i hope they get prison time , street racing should be treated harsh without a doubt.... dont get me wrong im 23 , have a 89 mustang and just bought Z touring so i like fast driving but would never participate in a street race where you actually stop , line up with the guy next to you and race at the speed of 100mph , i mean come on , take it to the track , what , you dick gets hard when you know there's danger involved ? than face the consequences lets see how excited you get in the prison, take your car to the track see really what kind of driver you are

 

Ok, I'm going to explain my position a little bit further. In reality, I don't want streetracers that kill someone to be found guilty of murder, especially the parties involved in the race that aren't physically involved in the wreck, as in the subject of this thread. You're looking at the difference between 2nd degree murder and manslaughter, and one of the differences is indeed the intent to kill required for the murder charge. I really don't see how these guys could possibly be found guilty of murder 2, because its obvious that killing was not the intention of the race.

Now, I'm sick of hearing about **** like this because it usually comes down to pure stupidity. In addition to what I've already mentioned about the circumstances under which some people street race, those involved do seem to become so engrossed in the race that they really push it too far. Not too long ago, this happened locally...a guy was falling behind in a race, so rather than concede that he lost, he kept accelerating into a turn where he normally would have had the better judgement to know that he was going way too fast to stay on the road. He wouldn't let up, he was too caught up in the race....and the result was a death and multiple people injured.

I'd like to see something happen to make these idiots wake up. Is it right if these guys get charged with murder? Probably not, but it won't stick anyway. Worst case, they'll probably get manslaughter. But, scaring the **** out of the idiots is one of the best ways to get their attention IMHO. So I wouldn't feel sorry for the guy [that was driving the vehicle that actually hit those poor kids] if he got stuck with murder....and maybe some of the other idiots would take notice. Now if his buddy that fled the scene gets stuck with murder as well, I'd feel like its questionable, but then again that a-hole left the scene to protect his own butt.

And people, don't forget that driving is a privelege, not a right. Along with the privelege, there are some huge responsibilities. Yes, we are slowly losing our freedom in this country, but why is that? In many cases, its because of those that abuse the priveleges we have in this country.

 

Racing in traffic or through an intersection should be a felony in itself. I'm not saying that they should get murder, but I think serious punishment is in order. I've done my fair share of aggressive driving on surface streets, but I have not ever raced in traffic or near an intersection. I believe that if you do, you are intentionally putting others at risk of severe injury or death and that it should be dealt with as a premeditated act. I know that if it were my wife or close friends in the car that was hit, I'd wish the worst on that driver for being so stupid.

 

Murder 2's not going to fly. It was just for sensationalism. More likely they'll get manslaughter or reckless homicide, which means they may get what? 2-5 years? Anyway, street racing has been going on since the 40s and 50s, if it wasn't Civics and Supras, it was Chevelles and Super Bees. And people dying because of street races isn't news at all.

My opinion: a multi-year jail stint's not appropriate here since it was essentially an accident caused by a large degree of recklessness and stupidity. Accountability does not simply mean throwing people in jail for 10 years. A little jail time and a lot of CS is probably more appropriate.

 

I am not too sure if I am remembering this correctly, but when this hit the local news a year ago, I remember one of the drivers had his headlights OFF. I also believe that it is the driver that hit the car killing the teenagers. In light of this, I would say murder 2 can be charged and is appropriate. But hey, I am not a lawyer, so we shall see what happens. The jury might be delivering the verdict today.

 

Because street racing happens about a billion times and probably results in death or injury like 2% of the time. Look.. In my town NO ONE has died street racing. 2 people alone have died at the track this year. Hmm..which is safer? You tell me the track. Ok.. sure. No one has wrecked here street racing.. I can tell you there have been 5 wrecks at the track THIS YEAR. The groups that race around here have heads on their shoulders and we know limits. We know when to shutdown, how long to run, WHERE to run, WHEN its safe to run, etc. Where is the need to arrest me, impound my car, etc? There isn't one. Im sure as soon as someone gets hurt/killed here that may change..but this town is notorious for it.. my father did it, grandfather did it.. Im not aware of one single death. Possibly some wrecks throughout time. Its not the So.Cal. scene at all here, as long as we are not hassled ... it wont ever become one. Why race in huge gatherings on two lane roads with idiots all around you ... when you can just catch each other at a light.. make a 5 second victory and continue on with your life?

Rracing with your headlights off? On the street? WTF?

 

This should be a facts & circumstances thing.

If the facts were (and I don't actually know what they were) that they were going 90 mph down a city street, at night, with intersections and buildings large enough to block the view of whatever was coming in from the side, or sharp turns, then yes this should be murder. It's no different than blindly shooting a gun at a classroom window after 3pm, when you'd think it's probably empty but can't know for sure. Everyone knows that a car going 90mph is probably going to kill whatever it hits, just like a bullet, and they know in this context that there's a high probability of a deadly accident happening. Like the gunman, it does not matter that they were not aiming to kill anyone, it's enough that they had a complete and total disregard for whether or not they killed anyone.

But the result should be completely different if it's broad daylight and they're in the middle of the desert with no buildings or natural structures near the road and no civilization around them for miles. Then if, I don't know, some camoflaged hangglider zips in from behind them and lands in front of them, there's no way that's murder. They did not show a complete disregard for whether they killed innocent bystanders in those circumstances.

Where you draw the line between the two sets of facts is for the court to decide, but I think it's clear that in some circumstances, unintentional street racing deaths can be murder.

 

To the best of my knowledge, street racing is illegal in all 50 states. If there is a state that allows street racing, let me know so I can avoid it.

The prosecutors and a Grand Jury concluded that the accident and subsequent deaths were a direct result of street racing. Both racers agreed to participate in this race, not by contract but by their actions. Therefore both racers have been charged with the same crime, even though only one car was involved in the collision.

In short, street racing is a criminal offense and the defendants knew that when they decided to race. Call it bad timing, blame the girl for pulling out in front of the racers or just call it survival of the fittest, the racers were participating in an illegal activity that resultede in the deaths of two innocent people. These two young adults have left behind friends, family and a community wondering how this type of tragedy can be prevented in the future. Charging the racers with murder seems like a good deterrent to me.
.

 

I was going to post something, but GaryK and EmpiricalGMan have pretty much summed it up...well said guys.

 

amen...

You might as well charge:

People on cell phones (while driving)
People who fall asleep at the wheel
Tobacco Smokers

with 2nd degree murder if you're going charge these two racers.


I'm not defending these guys since they lack the same common sense as anybody. They deserve a hefty punishment...but NOT 2nd degree murder.

Thats just an excessive way for our society to pent our anger because our system is imperfect. Its a primal instict for retribution that goes beyond common sense and won't help the evolution of justice in America.

I doubt these guys will get 2nd degree murder ....but IF in some crazy way they DID...

then according to the justice of that decision
alot of us on this site would be seen as "attempted murderers" and " big bad serious criminals"

OOooOoOOOOh
*shivers*

 

This should also be a cry for cars with more substance(Geo Storm). One of the few reasons I like my Expedition.

 

Hmm, I'd say that when getting T-boned at 90 mph, you don't stand much of a chance no matter what car you're in; at least not on the impact side. Perhaps the driver might have lived in something more substantial, but the passenger was probably screwed no matter what. Just think about those crash videos that you see from the safety testing organizations. I believe that most of those tests are done between 35 and 40 mph and those cars get seriously crunched.

I'd like to see the physics calculation of the energy transferred in a wreck like that. I'd bet that it's pretty shocking. Any physicists out there that wanna draw that up for me?

 

GARY! GARY! GARY!


My MAN! We are finally on the same page. Good Post!

35oZephyR had a very good point -- we are all committing attempted murder everytime we go above the posted speed limit!

Gary the is over buddy........

 

Verdict is in ... manslaughter. Sentancing in a month or so.