Road rage. "He got what he deserved..."

[AnaheimGirl]

I am sick to my stomach right now, and need to vent...

Two men near me were killed last month in a car crash caused by a despicable scum of a life-form who decided to cut another car off and slam on his brakes, while driving along the highway.

In this article, the scum is quoted as saying to the tow truck driver, at the scene of the accident, "I hope it doesn't seem mean, but he got what he (Norman) deserved and what he had coming."

What he had coming??! Death?! For what, driving too slow for the maniac behind him??!!

That line literally makes me feel physically ill. I cannot imagine how anyone can be so heartless as to say something like that while standing not far from the dead bodies of two men he just killed. And he hopes it doesn't sound mean? What in world is wrong with some people?

Is it just me, because I know the family of one of the victims? Or are you disgusted by this, too?

 

[Chicago526]

It's not just you! And murder charges are justified, a 3 thousand pound vehical is just as much a weapon as a gun or a knife.

 

[akhenaten]

I just finished the article....it makes me sick ! How he could see the consequenses of his actions and say the innocent driver got what he deserved??

I hope he is charged with murder and locked up.....because taking away his license would not stop someone who uses his car in such a way and has such disregard for life and laws.......

for you and all friends/families of the victims......

 

[Cindyluwho]

It sounds like this guy is a total nut job with some serious anger management issues. WTH was this guy doing with a license?

"According to the arrest affidavit released Tuesday, Reynolds was involved in 13 traffic offenses from April 1994 to May 2004.

Before the double fatality in November, Reynolds was allegedly a party to six incidents in 2005. Four of those involved reckless driving and one involved threatening another driver. In another, Reynolds allegedly fired pepper spray at a neighbor.

Reynolds was in a car accident on Jan. 4 on Parker Road in which he was rear-ended after stopping suddenly and for no reason, witnesses told investigators.

He was reported on July 5 and Sept. 9 in similar reckless driving incidents in which he allegedly pulled ahead of a vehicle he'd been tailgating and then slammed on his brakes.

On July 6, he was arrested for intentionally ramming another car in Douglas County. "

 

[disneymom3]

I am glad they are bringing charges against this jerk. What he did is reprehensible and obviously is a pattern of behavior with him.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

It sounds like this guy is a total nut job with some serious anger management issues. WTH was this guy doing with a license?

"According to the arrest affidavit released Tuesday, Reynolds was involved in 13 traffic offenses from April 1994 to May 2004.

Before the double fatality in November, Reynolds was allegedly a party to six incidents in 2005. Four of those involved reckless driving and one involved threatening another driver. In another, Reynolds allegedly fired pepper spray at a neighbor.

Reynolds was in a car accident on Jan. 4 on Parker Road in which he was rear-ended after stopping suddenly and for no reason, witnesses told investigators.

He was reported on July 5 and Sept. 9 in similar reckless driving incidents in which he allegedly pulled ahead of a vehicle he'd been tailgating and then slammed on his brakes.

On July 6, he was arrested for intentionally ramming another car in Douglas County. "

Yup. I can't remember if it was in this article or another I read. His court date was today on one of the other incidents. He should've been locked up a long time ago.

 

[ziggystardust]

this is just awful. this guy is a murderer and should be treated as such.

 

[bicker]

While I agree, the guy should be punished for the killing, I hope the DA is very careful with the charge(s) he files. I believe it would be very hard, for example, to prove "malice aforethought" and premeditation. By the same token, this doesn't sound like a reasonable person would be expected to get upset enough to do what this bozo did, so the DA should not offer voluntary manslaughter, IMHO. That would let this miscreant off too easy.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Everytime I turn on the news and hear this story it makes me sick. That accident was horrible and that guy makes me so angry I get all tongue-twisted.

 

[jonestavern]

While I agree, the guy should be punished for the killing, I hope the DA is very careful with the charge(s) he files. I believe it would be very hard, for example, to prove "malice aforethought" and premeditation. By the same token, this doesn't sound like a reasonable person would be expected to get upset enough to do what this bozo did, so the DA should not offer voluntary manslaughter, IMHO. That would let this miscreant off too easy.

of course state laws all vary widely, but malice aforethought could be amply proven by this homicidal cretan's pattern of reckless endangerment coupled with the moron's own statement to the tow truck driver.
this was certainly no 'accident' according to his own driving record & numerous incidents. this creep is not 'just' a road rage fool, he is, a murderer, plain & simple.
wonder how many other unreported 'accidents' he has caused?
I have to say I find it disturbing that he was not behind bars serving hard time for one of his other murderous attempts-

Jean

 

[doxdogy]

The man should rot in jail. I think his previous driving history, could show cause for the murder charges. He seems to think that where he needs to go is more important then anyone else's. He seems to have a total disregard for safety of others.

 

[Keli]

I read this to my dh and he pointed out something that makes me even madder about it, did this man collect insurance money in each of those prior incidents? He was driving like an insane man and probably collecting some cash at the same time.

 

[bicker]

of course state laws all vary widely, but malice aforethought could be amply proven by this homicidal cretan's pattern of reckless endangerment coupled with the moron's own statement to the tow truck driver.

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying: No, I don't believe malice aforethought could be proven by any of that. In most states, First Degree murder requires that the DA prove that the "killing ... is both willful and premeditated." [Emphasis added.] While you could prove the guy planned to annoy the slower moving traffic, you couldn't prove, to my satisfaction, that the guy planned to kill. What I'm afraid of is that some gung-ho DA, riding a wave of public sentiment, will make the mistake and not file for Second Degree.

 

[froglady]

Many of you will remember a thread I started about road rage. A local 24 yo, mother of twins, woman was killed due to someone who was upset by "something" she had done, and "tapped" his brakes after passing her.

I myself COULD have been injured or killed in a road rage incident, but I spotted (in my rear view mirror) the driver pulling over 3 lanes, then crossing to get in front of me, so I had already slowed down. When he cut in front of me and slammed on his brakes, I had already started braking.

I am also appalled that someone could be so upset by a perceived "cut off" that he would want me injured or dead. (He had been stuck behind cars in a left turn only lane which was extending into the left travel lane. I was in the center travel lane and changed lanes to get into the clear left travel lane ...beyond the back up...at the same time he was finally able to break away, essentially cutting him off.)

 

[jonestavern]

I read this to my dh and he pointed out something that makes me even madder about it, did this man collect insurance money in each of those prior incidents? He was driving like an insane man and probably collecting some cash at the same time.

I have to say those thoughts occurred to me. And meanwhile those other drivers see their rates rocket for being 'unsafe' drivers!!!Hoping if anyone has been involved in an 'accident' with this homicidal creep, they can get their insurance adjusted & their driving record cleaned up-

don't know how to double quote, so please pardon my ignorance--
I do believe malice aforethought could be proved:
2800 lb (or whatever, don't know car weights either ) car going 55 mph stops suddenly in front of other vehicle also going 55 mph, is it reasonable to assume that death or serious injury will result? coupled with driving record, statement to tow truck driver & hopefully, they'll put him away for the rest of his natural life.
I think a decent proseceutor would be all over this, of course, depending on state laws-

Jean

 

[bicker]

First, the question isn't whether it would or wouldn't cause harm or even death, but rather whether there was some advance plan to cause death (First Degree), as opposed to an irrational spot-decision (Second Degree). Second, I would bet it would be easy to convince one reasonable person out of any random twelve that the idiot never intended to be clipped by the car he cut off.

Also, I do not want this guy punished the same as someone who killed fourteen people, after having planned each murder for days ahead of time. That would defile the memories of those fourteen people. Justice must be administered with perspective, and being an irresponsible idiot isn't the same as being a certifiable sociopath.

 

[jonestavern]

Oh, now I see, it's just a difference of opinion on the driver's motives.
Like you said, manslaughter would be would be too far light a charge.

Personally, I do think he did intend to cause grievious bodily harm & I base this on his previous incidents. If he is mentally deficient & doesn't understand his driving actions, that is another kettle of fish. But, from the article--& newspapers can be wrong--it appears he has gotten away with reckless driving before & assaulting other drivers with his vehicle has become a standard operating procedure for him. I think it goes far beyond a question of responsibility.
I know I may take this too personally, as I have a childhood friend who suffered, & today, 25 yrs later, still suffers, from injuries caused her by a 'road rage' driver
As another poster stated, a car is just as lethal as a gun or knife. I was going to ask, rhetorically, would such previous assaults by gun or knife be tolerated, but given the peculiarities of the justice system, perhaps that question would do little to aid my point!

well, whatever he's charged with let's just hope he never is behind a wheel again

Jean

 

[DawnCt1]

With all of these reported road rage, reckless driving incidences, WHY was he still driving when this fatal accident occurred.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

First, the question isn't whether it would or wouldn't cause harm or even death, but rather whether there was some advance plan to cause death (First Degree), as opposed to an irrational spot-decision (Second Degree). Second, I would bet it would be easy to convince one reasonable person out of any random twelve that the idiot never intended to be clipped by the car he cut off.

Also, I do not want this guy punished the same as someone who killed fourteen people, after having planned each murder for days ahead of time. That would defile the memories of those fourteen people. Justice must be administered with perspective, and being an irresponsible idiot isn't the same as being a certifiable sociopath.

On the news, they've already mentioned that prosecutors may seek the death penalty, so it appears the DA does think he can prove first degree murder. I shook my head when I heard that, because I also believe that it would be hard to convince all twelve jurors that he intended to kill. I don't know the specifics of the law well enough to guess why they believe it is warranted, but I definitely think this guy is far worse than an "irresponsible idiot", and his past history has shown that this wasn't an "irrational spot decision", but a way of life for him.

DawnCt -- I keep wondering the same thing. This kind of aggressive driving needs to be taken more seriously and something done to stop it, before people are killed, not after.

 

[Lizzydoll73]

With all of these reported road rage, reckless driving incidences, WHY was he still driving when this fatal accident occurred.

That is what I was wondering also.