Don't turn left if you're 84 years old

[skybytch 273]

Argh. I'm pissed off.

IM'ing with my kid. He just got home from seeing his first dead body. He's okay; doesn't think he'll have a problem sleeping, just says it was weird.

There was a bad accident near where he lives; an older couple in a pickup truck pulling a 5th wheel trailer were turning left off a major street and a couple on a motorcycle hit them. The guy on the motorcycle died; his wife is in the hospital.

The driver of the pickup is 84 years old. He was sober. The CHP officer decided he was at fault, arrested him for manslaughter and took him to jail. Not to the police station for processing and release on his own recognizance. To the "Southwest Detention Center" where all the lowlifes go. This is a man who's never been in trouble before in his life.

Not only do he and his wife have to deal with the emotions that go along with being involved in a fatal car accident... he has to deal with going to jail and she has to deal with him being taken to jail.

I'm happy to say that my parents (who my kid is living with) got involved. Took the older lady to a family member's house, towed the 5th wheel to another friends house, and my dad is driving down to the jail (a good 30 minute drive one way) so the older man has a ride back to his wife when they get done "processing" him.

I think that's totally fucked up. Can someone please explain to me why is it necessary to handcuff and haul away an 84 year old man who hasn't been drinking and isn't on drugs because he made a left turn at the wrong time?

[skyyhi 0]

That is HUGELY screwed up Lisa. I cannot believe a cop would do something like that. . .that is horrible.

________________________________________
Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ
FGF #6
Darcy

[jumpinjackflash 0]

I can explain it.

Because we were too fucking dumb to take his license earlier....

So now, after this shit, we treat him like a fucking criminal.


Sorry, but this pisses me off, I'm with you Lisa, there's no reason to treat him like this.




jack

It's a gas, gas, gas...

[Dbriggs 0]

F*$K THA POLICE

[skybytch 273]

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F*$K THA POLICE

Yup, in this case I gotta agree with ya Dave.

[Beerlight 0]

So the officer became judge and jury eh? I believe that's "against" the law.....

That was definitely not necessary.......

[slug 1]

Maybe the cops have seen it happen to many times and are trying to send a strong message to the other folks/DMV that shouldn't be driveing.

The CHP's action was harsh but maybe if enough of them do it, and the press get's involved then the politicians will step in. Was it california where the confused senior drove thru the outdoor market killed a few folks.

I'm no advocating a age limit for driving. But a annual driving test after a certain age would be nice.

The guy on the bike is dead! He didn't sign a waiver. His family will never get over the loss. The senior?

R.I.P.

[Dbriggs 0]

So what your saying is that all seniors who commit a vehicle code offense should be arrested???? I think not. If that is the case then everyone who does it needs to be arrested and sent to jail to be booked in. I am not a senior citizen but I still feel that this is fu*&ed up. It was a damn accident, not a premeditated murder. I feel sorry for the ones who lost a son, husband possibly father, but I do not feel that the elderly gentleman needs to be put through this process. He is almost 90. I feel that there should be some sort of manditory driving test after a certain age but there is not. So lets not start arresting older folks who are not under the influence of any drug or alcohol and are involved in an accident unless everyone is going to get the same treatment.

[skybytch 273]

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The guy on the bike is dead! He didn't sign a waiver.

Right. And it totally sucks that he died, and it totally sucks that his wife is in the hospital. I'm not trying to make light of those facts.

The older couple are from a different state. Had they been residents of California he'd have been issued a ticket and been able to leave the scene. But because he made the mistake of turning left at the wrong time in California he gets handcuffs slapped on him and gets hauled off to jail.

That's wrong.

[DeNReN 0]

Without seeing the incident....we can only speculate...most likely the elderly driver of the 5th wheel is at fault....but I will agree...hauling him off to jail and to a "low life" dentension center is very wrong! charging him with manslaughter may also be wrong. As we age our vision fades...along with reflexs etc. ...A loss of life has occured...someone is responsible for it...how they(the one who fucked up) are dealt with is up to the system put in place buy you and me.

this raises a few questions....are drivers retested as they age in CA?.....are medicals required?

Was the motorcyclist impared?...what was his age?...what kind of M/C? etc. etc. etc.

[Dbriggs 0]

By Califronia State Law he is at fault. He took away someone elses right of way. This is true, admited by him and his wife. They never saw the guy on the bike. But I still do not believe that he needs to be taken away to jail for this. I do not know of them taking someone away for and accident where a person died, unless the one at fault was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Maybe the cops know something I do not know. But I still feel that it was excesive use of authority in the cops case tonight.

[DeNReN 0]

Again....I agree......there is no need to haul a 84 year old off to jail...let alone a "low life" detension center for a non malious death!

And again...I re-ask my Q about retesting drivers in CA as they age and if medicals are required.

[skybytch 273]

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I re-ask my Q about retesting drivers in CA as they age and if medicals are required.

AFAIK there are no required driving tests for older drivers in California, and the only medical requirements are the same as for drivers of any age.

[Dbriggs 0]

If seniors need to be retested then I feel that people in my generation need to be retested as well. Look at how many 16-20 something year olds are involved in accidents...that should say something. Compare the two who has the most accidents per age range??? Maybe speed limits should be lowered so everyone has more time to react? Maybe this..maybe that. None of this is in effect. Should everyone be required to take a driving test bi-annually?? That might solve some things. We dont know and might not ever know. I dont feel that one generation should be treated in this manner without everyone having to deal with it. There are many good drivers who are seniors and there are some bad ones..but that applies to everyone. See my point??

[DeNReN 0]

Ty bytch...what are your thoughts on retesting at X age.....lets say 70?

personally....at 37...my night vision is diminished from my younger years...has it degraded enough to warrent testing?...not yet....but in 33 years...I am sure it will

[skybytch 273]

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what are your thoughts on retesting at X age.....lets say 70?

I dunno. I tend to agree with David - if retesting on a bi-annual basis (or whatever time period) is going to be required of one age group then it should be required of everyone. I know plenty of bad drivers of all ages...

Another issue here is the fact that motorcycles can be damn hard to see for any driver. I've had to take evasive action when I was riding my bike, and I've come close to not seeing one when I was driving my car. I like the idea of motorcyclists wearing those silly orange vests for this very reason - when I get my next bike I'm seriously considering buying and wearing one even if it does make me look like a goofball.

[Shawndiver 0]

***Can someone please explain to me why is it necessary to handcuff and haul away an 84 year old man who hasn't been drinking and isn't on drugs because he made a left turn at the wrong time?
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Simple. Because he killed someone. It was not premeditated, he did not mean to do it, but the fact is that someone died as a direct result of his actions. I believe under the circumstances, that would require more than issuing a ticket and saying "see you in traffic court in two weeks". Treat him with respect, understand that he is probably dying inside because of this tragedy, but I think these situations require a more thorough process. I am willing to bet that the police were following their procedure, which probably does not have provisions for "if they are over 70, go easy on them". I think its wonderful that your parents are reaching out and helping this couple, I am sure they can use all the help they can get in this time. Just out of curiosity, did anybody check on the injured wife? I'm sure she wishes her husband was simply in jail...

_________________

[DeNReN 0]

Well...lets set one thing straight right off the batt....MOST of the driving public shouldnt have a licence!!!!

Driving a 3500lb weapon seems to be a "god given" right this day and age....some states/provinces/countries are implementing stricter laws on new drivers(Nova Scotia is one of them)...but others who already are licensed will not require retesting(myself included)...not that I approve of another gov imposed "fee/expence"...but damn!!!!!...the morons are out there...and I would gladly pay a little extra and take time from my semi dull life to be retested every couple of years if it would keep some of the cell phone talking/lipstick appling/non snow clearing/non signal light users/no general intellegance/self centered fuckers off the roads!!!!!!!!!!!

Sry.....I must digress...long day at work...a touchy subject with me and a few beer

[skybytch 273]

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I believe under the circumstances, that would require more than issuing a ticket and saying "see you in traffic court in two weeks".

But that's exactly what would have happened if he'd had a California driver's license instead of one from out of state. Since he wasn't under the influence and it wasn't premeditated, had he been a resident of California he would have been released on his own recognizance at the scene.

Police officers have and are expected to use discretion. I can't imagine that an 84 year old man who hadn't been in trouble before would be considered high risk for skipping town. imho, this was an instance where the officer should have used his discretion and released the man at the scene. Instead he slapped the cuffs on him and hauled him off to jail.

[slug 1]

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So what your saying is that all seniors who commit a vehicle code offense should be arrested???? I think not. If that is the case then everyone who does it needs to be arrested and sent to jail to be booked in. I am not a senior citizen but I still feel that this is fu*&ed up. It was a damn accident, not a premeditated murder.>>

Not at all there's a big difference between speeding, failure to signal a lane change, and being responsiable for a accident resulting in someones death.

I don't think habitual drunks that get sent to the slammer for a another DWI accident resulting in a death are convicted of premeditated murder.

>> I feel sorry for the ones who lost a son, husband possibly father>>

Me to

>>But I do not feel that the elderly gentleman needs to be put through this process. He is almost 90.>>

Regardless of the mans age he caused a fatal accident. Was he DWI due to his age?

I don't know some folks at that age are sharp as a tack others are "confused" and won't give up their keys until forced to. Will the senior citizen lose his liscense? Was this his first accident? don't know.

>> I feel that there should be some sort of manditory driving test after a certain age but there is not. >>
So how do we get there?

>>So lets not start arresting older folks who are not under the influence of any drug or alcohol and are involved in an accident unless everyone is going to get the same treatment.

>>

Maybe the offficer who arrested the senior saw something that told him the senior was DWC "Driving while confused" made same turn three times because he didn't realise he was in the wrong town.

I may be wrong but a lot of seniors have medical problems and are on meds. The only way to find it maybe to draw blood or urine.

Drive a auto when DWC is bad enough but towing a 5th wheel is a challenge. Did the cycle hit the truck or 5th wheel?

This time it resulted in a death. To bad.

R.I.P.

[DeNReN 0]

It's a debated subject for sure...I've a fairly strong oppion on it...back to your origional topic...plz let us know what happens(hopefully you will be able to follow it as it unfolds)....I am sure that the elderly gentlman and his wife would have bee quite distraut over it without the asshole cop taking things a little too far...your parents are good ppl to help out in a situation like this....(beer) for them.

[Shawndiver 0]

Well, I'm not a cop, so I won't even begin to presume what the proper procedure for this kind of situation would be. But again, I would think that there is some sort of protocol for out of state drivers that would require some type of additional means of identifying someone involved in a fatal accident where there is culpability involved. Its a horrific situation for all sides, and I admit I am a little biased as I ride pretty much full time. I do agree that he should not be treated like a common criminal, but I don't think additional processing given the severity of the situation is not completely out of line. My thoughts and condolences are with both parties involved.

Shawn

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[FrogNog 1]

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... arrested him for manslaughter and took him to jail. Not to the police station for processing and release on his own recognizance.

Isn't it an acceptable procedure to put people in jail for a little while when they are accused of crimes with serious penalties, until appropriate bail can be set and all that? I guess they could have been nicer and put him in some sort of "jail light" until that could be done, seeing as he was an old man and not likely to be a tough customer. But I don't think releasing him on his own recognizance, after he just accidentally killed someone, has any guarantee he'll stick around for trial.

the dreaded "left hand turn in front of motorcyclist". It's the biker equivalent of low turns.

-=-=-=-=-
Pull.

[vid666 0]

just a little fact for ya'll.. about 75% of all motorcycle related accidents involve another vehicle being at fault. Usually NOT GIVING the right of way. No, hauling an 84 year old to jail is wrong. But NOT being careful while hauling a gooseneck and causing somebody death, and who knows what to the other person, what is that considered ???

Another, just hypothetical question : Do you think that when you are in your eighties you will be capable ( i.e. attentive/cautious etc ) enough to operate something as large as a truck with a 5th wheel ? I personally don't think I will be able to handle that at that age...

just good for thought.

[ChileRelleno 0]

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The driver of the pickup is 84 years old. He was sober. The CHP officer decided he was at fault, arrested him for manslaughter and took him to jail. Not to the police station for processing and release on his own recognizance.

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I think that's totally fucked up. Can someone please explain to me why is it necessary to handcuff and haul away an 84 year old man who hasn't been drinking and isn't on drugs because he made a left turn at the wrong time?

Bytch, regardless of age or prior convictions he was found at fault in a fatality accident.
He is not special, he is at fault and the law requires him to be handled like any other joe blow citizen. Vehicular Manslaughter is a serious felony, I hope he has the bail money and a good lawyer. No one goes to " The Police Station" for booking/processing.
Life is not fair, life sometimes sucks! This poor mans wife had to watch him be hauled away... The other wife may live if she's lucky and then deal with the death of her husband for which the octogenarian behind the wheel is responsible for.
I can tell you who I feel more sorry for....

And yes, here is another case for seniors to be tested yearly for retention of their driving priviledges, this man perhaps should not even have been on the road? And driving a combination vehicle of any type is not a sunday drive in the car!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414
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