing.)

Never in my adult life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever one calls this, a mistake or stupid, this 18 year old will be in jail for many years. He will know he ruined his life.

If we are playing the blame olympics then the kid who got thrown out of the car wins the silver medal for not wearing his seatbelt.

Have they explained why he wasn't wearing one? Was it broken? Too many kids in the car?

I believe he was in middle back seat. No idea why he wasn’t wearing it. It’s tragic all around.

That’s what I thought. He was very tall. As an also tall person squeezed in the middle- I’m sure it was hard to find the belt and given it was a mere few miles from where everyone lived likely took a gamble many many many people do. How many have liked into an Uber, taxi or friends car and done similar? It really is so gross the people on here throwing darts. I guess it makes them feel like no tragedy could ever befall them or their loved ones.

Have some grace.

These days you have to actually set up the middle set belt in some cars. I know in my CRV the middle set belt is not automatically there. You have to "make it" my pulling it from the back ceiling and clicking it into the back seat before putting it on.

But to aswer above questions- always wear a setbelt even in an uber or taxi .

Not since I was a young child in the 70s/80s (before seat belt laws were even a thing.)

Never in my adult life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever one calls this, a mistake or stupid, this 18 year old will be in jail for many years. He will know he ruined his life.

If we are playing the blame olympics then the kid who got thrown out of the car wins the silver medal for not wearing his seatbelt.

Have they explained why he wasn't wearing one? Was it broken? Too many kids in the car?

I believe he was in middle back seat. No idea why he wasn’t wearing it. It’s tragic all around.

That’s what I thought. He was very tall. As an also tall person squeezed in the middle- I’m sure it was hard to find the belt and given it was a mere few miles from where everyone lived likely took a gamble many many many people do. How many have liked into an Uber, taxi or friends car and done similar? It really is so gross the people on here throwing darts. I guess it makes them feel like no tragedy could ever befall them or their loved ones.

Have some grace.

Not since I was a young child in the 70s/80s (before seat belt laws were even a thing.)

Never in my adult life.

Well you win the seatbelt Olympics. Most people don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever one calls this, a mistake or stupid, this 18 year old will be in jail for many years. He will know he ruined his life.

If we are playing the blame olympics then the kid who got thrown out of the car wins the silver medal for not wearing his seatbelt.

Have they explained why he wasn't wearing one? Was it broken? Too many kids in the car?

I believe he was in middle back seat. No idea why he wasn’t wearing it. It’s tragic all around.

That’s what I thought. He was very tall. As an also tall person squeezed in the middle- I’m sure it was hard to find the belt and given it was a mere few miles from where everyone lived likely took a gamble many many many people do. How many have liked into an Uber, taxi or friends car and done similar? It really is so gross the people on here throwing darts. I guess it makes them feel like no tragedy could ever befall them or their loved ones.

Have some grace.

Not since I was a young child in the 70s/80s (before seat belt laws were even a thing.)

Never in my adult life.

We just had this scenario. 80-year old grandma, 81-year old uncle, 2 teen boys and 2 parents. Uber after dinner didn't show. Dinner late side --out of town (not like DC area with tons of uber)...so only available transportation was another uber without enough seating--no other way home. Family of 4 squeezed in back for very short ride back to hotel.

I almost always have my seatbelt on in uber--but I have seen MANY adults not put one on on business trips and in NYC taxis, etc.