I was with the family at a music festival this weekend, but got up before dawn to make the 2 hour drive home for an 8 AM tee time. I had been driving about 45 minutes, it's still early, so very little traffic on I-64, when a trooper about 1/4 mile ahead appears out of the treed median lights flashing, and merges into the left lane. I figure he caught somebody speeding, but he passes the only likely candidate, and disappears over the crest of the next hill.

As I reach the top of the hill, what little traffic there is on the highway comes to a stop. The trooper is up there, it's obviously an accident, but there are about a dozen or so cars ahead of me, so we all wait while responders make their way past on the shoulder. Traffic stopped on the interstate is not a good omen, we wait for about 10 minutes and folks start to get out of their vehicles and mill around a bit. One lady says she called the State Police, and they told her to expect to be here for hours. But, surprisingly, after about 40 minutes we start moving, and are routed to the right shoulder single file. There really not very many of us. It's apparent traffic behind has been re-routed.

It's bad. I deliberately refuse to be a rubber necker in situations like this, but I am creeping by and the first responders are all standing around quietly waiting. There's a blue tarp over part of the area where two vehicles have come together. I slip by quietly, thinking about this for the rest of my drive.

Later news reports indicate 32 year old Winston Smith II was reported driving recklessly in a green Isuzu pickup on I-64 westbound when police apparently began pursuit. In an attempt to evade police, Smith took a left onto an emergency pass through in the heavily treed median, popped out on the other side and took a right onto the east bound lane of I-64, headed the wrong way.

His truck slammed head on into a Hyundai sedan, killing the driver, 30 year old Bethany Franklin a Bedford County Firefighter and paramedic. The impact collected another vehicle, an F-150, but the driver of the F-150 sustained only minor injuries.

As you might have guessed, news reports are that Smith had been drinking. I am heartbroken for the family of Bethany Franklin, and furious at Smith for his actions that caused her needless death.

It is by the grace of God, I suppose, it wasn't me. Had I left 4 or 5 minutes earlier or not stopped for a biscuit, it certainly could have been. I'm not sure how you guys on the forum deal with this regularly. I think this will be with me for a while.

It's terrible when I think about the friends I have lost to wrong way drivers, all innocent victims going about their lives the the ordinary way.

I suppose the driver was not injured?

A terrible tragedy and so senseless. I pray for her family.

I am sorry you had to be there and see it.

The suspect also died at the scene, according to news reports.

The driver of the pickup truck, Winston J. Smith II, 32, of Staunton, died at the scene. He was wearing a seatbelt.

Damn drunk drivers usually survive, but the innocents are taken.

Unfortunately, the papers are filled with these stories of irresponsibility every day.

Hug your wife, your kids, your dog and thank God for another day.

I don't know why we as a society put up with these shit head drunk drivers. They need to be sentenced to YEARS behind bars not a weekend and a fine.

My thoughts are with the fire fighters family, members of her department, and those on the scene.

This is yet another example of reckless stupidity resulting in the death of a good person

16 years ago now a friend and his wife were killed in a head on collision by a drunk driver.

For extra bonus awfulness - they were on vacation.

Yeah it bugs you, and it stays with you.

In no way am I condoning impaired driving.

I figure being clipped by a drunk is about the same as lightning, tornado, house fires, an infectious disease, or cancer. I do what I can to reduce risks but in the end you can't protect yourself from everything.

quote:

Originally posted by urbanwarrior238:
I don't know why we as a society put up with these shit head drunk drivers. They need to be sentenced to YEARS behind bars not a weekend and a fine.

Why are you so kind?

I think drunk driving equates to attempted murder, and in cases where a drunk driving accident results in a death it equates to actual murder. Therefore drunk driving should get the same penalties as attempted murder and murder, as applicable.

quote:

Originally posted by SapperSteel:
I think drunk driving equates to attempted murder, and in cases where a drunk driving accident results in a death it equates to actual murder. Therefore drunk driving should get the same penalties as attempted murder and murder, as applicable.

I agree. First Degree, premeditated Murder.

As to Reflex/Deflex's opinion, please consider that the other causes of death you compare it to are acts of nature, where drunk driving is a deliberate act of a human being against another human being. Just not the same.

I missed being involved in this by about 3 minutes last week. The JeffCo Sheriff deputy successfully did a PIT to her. He flipped her car in the median. Nice job deputy!



EFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. -- A woman was arrested Monday after trying to intentionally run into other vehicles on Highway 285, then running from a deputy, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said.

The incident happened about noon between Wagon Trail Road and South Hillview Road. Several drivers had to avoid colliding with the driver, 46-year-old Jennifer Brooks, as she drove a black Jeep Cherokee.

After the sheriff's office received a report of a driver swerving all over the lanes of northbound traffic near Wagon Trail, a deputy began following the vehicle at South Turkey Creek Road.

Brooks then made a U-turn and began traveling southbound. After she didn't stop near Meyers Ranch, Brooks started going northbound in the passing lane of southbound Highway 285, the sheriff's office said.

The deputy saw Brooks make several attempts to intentionally direct the Jeep into oncoming traffic. The deputy then performed a successful PIT maneuver, stopping the vehicle.

Brooks then got out of the vehicle and ran away, but she was later detained by the deputy, the sheriff's office said.

Brooks was booked on felony charges of first-degree assault, four counts of second-degree assault, vehicular eluding, felony menacing and two counts of attempted first-degree assault.

Misdemeanor and traffic violations are pending, including reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and reckless driving, the sheriff's office said.

Any driver who was involved in the incident by having to take measures to avoid colliding with the Jeep or other vehicles and has not spoken with investigators is asked to call the sheriff's office at 303-271-5612.

http://kdvr.com/2017/07/12/wom...running-from-deputy/

quote:

Originally posted by SapperSteel:I think drunk driving equates to attempted murder, and in cases where a drunk driving accident results in a death it equates to actual murder. Therefore drunk driving should get the same penalties as attempted murder and murder, as applicable.

It is my understanding that texting is now just about as bad as DUI for traffic accidents/deaths. That is even less defensible.