Why, why, why ?

[2goofycampers]

Do people drink and drive?

At 3:20 AM Frank and I were on our way to work. We were traveling North on a 4 lane hwy ( 2 south, 2 north lanes , divided by a 30 foot grass median ). We pass by a bar a few miles from our house. As we were passing the bar a small car was pulling out of the bar's driveway. A few seconds later Frank yells OMG, he's traveling north in the south bound lane, as he looks in his rear view mirror. He (the guy from the bar) passes by 2 cars who stay over in their right hand lane. But his luck ran out with the third vehicle, a full size Chevy truck. They hit head on, each doing 55 or 60 MPH, as we could do nothing but watch. We immediately stopped went directly to the small car, there was a young man in his mid 20's in there who died on impact. The guy in the truck seemed physically OK but he was dazed and confused to say the least. Some family received the call nobody wants to get.

I wonder what your opinions are on this. Does the bar carry any responsibility in this or does the driver carry it all?

 

[auntie]

Thank God you two are alright. That must have been a horrifying experience.
Forgive me for saying this..but at least he didn't kill an innocent person. Not that it makes it any easier for the young man's family.
We had an incident here, where a seven year old girl was killed after attending her cousin's wedding. The little sweetheart was a flower girl at the wedding. She was killed and so was the driver of the limo the family was in when a drunk driver drove the wrong way on the highway. She was depcapitated. It was absolutely horrific. The young man who drove the wrong way..he lived.
I have no answers for you Denise. You just wonder why it is that someone wouldn't call a taxi if they were gonna drink.

There's so much involved there. Yes, I think the bar bares some responsibility,..however...how would you know if they served him too much? I'd think the bar would say, they only served him a couple of drinks..and their establishment wasn't his first stop of the evening. I would hope that they didn't over serve him and then let the guy leave..but who knows. Everyone cover's their own *** in situations like this.

I know when it comes to your own home, you have to be very careful about what you serve and to whom. You can be held responsible for what that person does after they leave your home after drinking. I'd think it would be the same with a bar.

 

[3gr8kids]

omG. Denise, I'm so thankful that you and Frank are okay. What a terrible thing to witness. Although not the case with this accident, it seems like it's always an innocent person that is killed (as in the little girl Phyllis mentioned), yet somehow, the drunk driver survives.
Again, so glad you and Frank are safe.

 

[motherwild]

Thank God you two are alright. That must have been a horrifying experience.
Forgive me for saying this..but at least he didn't kill an innocent person. Not that it makes it any easier for the young man's family.
We had an incident here, where a seven year old girl was killed after attending her cousin's wedding. The little sweetheart was a flower girl at the wedding. She was killed and so was the driver of the limo the family was in when a drunk driver drove the wrong way on the highway. She was depcapitated. It was absolutely horrific. The young man who drove the wrong way..he lived.
I have no answers for you Denise. You just wonder why it is that someone wouldn't call a taxi if they were gonna drink.

I remember that accident. that driver was convicted. Drinking and good judgement don't go hand in hand. I'm glad you are ok.

 

[LORNADUCK]

Thank God you and Frank are OK. What a horriable thing to see, I know the 20 year old was in the wrong, but his poor parents who got the call. It is so scarry, my Step-Daughter is married to a drunk (at least she is seperated) who on his 3rd DUI ran into 3 cars, he didn't even have his license (it was suspened for his last DUI) thank g-d he didn't kill anyone. But he went to jail for 10 days and was on probation for 1 year BIG DEAL. He should have been put away for good.

 

[AuburnJen92]

I know that in FL, the bar owner would have never recovered from it. Don't be surprised if you are drug into court to be a witness. Holy cow, what a tragedy. I am so glad you both are ok.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Denise didnt go into the minute to minute report, (I think cause it freaked her out a little) But I gotta say, it was a tragic sight and I can't even only imagine the horror this is /did bring to all parties involved.
It just blows me away, how drunk do you have to be to not realize what the heck your doing ???

 

[mnsprk]

[COLOR="Blue"
It just blows me away, how drunk do you have to be to not realize what the heck your doing ???[/COLOR]

As was said "Glad the two of you are OK". But unfortunately Frank, to answer your question, for far too many people, "NOT VERY".

 

[RvUsa]

Wow, I hate that you guys had to go through that, but I sure am glad you are safe! Give each other a hug from all of us here.

I have ZERO tolerance for Driving drunk, all I can say if someone had to get hurt, glad it was the right one this time!

 

[disney4dan]

I am so glad to hear that you both are alright, and sorry you had to see this. I want to also thank God that I never caused this type of damage or injury in my foolish younger years.

This is horrible.

 

[VACAMPER]

Really sorry you guys had to witness that, sad that a young life was taken so foolishly. Alcohol isn't worth it.

 

[disney92]

OMG, Hugs to you and Frank. Thank God you are physically fine..

Very, very sad... Prayers for the young man and his family..

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

I am so sorry you had to see that, thank God you both are ok.

My husbands Brother was killed by a drunk driver, in FL. The drunk, was a Mom with 2 kids in the car, they all passed away. DH's brother left behind a 10 year old boy, who is now 20.

It's so easy to have a glass of wine and think your are fine, but think of what OP just saw and know that you are NOT fine to drive.

May God bless that young man's family.

 

[DaveInTN]

Denise and Frank - that is SO scary and sad. I am sorry that you had to witness that, and am sorry for the person in the truck that was involved but thankfully alive, and so sorry for the victim and his family. All have been affected to varying degrees, and all because someone made the decision to go out drinking knowing that they would have to drive home afterward. What an avoidable tragedy.

Thank you for reminding us that it is NOT ok to drink and drive. How many of us can say we have never had a drink or two and driven, maybe not drunk but not completely sober either. Most of us have done things in our younger days that we are lucky to have survived, and lucky that we didn't hurt anyone else. Unfortunately for this young man that is not the case. So while he probably brought this on himself through his actions, I am certainly in no position to judge...only to offer prayers and condolences to all involved.

 

[stacktester]

About 3 weeks ago a young man was driving the wrong way on 9A near my house and was going north in the southbound lane. A police officer on his way to work was hit by him and after being cut from the car he died. The officer was a 44 y/o retired marine and husband and father. The kid who hit him is still recovering in the hospital and has been charged with dui. The officer had tried to call his wife while he was being being cut out but she didn't hear the phone ring and never talked to him. There's just no excuse for it.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/22233701/detail.html

 

[Tnbob]

Frank and Denise I am glad you are alright, this is why I hate to drive at night anymore.

 

[We4mickey]

What a horrific thing to happen. I am so glad both of you are okay. Drunk drivers are something that I often think of when we are out at night. You never know when someone is going to be on the road that shouldn't be. We always have a designated driver, there is no question about it.

 

[Tigger0624]

OMG!!! What a horrbile thing to go through! I'm so glad to hear that you both are ok! I just cant even imagine why anyone would get behind the wheel in that condition...

 

[jriae2000]

Thank goodness you guys are ok. Im pretty sure in IL the barteneder can be held liable as well as the bar owner.

 

[vick]

Oh man! Frank and Denise, I am so sorry you had to witness something so horrific. But, I'm so thankful that it wasn't you two that he hit. Some good friends of ours son was driving after having just a few drinks. He hit a car and killed one of the passengers. He has been in prison ever since. He was only 21 at the time. They live in South Carolina now and the mom won't even come home to visit. She would miss a weekend visit with her son. I think most of us are lucky that it wasn't us at that age. It's scary to look back and remember some of the things we did when we thought we were invincible.