3 killed in crash on River Road

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with a kid like this is what is to prevent him from doing the exact same thing as soon as he is out of prison?
He's clearly shown that he's habitually reckless. Is he suddenly going to be a model driver?

Who in their right mind would drive 115 (or was it 110?) on RIVER ROAD? I guess I could see doing it on 95 or 495 but River road?
It's just a total and utter lack of judgment. You can't change that in someone.
I don't ever want him on the road again.

This was what I was thinking. How could you even get enough of an unobstructed gap on River Road to attain that speed? It happened in the dark but it wasn't the middle of the night and it's not exactly a sparsely trafficked road. How did he even manage it? And what the hell was going through his brain? The judgment and risk assessment was just a complete and utter failure on every possible level--he didn't even have the "excuse" of being drunk or high on something to explain making such a catatonically stupid decision. Someone decides to floor it in their luxury German car at 3:30am on the Beltway, I can at least sort of comprehend the rationalization process that might lead a person to think they could get away with it safely--it's a wide, flat, very gently curved road designed for high speeds, limited access, barriers between opposite-direction traffic, at a time when there wouldn't be many other drivers or cops around. It's still extremely stupid, criminal, reckless, etc. but I could at least fathom how someone might think that way. This? Utterly baffling. 115 MPH on River Road? What?

So senseless and inexplicable.

The M4, which he was driving, is the street version of BMWs 4 series race car. It is very very powerful and going from 45-115 would not take long at all.

No kid should be given a car like that. The only way he should have been driving it is if he had a job and was living independently.

and no previous reckless driving charge.
The fact that his parents condoned this boggles the mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Do we know whether the speeder even had his lights on or not? He doesn't sound responsible enough for even that.

That model of BMW has automatic headlights, and daytime running lights. Some illumination would have been on. The crash report also states he flashed his high beams at the Volt (not clear if before it started to cross or not).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Who in their right mind would drive 115 (or was it 110?) on RIVER ROAD? I guess I could see doing it on 95 or 495 but River road?

That stretch of River Road, between Whitter and Wilson, is not much different from a highway when it comes to quality of pavement, divided highway, lack of pedestrians, and lack of driveways crossing it. It's the closest thing to a real highway in Bethesda I'd say. Not condoning driving that fast, but if he were to pick one stretch of road in Bethesda for it, that's probably the safest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Still, though, the crash happened just before 7pm--that's barely the end of rush hour around here.

It was a Saturday -- no rush hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Who in their right mind would drive 115 (or was it 110?) on RIVER ROAD? I guess I could see doing it on 95 or 495 but River road?

That stretch of River Road, between Whitter and Wilson, is not much different from a highway when it comes to quality of pavement, divided highway, lack of pedestrians, and lack of driveways crossing it. It's the closest thing to a real highway in Bethesda I'd say. Not condoning driving that fast, but if he were to pick one stretch of road in Bethesda for it, that's probably the safest.

Only selfish, arrogant, ***holes. I classify people who text and drive in the same categories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do we know whether the speeder even had his lights on or not? He doesn't sound responsible enough for even that.

That model of BMW has automatic headlights, and daytime running lights. Some illumination would have been on. The crash report also states he flashed his high beams at the Volt (not clear if before it started to cross or not).

Okay, but usually, doesn't "flashing your lights" tell the other person to proceed (not a warning, but a "go ahead")? This kid isn't very smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with a kid like this is what is to prevent him from doing the exact same thing as soon as he is out of prison?
He's clearly shown that he's habitually reckless. Is he suddenly going to be a model driver?

Who in their right mind would drive 115 (or was it 110?) on RIVER ROAD? I guess I could see doing it on 95 or 495 but River road?
It's just a total and utter lack of judgment. You can't change that in someone.
I don't ever want him on the road again.

This was what I was thinking. How could you even get enough of an unobstructed gap on River Road to attain that speed? It happened in the dark but it wasn't the middle of the night and it's not exactly a sparsely trafficked road. How did he even manage it? And what the hell was going through his brain? The judgment and risk assessment was just a complete and utter failure on every possible level--he didn't even have the "excuse" of being drunk or high on something to explain making such a catatonically stupid decision. Someone decides to floor it in their luxury German car at 3:30am on the Beltway, I can at least sort of comprehend the rationalization process that might lead a person to think they could get away with it safely--it's a wide, flat, very gently curved road designed for high speeds, limited access, barriers between opposite-direction traffic, at a time when there wouldn't be many other drivers or cops around. It's still extremely stupid, criminal, reckless, etc. but I could at least fathom how someone might think that way. This? Utterly baffling. 115 MPH on River Road? What?

So senseless and inexplicable.

The M4, which he was driving, is the street version of BMWs 4 series race car. It is very very powerful and going from 45-115 would not take long at all.

No kid should be given a car like that. The only way he should have been driving it is if he had a job and was living independently.

I am the PP instructor.

I agree. Sort of.

Men under the age of 35 should be limited to no more horsepower than their age. If you're married, double your age.

Or just drive the speed limit, duh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/bmw-driver-who-was-going-115-mph-to-plead-guilty-in-deadly-bethesda-crash/2016/07/13/b503b30a-4750-11e6-acbc-4d4870a079da_story.html


As many speculated, the young driver was speeding--115 mph (!). It is good he is taking responsibility for his actions. I hope the surviving family members find some peace, and that in time he will make something good of his life.

Yeah, making license plates in prison...This guy went to private school, but could even finish community college. Indulgent parents gave him fancy cars that he raced around like a maniac on regular roads and getting caught. He had his chance to make something good. Not only has he taken a bigger carbon footprint than he's entitled, he deserves to get the maximum prison sentence possible.

People keep saying, he was driving a powerful fast car, so what? He knew what the driving rules are but even as a sign of arrogance, prior to the accident he say, “A car coming in the opposite direction on River Road made a left turn in front of me, and I flashed my lights at it.” Dude, you're going 110 MPH you don't own the road. If you were going anywhere close to the speed limit that family would be alive and a deserving young person actually worked hard in school would be headed off to college.

[Anonymous]

A couple of speed cameras on River Road would slow things down quickly.

Deciding to drive 115 mph is a decision to risk killing someone. He should go to jail for a long time.

[Anonymous]

I hope the sentence is fair and he doesn't get off easily. If he had received stiffer penalties the first time who knows if it may have put some sense into him earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope the sentence is fair and he doesn't get off easily. If he had received stiffer penalties the first time who knows if it may have put some sense into him earlier.

The sentencing is August 8. Can public contact judge or state's attorney with their comments?

[Anonymous]

I think it's fascinating that earlier in the thread, everyone was assuming this kid was a minority. Not the wealthy child of Turkish parents. Wonder why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fascinating that earlier in the thread, everyone was assuming this kid was a minority. Not the wealthy child of Turkish parents. Wonder why.

Huh? Turks are a Middle Eastern ethnicity and that definitely confers "minority" status here in the United States. I already knew he was Turkish based on the last name alone.

Or were people claiming he was African-American?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/bmw-driver-who-was-going-115-mph-to-plead-guilty-in-deadly-bethesda-crash/2016/07/13/b503b30a-4750-11e6-acbc-4d4870a079da_story.html


As many speculated, the young driver was speeding--115 mph (!). It is good he is taking responsibility for his actions. I hope the surviving family members find some peace, and that in time he will make something good of his life.

Yeah, making license plates in prison...This guy went to private school, but could even finish community college. Indulgent parents gave him fancy cars that he raced around like a maniac on regular roads and getting caught. He had his chance to make something good. Not only has he taken a bigger carbon footprint than he's entitled, he deserves to get the maximum prison sentence possible.

People keep saying, he was driving a powerful fast car, so what? He knew what the driving rules are but even as a sign of arrogance, prior to the accident he say, “A car coming in the opposite direction on River Road made a left turn in front of me, and I flashed my lights at it.” Dude, you're going 110 MPH you don't own the road. If you were going anywhere close to the speed limit that family would be alive and a deserving young person actually worked hard in school would be headed off to college.

What he did was horrible, but he is an immature young man who made a tragic error in judgment. Whenever he completes his sentence (and I agree in hoping it is a long one), he can still do something worthwhile with his life. The fact that he'll have to live with what he's done is probably worse than any other penalty he might receive.

[Anonymous]

I looked him up in the state's Judiciary case search. He's listed for several incidents.

He also has a possession of marijuana charge from 2014. It appears charges were dropped.