Drunk drivers REALLY suck

Heffalump

I know this is hardly a revelation, but a work friend's boyfriend was killed last weekend, and she just sent us this summary of what happened.  I hate to always be the cynic, but how much do you want to bet it wasn't this guy's first DUI?

"[BF] was on his way home from work Saturday night at 10:00 on a well lit backroad. The ride home from work was only 1.5 miles. He was wearing his helmet and the bike had apprpriate reflectors, etc. He was an experienced bike rider as he rode every day whether or not he had to work.  As he was on his way home a drunk drink in a 2001 Chevy truck hit him from behind going full speed and did not stop. [BF] was left by the side of the road and his bike projected 75 ft from the point he was hit. Passer bys stopped when they saw him on the side of the road and called the police. He was killed instantly but these folks stayed with him until the police arrived. The state troopers followed a trail of antifreeze that began leaking from the truck after hitting [BF] and were able to locate the driver at his house just a few feet from where [BF] was left. When the driver got home, a passenger fled. The driver took a field sobriety test and a breathalizer test. He blew a .23 and was arrested on 2nd degree murder charges. By 11:30 I started to get worried that I hadn't heard from him so I started on my way to his work. I was stopped at the accident scene and saw a bicycle in the ditch. When I had asked what happened and gave [BF's] name, three troopers came to give me the news. He died instantly of skull fractures. The driver posted a 100k bail and was released from jail. The next day he was re-arrested on a hit and run charge but he posted bail again. Once his blood alcohol content test is back he will be arrested again (if he hasn't been already) on a drunk driving charge. The passenger was found and is being questioned by police. At this point, I don't think he has been arrested yet as they are trying to see how much info he will give about the driver, where they were when they were drinking, etc. He does have an attorney.  All of this will be going before the grand jury since it is a murder charge so things will be taking some time.

alikatt17

Jesus Christ.

TheMrsC23

That's terrible.   Just really, really awful.  I hope the guy ends up in jail for life. 

And I'm with you, this is hardly this guy's first DUI.  

zsazsa-stl

That makes me sick.  And it's why I get crazy mad when people brag about their past drunken driving exploits.

6fsn

Oh my gosh that's terrible.

TheMrsC23

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_drunk-drivers-really-suck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:8fef1377-43e2-4542-beda-d0e4d71cefccPost:b0e259da-d897-41c4-965d-eb4f8d1e4973">Re: Drunk drivers REALLY suck</a>:
[QUOTE]That makes me sick.  <strong>And it's why I get crazy mad when people brag about their past drunken driving exploits.</strong>
Posted by zsazsa-stl[/QUOTE]

<div>YES!  I remember a few years back a friend (that we don't even talk to anymore) got picked up for a DWI and was excited because she saw her friend in jail.  She thought the story was *hilarious*.  It was not, and never will be, funny. </div><div>
</div><div> </div>

loveshine1

That is so awful. And this was far from the first time that this guy drove drunk or got a DUI.

**O-Face**

I just don't understand why people would endanger themselves and others, EVER.

And I come from a family with many DUIs.  *smh*

Wzz

Oh. My god. and i'm sure she worried about him driving a motorcycle in general, just to have this happen.

even if people don't car about others, these drunk drivers don't even care about themselves enough to stay sober or not drive, since they can get themselves killed also.

hmonkey

bicycle, not motorcycle.

this is just awful.

Wzz

well i am dumb. that's all i have to say about that.

*Barbie*

Zzilla - i read it as motorcycle too. 

that's really awful. 

Heffalump

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_drunk-drivers-really-suck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:8fef1377-43e2-4542-beda-d0e4d71cefccPost:8717f261-6635-4375-956b-1952adb76a55">Re: Drunk drivers REALLY suck</a>:
[QUOTE]well i am dumb. that's all i have to say about that.
Posted by Wzz[/QUOTE]

You're not <em>that</em> dumb--when we all first heard, the rumor here was that he was on a motorcycle, but it turned out to be a bicycle.

TheMrsC23

I assumed motorcycle as well. 

Wzz

we are all dumb.

it's still terrible, regardless. i know i would probably worry more with a motorcycle because i'd never imagine something like this happening with a bicycle.

**O-Face**

I read it as bicyclist, but mostly because we've had that happen around here quite a lot.  Bike lanes are like 10 years from the making here.  And bicyclists are forced to share the road with crazy (drunk sometimes) drivers on narrow shoulder roads...sometimes highways.

lyndsay782

The sad part is that most of the frequent offenders I've known will injure or kill someone before they realize they have a problem.  

My first boss had 5 DUI's in a 20 year period, but had driven drunk much more than that and was actually known as one of the town's biggest alcholics. Had I been one of the town police/ sheriff deputies, I'd just pull him over every time he left his house after 10 am.  (He usually had Jack Daniels in his coffee every morning to start the day) His 6th DUI ended up happening when he crashed into another car and permanently injured and disabled the person.   

My high school teacher had been convicted of 1 DUI, but like my boss was sort of known for partying (As were his kids).   He was driving home from one such with his wife in the car (a convertible corvette).  He swerved to avoid something, ended up under a big rig, ended up killing his wife,  who was partially or completely (the paper spared some of the details) decapitation. 

What amazes me is that in the tight knit community I grew up in, the police/sheriffs knew who to look out for, but because they were the "prominate" members of the community they would look the other way.  If the local law enforcement would have done their jobs and helped keep these known offenders off the streets, lives could have been saved.  

rachelm13

My heart goes out to your friend.  

I don't normally share this story with strangers...

My grandma was killed by a drunk driver about 15 years ago.  Long story short someone had a more than a couple drinks at lunch and my grandmother went to check the mail and the person swerved and hit her while she was at her own mailbox.  Flew her 34 feet onto pavement.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of it... especially that I was really super close with her and my wedding in three weeks... i am actually starting to cry as i am typing.

anyway, there is no excuse ever for driving drunk. EVER.