3 killed in crash on River Road

[Anonymous]

Who should get the longer sentence:
This young man who was driving recklessly and killed 3 people?
The Wootton kid who was driving drunk and killed 2 people and injured a third?
The individual who was driving drunk on the Rockville pike and killed a policeman?
The kid who was driving drunk, crashed the car, killed three of his friends and ran off and left them while they died?

I don't understand sentencing guidelines but if drunk drivers don't get substantial jail time, what will this young man get?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

His first incident listed is from 2013. The fact that he had so many priors at ages 17-18-19, which all were reduced or dropped thanks to the attorney, make me ill. This guy should not only serve a LONG sentence, he should lose his license forever. And that his parents continued to enable him with a hell of a fancy car. I hope the surviving daughter sues them. I am not a litigious person, either.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Flashing your lights at someone on the highway means "get out of my way"....normally the car in front is going too slow for the car behind. I assume he was flashing the volt so it would stay out of the way...

No, flashing your lights at oncoming traffic does mean go ahead. If you are on a highway BEHIND someone and flash your lights, it is a (rude) signal for them to get into the righthand, slower lane so you can pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Flashing your lights at someone on the highway means "get out of my way"....normally the car in front is going too slow for the car behind. I assume he was flashing the volt so it would stay out of the way...

No, flashing your lights at oncoming traffic does mean go ahead. If you are on a highway BEHIND someone and flash your lights, it is a (rude) signal for them to get into the righthand, slower lane so you can pass.

This is my understanding as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Flashing your lights at someone on the highway means "get out of my way"....normally the car in front is going too slow for the car behind. I assume he was flashing the volt so it would stay out of the way...

No, flashing your lights at oncoming traffic does mean go ahead. If you are on a highway BEHIND someone and flash your lights, it is a (rude) signal for them to get into the righthand, slower lane so you can pass.

It isn't rude. It is a request. And if you were actually paying attention to your mirrors instead of zoning out or maintained a minimal level of common sense, you would already be in the right hand lane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ellis got 2 years for each of the boys who died. This is what concerns me about Atakoglu being able to get a light sentence. Different judge for Ellis, though.

Perhaps the sentence in this case will be heavier than in the Ellis case because in that case the boys got into a car with a knowingly drunk friend and were likely drunk themselves. In this case the victims were complete bystanders and there is a history of prior arrests for similar behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who should get the longer sentence:
This young man who was driving recklessly and killed 3 people?
The Wootton kid who was driving drunk and killed 2 people and injured a third?
The individual who was driving drunk on the Rockville pike and killed a policeman?
The kid who was driving drunk, crashed the car, killed three of his friends and ran off and left them while they died?

I don't understand sentencing guidelines but if drunk drivers don't get substantial jail time, what will this young man get?

Its hard to know what the Judge will deem appropriate. I was curious if there were any Virginia offenses - 1 speeding and 2 possession. It's all bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who should get the longer sentence:
This young man who was driving recklessly and killed 3 people?
The Wootton kid who was driving drunk and killed 2 people and injured a third?
The individual who was driving drunk on the Rockville pike and killed a policeman?
The kid who was driving drunk, crashed the car, killed three of his friends and ran off and left them while they died?

I don't understand sentencing guidelines but if drunk drivers don't get substantial jail time, what will this young man get?

Its hard to know what the Judge will deem appropriate. I was curious if there were any Virginia offenses - 1 speeding and 2 possession. It's all bad.

Good idea to check VA. The 3 charges you listed were all from the same date - 11/22/13 (although one had a much later final date than the other 2). He had just turned 18 then. He graduated from high school in 2014.

I always thought his school had a high standing, like you had to maintain good grades (and maybe he did) and have high moral character. I seriously doubt his character.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Post article says the plea is not binding and he could back out on August 8. Hopefully he will not go to trial and hopefully the judge gives him at least the 30 years. And hopefully his family's attorney doesn't somehow get this overturned or reduced to 2 days or something.

Could he get a jury trial? Sorry if this was already covered.

Assuming he backs out of his guilty plea, of course. A defendant is entitled to a trial by jury. In his case, however, I would waive that right and ask for a bench trial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Flashing your lights at someone on the highway means "get out of my way"....normally the car in front is going too slow for the car behind. I assume he was flashing the volt so it would stay out of the way...

No, flashing your lights at oncoming traffic does mean go ahead. If you are on a highway BEHIND someone and flash your lights, it is a (rude) signal for them to get into the righthand, slower lane so you can pass.

+1

PP here. Agreed. This kid wasn't on the Autobahn, yet thought he was? WTF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Flashing your lights at someone on the highway means "get out of my way"....normally the car in front is going too slow for the car behind. I assume he was flashing the volt so it would stay out of the way...

No, flashing your lights at oncoming traffic does mean go ahead. If you are on a highway BEHIND someone and flash your lights, it is a (rude) signal for them to get into the righthand, slower lane so you can pass.

In Turkey, you flash your lights to make the other driver or pedestrian aware of you. It doesn't mean go ahead, and it also doesn't mean I want to pass. It's kind of like a lower-key version of honking your horn. I mention this because the driver is Turkish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Post article says the plea is not binding and he could back out on August 8. Hopefully he will not go to trial and hopefully the judge gives him at least the 30 years. And hopefully his family's attorney doesn't somehow get this overturned or reduced to 2 days or something.

Could he get a jury trial? Sorry if this was already covered.

Assuming he backs out of his guilty plea, of course. A defendant is entitled to a trial by jury. In his case, however, I would waive that right and ask for a bench trial.

The post also says he's completely distressed, admitted at the scene that it was all his fault and is willingly facing the consequences. It was a terrible accident and it sounds like he's going to live with it for the rest of his life (rightfully).

I bet he gets a moderate/light sentence. Remorse goes a long way with judges. And he wasn't drunk

Honestly it doesn't seem like he's a terrible person, just that he made a terrible mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Flashing your lights at someone on the highway means "get out of my way"....normally the car in front is going too slow for the car behind. I assume he was flashing the volt so it would stay out of the way...

No, flashing your lights at oncoming traffic does mean go ahead. If you are on a highway BEHIND someone and flash your lights, it is a (rude) signal for them to get into the righthand, slower lane so you can pass.

The article says he was frantically trying to avoid the crash once he saw the volt. I think accidentally hitting the flashers while frantically trying to avoid the crash is more likely than having the control to try to flash your high beams at the other driver as a warning.
In Turkey, you flash your lights to make the other driver or pedestrian aware of you. It doesn't mean go ahead, and it also doesn't mean I want to pass. It's kind of like a lower-key version of honking your horn. I mention this because the driver is Turkish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who should get the longer sentence:
1) This young man who was driving recklessly and killed 3 people?
2) The Wootton kid who was driving drunk and killed 2 people and injured a third?
3) The individual who was driving drunk on the Rockville pike and killed a policeman?
4) The kid who was driving drunk, crashed the car, killed three of his friends and ran off and left them while they died?

I don't understand sentencing guidelines but if drunk drivers don't get substantial jail time, what will this young man get?

4, 2, 3, 1 IMO

[Anonymous]

He wasn't drunk but he's had NUMEROUS speeding, reckless driving, and substance charges since he was 17 years old. He's only 20. How many second chances does this guy deserve?

115 on RIVER ROAD? Are you out of your mind??? This is not "just a terrible mistake."