8, Including 5 Kids, Killed By Car Fleeing Cops

[DarthKTrava]

Never have figured out why wacked out dopeheads with a death wish have to take people with them on their one-way ticket to hell.....

Honestly, people need to stop letting kids (or adults too) ride in the bed of a pickup truck for this exact reason.

 

[Mermaid02]

Sorry guys, I blame the guy who ran from the cops 1st -then the police 2nd. They(the police) know that are creating a hugely dangerous scenario when they start a chase. Around here, the police are not to chase unless NOT doing so would create a more/equally dangerous event-like gang shooters or bank robbery with weapons. I've talked to police officers about this and most of them feel pretty strongly about NOT chasing a routine traffic stop or even someone they are pretty sure they can find later.

The woman is right. A stolen car is not worth risking lives of innocent drivers.
You guys think she's wrong?

Clearly, the children should not have been riding in the truck bed but a high speed chase for a stolen car? nah

So let's just put it out there that if a criminal stops for police- they are arrested BUT if they start to run, nobody is going to chase them and they have at least a CHANCE of avoiding arrest. That sounds great.

Nobody in their right mind would think their kids would be safe riding in the back of a pick up. they could have at least put the two youngest in the front in car seats and Mommy or Daddy could have ridden in the back!

 

[luvmy3]

The devastating toll left family members stunned and angered.

"Police killed five innocent children," said Mirtala Elizondo, a family relative told the Fresno Bee. "For what? A stolen car. A car is nothing."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

That has to be one of the stupidest comments I have EVER read!! All of those kids in the BACK of a pick-up truck - and the "police" killed 5 innocent children??

No - the parents killed them - by playing Russian roulette with their childrens lives..

When we pull out of our driveways, it is our job as parents to make sure our children are protected in our cars. Anything can happen and if we do not make sure we do what we can to keep them safe if anything does happen then we are the ones at fault, nobody else.
The ones responsible for the deaths of those children are the ones who were responsible for keeping them safe. The parents let their children ride unrestrained in the back of a truck, they broke the law and they were morons to even think that it would be safe for their kids to ride back there. They have nobody to blame but themselves, and its sad that their kids had to pay the ultimate price because of their parents stupidity

 

[DizBelle]

Sorry guys, I blame the guy who ran from the cops 1st -then the police 2nd. They(the police) know that are creating a hugely dangerous scenario when they start a chase. Around here, the police are not to chase unless NOT doing so would create a more/equally dangerous event-like gang shooters or bank robbery with weapons. I've talked to police officers about this and most of them feel pretty strongly about NOT chasing a routine traffic stop or even someone they are pretty sure they can find later.

The woman is right. A stolen car is not worth risking lives of innocent drivers.
You guys think she's wrong?

Clearly, the children should not have been riding in the truck bed but a high speed chase for a stolen car? nah

Notice to criminals - all you have to do is flee and you can get away with whatever crime you just committed. Wonderful...

In this case, however, the criminals had carjacked a car. Were the police absolutely 100% positive that there was not a victim still in the car at the time the criminals fled? If there was a victim potentially in the car, the police had an obligation to chase.

In this case, there was not a victim in the fleeing car. But did the police know that (100% sure) at the time?

 

[sbell111]

Sorry guys, I blame the guy who ran from the cops 1st -then the police 2nd. They(the police) know that are creating a hugely dangerous scenario when they start a chase. Around here, the police are not to chase unless NOT doing so would create a more/equally dangerous event-like gang shooters or bank robbery with weapons. I've talked to police officers about this and most of them feel pretty strongly about NOT chasing a routine traffic stop or even someone they are pretty sure they can find later.

The woman is right. A stolen car is not worth risking lives of innocent drivers.
You guys think she's wrong?

Clearly, the children should not have been riding in the truck bed but a high speed chase for a stolen car? nah

In this instance, the police did everything right.

1. According to the Fresno Bee, the police followed deparetmental guidelines.
2. Also according to the Fresno Bee, in a statement issued for the family, the mother's uncle stated that the police handled the entire situation professionally.
3. According to the AP, the officer following the criminals had already called for a police helicopter to take over and had backed off the speeding vehicle, but had continued to keep it in sight pending the helicopters arrival.

This was a tragedy for sure, but it is in no way the fault of the police.

 

[DizBelle]

I don't see how the police stopping pursuit by car but continuing pursuit by helicopter solves the problem. If the criminal is being chased, be it by car or helicopter, they are going to engage in dangerious behavior to flee.

The only way they may stop the dangerous behavior is for them to KNOW they are not being chased at all. That, to me, sounds like a free ticket for criminal behavior. All you have to do is run, and you're off scott free.

 

[rie'smom]

You're right, this article says they were all in the back. Even the 1 year old. I figured the older ones must have been back there but the younger ones? And the family is blaming the cops???

http://www.ktvu.com/news/20335767/detail.html

Sorry guys, I blame the guy who ran from the cops 1st -then the police 2nd. They(the police) know that are creating a hugely dangerous scenario when they start a chase. Around here, the police are not to chase unless NOT doing so would create a more/equally dangerous event-like gang shooters or bank robbery with weapons. I've talked to police officers about this and most of them feel pretty strongly about NOT chasing a routine traffic stop or even someone they are pretty sure they can find later.

The woman is right. A stolen car is not worth risking lives of innocent drivers.
You guys think she's wrong?

Clearly, the children should not have been riding in the truck bed but a high speed chase for a stolen car? nah

Ok, so it's open season for criminals to steal cars? The fault lies with the criminal and with the parents. If the parents make it, I think charges should be filed against them for child neglect because I don't think there is a law against stupidity.The police were doing their job. They didn't create the law that made it a crime to steal cars, they were hired to enforce it.

 

[sbell111]

I don't see how the police stopping pursuit by car but continuing pursuit by helicopter solves the problem. If the criminal is being chased, be it by car or helicopter, they are going to engage in dangerious behavior to flee.

It's not like they can see the helicopter chasing them in their rear view mirror. They look in their rear view mirror and don't see a cop, so they think they've gotten away.

Think Blue Thunder, not Airwolf.

 

[DizBelle]

It's not like they can see the helicopter chasing them in their rear view mirror. They look in their rear view mirror and don't see a cop, so they think they've gotten away.

Think Blue Thunder, not Airwolf.

If it's a nighttime chase, the helicopter will have their spotlight on the car at all times.

 

[DarthKTrava]

It's not like they can see the helicopter chasing them in their rear view mirror. They look in their rear view mirror and don't see a cop, so they think they've gotten away.

Think Blue Thunder, not Airwolf.

If I was being chased by Airwolf, I'd be totally screwed.

 

[Free4Life11]

The person at fault is the person who stole the car!

Just last week I was nearly hit by a chase! It was about 1 am and I parked on the right side of a residental street and exited into the street. 30 seconds later a car without its light on came racing towards me and ran a stop sign and seconds later was followed by a cop.

What made me mad was that the cops did not have their sirens on, just the flashing lights! I know it was late, but that was not right IMO.

 

[shortbun]

Ok, so it's open season for criminals to steal cars? The fault lies with the criminal and with the parents. If the parents make it, I think charges should be filed against them for child neglect because I don't think there is a law against stupidity.The police were doing their job. They didn't create the law that made it a crime to steal cars, they were hired to enforce it.

I'd happily give up my car to save the lives of 5 children. You wouldn't? Your question is absurd; it's not 'open season' for car theft, of course. BUT...each time a high speed chase is undertaken there are many lives in danger. Car versus human life. Easy choice. I'm not exaggerating; it happens a lot. That's why MANY police departments have stringent rules about high speed chase.
Do you think about getting T-boned by a criminal each time you pull out of your driveway? Of course not. We know that many families do not have the resources to feed, clothe, shelter or secure their children appropriately. Were these children better off left home alone? Probably BUT what if the house had caught on fire? Then they would have been negligent in that way. Culturally, religiously and financial class wise, we are different from this family. Do we understand their customs, traditions, worldly status, intellect? No. I can not judge THEM, the families who it turns out put their children in harms way. Everyday I see people in the back of pickups. I cringe knowing how dangerous it is. None of them look like they are on a joy ride; they all look like they are there for the sake of transportation.

Again,would you not give up your car to a criminal to save the lives of 5 children? You don't even have to ask me.

 

[luvmy3]

I'd happily give up my car to save the lives of 5 children. You wouldn't? Your question is absurd; it's not 'open season' for car theft, of course. BUT...each time a high speed chase is undertaken there are many lives in danger. Car versus human life. Easy choice. I'm not exaggerating; it happens a lot. That's why MANY police departments have stringent rules about high speed chase.
Do you think about getting T-boned by a criminal each time you pull out of your driveway? Of course not. We know that many families do not have the resources to feed, clothe, shelter or secure their children appropriately. Were these children better off left home alone? Probably BUT what if the house had caught on fire? Then they would have been negligent in that way. Culturally, religiously and financial class wise, we are different from this family. Do we understand their customs, traditions, worldly status, intellect? No. I can not judge THEM, the families who it turns out put their children in harms way. Everyday I see people in the back of pickups. I cringe knowing how dangerous it is. None of them look like they are on a joy ride; they all look like they are there for the sake of transportation.

Again,would you not give up your car to a criminal to save the lives of 5 children? You don't even have to ask me.

Its pretty simple, if you take the stolen car and the police car out of the equation, those children were still in danger. While I do believe that the car jacker shares in some of the responsibility, I believe the parents are at fault for those deaths. None of those excuses you posted will ever relieve a parent of their responsibility to keep their children safe in a car, period. None of those excuses make them above the law either, so yes they should be charged in the deaths of their children.

 

[newbie2disney]

When you say pickup truck, could it not have been an extended cab pickup truck that would have held the passengers? They should have been restrained, but just wondering if this was the case. I may have missed where it said they were in the open end of the truck. Horrible accident either way.

 

[elgerber]

When you say pickup truck, could it not have been an extended cab pickup truck that would have held the passengers? They should have been restrained, but just wondering if this was the case. I may have missed where it said they were in the open end of the truck. Horrible accident either way.

It does not specify, but I don't think they would say "the back of the truck" if they were in the back seat of an extended cab. I don't consider that the back.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

It does not specify, but I don't think they would say "the back of the truck" if they were in the back seat of an extended cab. I don't consider that the back.

I read one article that actually used the term "truck bed". That doesn't mean that this article was right, but I did read it somewhere...

 

[freckles and boo]

I'd happily give up my car to save the lives of 5 children. You wouldn't? Your question is absurd; it's not 'open season' for car theft, of course. BUT...each time a high speed chase is undertaken there are many lives in danger. Car versus human life. Easy choice. I'm not exaggerating; it happens a lot. That's why MANY police departments have stringent rules about high speed chase.
Do you think about getting T-boned by a criminal each time you pull out of your driveway? Of course not. We know that many families do not have the resources to feed, clothe, shelter or secure their children appropriately. Were these children better off left home alone? Probably BUT what if the house had caught on fire? Then they would have been negligent in that way. Culturally, religiously and financial class wise, we are different from this family. Do we understand their customs, traditions, worldly status, intellect? No. I can not judge THEM, the families who it turns out put their children in harms way. Everyday I see people in the back of pickups. I cringe knowing how dangerous it is. None of them look like they are on a joy ride; they all look like they are there for the sake of transportation.

Again,would you not give up your car to a criminal to save the lives of 5 children? You don't even have to ask me.

I generally agree with your perspective, but not this time. There are no CULTURAL excuses for this. It doesn't matter where people come from or what they do "back home". The laws are meant to apply to anyone who happens to be here. I can judge that those parents made a reckless choice that put their children in danger. I can't imagine the agony they are going through. I believe they have already been punished beyond reason for their actions. However, they were responsible for the safety of their babies and they failed them.

 

[PanamaMike]

A stolen car implies someone getting behind the wheel of a car left running and driving away, or smashing a window and hotwiring the vehicle.

This was a carjacking, which means a driver was threatened with bodily harm if they did not give up their vehicle. That kind of violent threat puts the suspect above a simple car thief and if they can do that, what other crimes might they be willing to commit if they are not arrested.

As far as I'm concerned, the carjackers are responsible for the accident but if the kids were in fact riding in the bed of the pick up, the parents are guilty of severe negligence.

 

[shortbun]

I generally agree with your perspective, but not this time. There are no CULTURAL excuses for this. It doesn't matter where people come from or what they do "back home". The laws are meant to apply to anyone who happens to be here. I can judge that those parents made a reckless choice that put their children in danger. I can't imagine the agony they are going through. I believe they have already been punished beyond reason for their actions. However, they were responsible for the safety of their babies and they failed them.

You are going to hang your whole response to me on one word? Cultural? All I was saying -in context-is that THIS family had many things going on that make them different than we are. Different set of facts that might require they put their kids in the back of a truck to take them somewhere. Would I do it? No freakin' way. Do I understand that they might need to do it or that it's just part of daily life for them. sure do. You don't? I can't condemn them for the way they live.

And - would you give up your car to a theif to save the lives of 5 children?

 

[FireDancer]

You are going to hang your whole response to me on one word? Cultural? All I was saying -in context-is that THIS family had many things going on that make them different than we are. Different set of facts that might require they put their kids in the back of a truck to take them somewhere. Would I do it? No freakin' way. Do I understand that they might need to do it or that it's just part of daily life for them. sure do. You don't? I can't condemn them for the way they live.

Bottom line: It is unlawful, regardless of circumstances, to put your kids in the back of a pickup truck on public streets. Since is is also unsafe, there are no circumstances in which it is ok to do so. This goes for car seats as well. I don't care what you excuse is, you must adhere to child restraint laws. If as an adult you chose not to wear a seat belt and are willing to accept the danger and/or fines for doing so you are making an informed choice to break the law. Children are not able to make this choice according to our laws, that is why parents are ticketed when they are broken.

Anyone who can see any reason what so ever, regardless of circumstances, that makes it ok for kids to travel in the bed of my pickup would not be welcome anywhere near my children not my children allowed anywhere near them.

And - would you give up your car to a theif to save the lives of 5 children?

This is only relevant if you know for a fact the chase will result in a death. Sometimes criminals put people in danger and the police, while doing their job, compound it. It is a hazard in a just society. When the FBI refuse to pay kidnappers ransom it is putting hostages in danger, but to do so would set a bad precedent. To get behind a car, put on you lights, and then watch it drive off into the distance while you formulate the probability of causing a death while chasing them seems stupid.

The parents were contributors to the death of the children but the criminal was the one who actually caused the deaths. Had the car not been stolen, the police would not have chased it and, most likely, the children would have arrived safely this time at their destination while bouncing around the bed of a pickup truck.