What's up with Billy Joel?

[honeywolf7]

One of my very best friends is a good driver but she also managed to back into her boyfriend's parents' house when she was talking on her cell phone. (the point I'm trying to make is that there are things that can distract even the best drivers.)

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

and he always says, if you are going to have one, 2 more follow.

Is that accidents or drinks he's talking about? Because in this case, I think it's drinks.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

Originally posted by OhMari
My husband works in the auto collision industry, and he always says, if you are going to have one, 2 more follow.

He has regular customers.

all things seem to come in threes.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Originally posted by Briar Rose 7457
all things seem to come in threes.

So what will it be when there is a fourth? New day, new excuse?

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

Originally posted by Hillbeans
Well, my theory is that he's a lifelong resident of that area, he should know by now what roads are bad and where he needs to slow down. If that is a really bad road, and it's raining, a good driver would probably slow down.

In the police report it said he left a 6 foot skid mark, rode over a series of bushes and crashed into this house.

I don't know him personally but all I know is that i'd never get in the car if he were driving (and perhaps i'll stay off of the sidewalks also
)

he's not a "lifelong" resident of Bayville. he grew up in Hicksville -- a very different type of community than Bayville. I hate driving in Bayville at night, it's impossible to see where you're going -- the roads are very narrow and curvy, and not very well lit. it's a wonder there aren't more accidents up there.

he obviously didn't use the caution that's required to navigate the roads up there.

 

[CookieGVB]

So he's not a drunk, he's just a reckless driver.

Either way, it's not a good thing.

 

[Hillbeans]

Originally posted by gymnasticsmom68
So what will it be when there is a fourth? New day, new excuse?

I completely agree with this. If there is a 4th accident, will there be another excuse of a rainy, slick road?

What if this time he hits you in his car and you are seriously injured? Wouldn't you say that 3 bad accidents in a small stretch of time are some sort of a red flag?

Whatever is going on, I just hope he stops and thinks next time he gets behind the wheel. I know any one of us can get into an accident at anytime, however after the 3rd time you have to stop and think something is wrong. Just because he's famous shouldn't mean he gets special treatment. If I crashed my car into a tree or a house full speed i'd expect a breathalyzer test regardless of if I were drinking or not.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Just because he's famous shouldn't mean he gets special treatment. If I crashed my car into a tree or a house full speed i'd expect a breathalyzer test regardless of if I were drinking or not.

And I completely agree with this, I suspect some of us are more starstruck than others.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

 

[TimeforMe]

I really have to laugh at some of these replies!

I know several people who have had several accidents in a short amount of time, myself included. I consider myself a VERY good driver but accidents are just that, accidents. I actually backed into my DH's car in the driveway once and one of the others was weather related and totally not my fault.

I'm sure there are many people who have mutliple accidents, but we don't hear about them because they're not celebrities. The owners of the house weren't home. Yes, the foundation of the house was "cracked", but I suppose if any cement structure was hit, it would crack as well--there was no other damage to the house.

And no, I am not starstruck. Just objective.

 

[Evil Princess]

Originally posted by gymnasticsmom68
And I completely agree with this, I suspect some of us are more starstruck than others.

Starstruck, or just know the area where the accident happened a whole lot better than others?

Billy Joel doesn't live in Bayville, nor did he grow up there. I grew up and live on the island, driving through many towns, and I don't ALWAYS remember where some tricky roads are by heart. It's a pretty big place, ya know.

Stepping back, I don't know whats going on with Billy Joel, but I do hope that he figures it out or gets a driver. Lord knows he has enough money to do so.

The majority of us Long Islanders care a great deal about our Billy. I'm only 19, long after his music was popular, and I consider him to be amazing. Listen to his stuff all the time, and associate his music with my childhood on Long Island. I just hope something like this doesn't happen again.

And on a side note, my ex boyfriends mother has been in four accidents in one year. Nothing THAT serious, but honestly, you'd think she'd learn...she's just a terrible driver.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

I'm not a police officer, but I dont' believe that the police on Long Island are "starstruck." if the officers responding to the scene of an accident felt the need to administer a breathalizer test to the driver, they'd do so, regardless of his celebrity status. that the officers chose not to do so tells me that they didn't see evidence to suggest one was needed.

after the second accident last summer, Joel was sent to Stony Brook hospital because of apparent head injuries. you don't think the doctors at Stony Brook did a blood test at the hospital?

he needs a driver's ed refresher, he doesn't drive safely. but to attribute it to alcohol or drugs ... no, I don't think so.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

I like his music too, if people care about him so much, they should try to get him help instead of offering excuses. This accident happened at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, so that whole 'dark, winding road' excuse doesn't really hold water.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

after the second accident last summer, Joel was sent to Stony Brook hospital because of apparent head injuries. you don't think the doctors at Stony Brook did a blood test at the hospital?

I'm sure they did, but a Doctor also has to deal with confidentiality issues. It's not like the Doctor is going to run out and tell everybody that Billy Joel had alcohol in his blood when he went to the hospital. And FYI you can refuse a breathalizer.

 

[grinningghost]

I also reject the "starstruck cop" theory. I think it's pretty simple. Either Billy Joel really needs to get back in rehab, or the poor guy was dealt a rather ironic dose of bad luck and failed to negotiate a curve safely.

But it probably doesn't matter, even if it was just bad luck, because people will always says it was alcohol or drugs anyway.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

from today's Newsday:

Bayville
Billy Joel crashes car into home
Performer suffers cut when he loses control of vintage auto on curving Bayville road; no charges filed

Email this story

Printer friendly format


Photos



Billy Joel crash (Photo by - Thomas C. Phillis Jr.)
Apr 25, 2004



Billy Joel crash, Bayville (Photo by - Thomas C. Phillis Jr.)
Apr 25, 2004

Top Stories


Home gives families new start


Suddenly, no job, home


Abortion opponents go to give their side


St. Dominic parishioners find place to meet


Defense's new theory defused



BY J. JIONI PALMER AND BILL BLEYER
STAFF WRITERS

April 26, 2004


Musician Billy Joel crashed a vintage car into an unoccupied house in Bayville yesterday afternoon, Nassau County police said. It was Joel's third accident in about two years.

The crash occurred at about 4 p.m., when Joel was driving westbound on Bayville Avenue and his 1967 Citroen veered off the road and smashed into 409 Bayville Ave. The occupants of the home were not there at the time, police said. The impact left a crack in the home's foundation.

Police said Joel, 54, suffered a small laceration on his left ring finger and minor damage to his car. He refused medical attention at the scene and had the car towed, police said. There was "no criminality" so no charges were filed, police said.

Neither Joel nor his publicist could be reached for comment.

Neighbors who rushed to help Joel said he emerged from the car shaken and sheepish that he was involved in another car crash.

"When we found out it was Billy Joel, we were like holy cow, this is Billy Joel," said Tom Phillips Jr., who helped Joel out of the car and, with other neighbors, helped push the vehicle away from the house.

He said Joel told them he was on his way from his Centre Island estate to pick up a pizza.

"He said 'I can't believe I'm in another car accident,'" Phillips said. "I think he was embarrassed he lost control - that's why I think he was trying to be a joking guy and laugh it off."

Neighbors said there is a bend in the road near Third Street and Bayville Avenue close to the accident scene that can be tricky to navigate. They said a motorcycle crashed into the same house last year.

Nassau County police said no field sobriety test was conducted at the scene because there was no indication of any type of alcohol or drug use involved.

In June 2002, Joel was treated for alcohol addiction after a car accident in Sag Harbor.

Yesterday's accident marks Joel's third since 2002. His previous two bang-ups were on the East End, where he owns a home. In June 2002, Joel crashed his 1999 Mercedes-Benz into a fire well and post after losing control of the vehicle while attempting to make a turn. He refused medical attention, no charges were filed or field sobriety tests administered.

A week later, he voluntarily entered Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Conn., a drug and alcohol facility.

Joel's publicist at the time said the accident and his hospitalization were "100 percent unrelated."

Six months after the first accident, in January 2003, Joel drove his 2002 Mercedes Benz into a tree in Sag Harbor, and had to be extricated from the vehicle. He spent a night at the hospital being treated for head injuries. No charges were filed or sobriety tests given in that incident either.

Yesterday at 4:00 it was cloudy, rainy and very dark. Bayvile is mostly woods, and the trees cut off much of the natural light. so when you're riding on a narrow, curvy road on a rainy afternoon, it's almost as dark as night.

Bayville is part of the old "Gold Coast" (think"great Gadsby" or DeMille's "Gold Coast".) it's a community of considerable wealth and power. you don't think the police up there are used to celebrities? or that they'd love to bust a celebrity to see their own names in Newsday?

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by TimeforMe
I really have to laugh at some of these replies!

I know several people who have had several accidents in a short amount of time, myself included. I consider myself a VERY good driver but accidents are just that, accidents. I actually backed into my DH's car in the driveway once and one of the others was weather related and totally not my fault.

I'm sure there are many people who have mutliple accidents, but we don't hear about them because they're not celebrities. The owners of the house weren't home. Yes, the foundation of the house was "cracked", but I suppose if any cement structure was hit, it would crack as well--there was no other damage to the house.

And no, I am not starstruck. Just objective.

I had a bad stretch of driving too -- like 4 accidents in 5 years, but they were rear-ending type accidents, not hitting a HOUSE or wrapping a car around a TREE.

If the stretch of road was that dangerous, I'd imagine this wouldn't have been the first time a car would have hit this woman's house. Maybe he wasn't impaired, but I hope (for his sake as well as others in the area) that they seriously consider his past before allowing him to keep his license.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

Originally posted by Bob Slydell
I had a bad stretch of driving too -- like 4 accidents in 5 years, but they were rear-ending type accidents, not hitting a HOUSE or wrapping a car around a TREE.

If the stretch of road was that dangerous, I'd imagine this wouldn't have been the first time a car would have hit this woman's house. Maybe he wasn't impaired, but I hope (for his sake as well as others in the area) that they seriously consider his past before allowing him to keep his license.

a motorcycle hit that house not too long ago, bob.

the news articles don't say whether he was cited for any traffic violations. but I'm sure he's accumulating points on his license. if you accumulate enough points for traffic violations, your licnse is suspended.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

you don't think the police up there are used to celebrities? or that they'd love to bust a celebrity to see their own names in Newsday?

Ok, just so I have this straight, they aren't starstruck enough by Billy Joel to no give him a field sobriety test, but they are starstruck enough by him that they would want their name in the paper with him? Is that about right?

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by Briar Rose 7457
a motorcycle hit that house not too long ago, bob.

Sorry, missed that part of the article. Thanks.