happythoughts 0 #1 November 8, 2005 Very little amazes me anymore, but this does. In Tampa last year, a woman fataly struck two children and injured two more. She left the scene of the accident, called her mother, her father helped her clean up the car, they called an attorney. Hit and run, with 2 fatalities. Result? No jail time at all. Three years of probation, two years of community control or house arrest and 500 hours of community service. I can't believe it. I cannot believe that a judge could sit there and let this happen. story clicky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #2 November 8, 2005 Would this be connected to Florida being a 'no fault' state?_________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sinker 0 #3 November 8, 2005 QuoteVery little amazes me anymore, but this does. In Tampa last year, a woman fataly struck two children and injured two more. She left the scene of the accident, called her mother, her father helped her clean up the car, they called an attorney. Hit and run, with 2 fatalities. Result? No jail time at all. Three years of probation, two years of community control or house arrest and 500 hours of community service. I can't believe it. I cannot believe that a judge could sit there and let this happen. story clicky un. fucking. believable. -the artist formerly known as sinker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ExAFO 0 #4 November 8, 2005 Quote...Hit and run, with 2 fatalities. Result? No jail time at all. Three years of probation, two years of community control or house arrest and 500 hours of community service. Damn, now THAT'S a defense lawyer I want to keep on retainer...Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ViperPilot 0 #5 November 8, 2005 I swear there could not be a worse justice system in the world than the United States. We need a major overall of the justice system and start kicking lawyers/judges in the face for even contemplating helping pieces of shit out like this woman. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #6 November 8, 2005 More to the case than the first article implies. The other articles linked on the page give a lot more detail. They're not even sure if she was the first one to hit the kids, or if she ran over them after they'd been hit by a van. The sheriff said that if she hadn't left the scene, she probably wouldn't have been charged at all. The articles imply that assistance arrived rather quickly, and it probably would have made no difference in the condition of the children if she had stayed on the scene. She wasn't driving recklessly. It was a freak accident, and she probably panicked. None of us know how we're going to react in an emergency. Some people can ignore emotion and deal with a situation and freak out later, while others freak out immediately and do stupid things without really thinking. She turned herself in a few days later. The police didn't find her, she came forward voluntarily. I think the judge recognized that this was a tragic accident and that her only crime was panicking and running away. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #7 November 8, 2005 Good job there's a system in place that allows for defendants to get lawyers so the comments above yours don't get to represent the entire view of judge and jury in a case like this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lindsey 0 #8 November 8, 2005 The sheriff said that if she hadn't left the scene, she probably wouldn't have been charged at all. That's the booger in there, isn't it. Sometimes people in cars hit pedestrians. Usually it's accidental. But the driver of the car, regardless of her emotional state, should stop...if for no other reason than to help or get help for her injured victims. If a person does not stop and help, then she *should* be charged, not because she hit them with her car, but because she didn't take the potentially life-saving step of stopping to see that they were tended to.-- A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #9 November 8, 2005 QuoteIf a person does not stop and help, then she *should* be charged She was. And convicted. And sentenced. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gmanpilot 0 #10 November 8, 2005 QuoteThree years of probation, two years of community control or house arrest and 500 hours of community service. I can't believe it. I cannot believe that a judge could sit there and let this happen. Bad things happen. There was an accident and two pedestrians were tragically killed. The woman left the scene in a panic, called her parents, then turned herself in after she got a lawyer. The victim's lawyer even agreed with the sentence.. "I've never seen a case in my 22 years take on the kind of life than this case has," said Tom Parnell, the attorney for the children's mother, Lisa Wilkins. "I think it's better for Ms. Wilkins and the family to just get this over with." Parnell said he has his doubts about a prison term for Porter. "I just don't think it's warranted."_________________________________________ -There's always free cheese in a mouse trap. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReBirth 0 #11 November 8, 2005 Lawyers should be kicked in the face for defending people? We need to "overall" the justice system? Interesting concepts. Please ellaborate. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaVinci 0 #12 November 8, 2005 QuoteThat's the booger in there, isn't it. Sometimes people in cars hit pedestrians. Usually it's accidental. But the driver of the car, regardless of her emotional state, should stop...if for no other reason than to help or get help for her injured victims. It was in an area that is questionable. There were people there who had attacked a driver for hitting someone there before. She was a small woman and scared. Does the knowledge that attacks and beatings have happend in that same area for the same thing change your mind? I find fault in her for not driving to the police station and driving home instead. She went home, put the car in the garage and contacted a lawyer. QuoteIf a person does not stop and help, then she *should* be charged, not because she hit them with her car, but because she didn't take the potentially life-saving step of stopping to see that they were tended to. She was, and she was found guilty. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #13 November 8, 2005 I have had cops in Florida tell me that in certain parts of Miami if I get into an accident, just keep on driving and sort it out later, no matter what you hit. So this doesn't really surprise me.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,131 #14 November 8, 2005 QuoteI have had cops in Florida tell me that in certain parts of Miami if I get into an accident, just keep on driving and sort it out later, no matter what you hit. So this doesn't really surprise me.... There are some places it's best to avoid altogether if you are a stranger in town.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaVinci 0 #15 November 8, 2005 QuoteThere are some places it's best to avoid altogether if you are a stranger in town. She was a teacher in that part of town. So she knew the area, and had to be there. I only blame her for not driving to the police right after the accident. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReBirth 0 #16 November 8, 2005 QuoteThere are some places it's best to avoid altogether if you are a stranger in town. If you're a stranger in town, how do you know where those places are? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,131 #17 November 8, 2005 QuoteQuoteThere are some places it's best to avoid altogether if you are a stranger in town. If you're a stranger in town, how do you know where those places are? Ask. I tell those who visit me in Chicago where the invisible lines are drawn. I was told by relatives where not go go in NYC when I visited.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #18 November 8, 2005 QuoteQuoteThere are some places it's best to avoid altogether if you are a stranger in town. If you're a stranger in town, how do you know where those places are? Sources: Internet, media, tourist information centres, travel guides/books, every taxi driver you meet, the bell man in your hotel, my B & B mama... there are millions of sources. I usually use them before/when travelling. dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #19 November 8, 2005 QuoteThe sheriff said that if she hadn't left the scene, she probably wouldn't have been charged at all. That's the booger in there, isn't it. Sometimes people in cars hit pedestrians. Usually it's accidental. But the driver of the car, regardless of her emotional state, should stop...if for no other reason than to help or get help for her injured victims. If a person does not stop and help, then she *should* be charged, not because she hit them with her car, but because she didn't take the potentially life-saving step of stopping to see that they were tended to. Personally, I wish pedestrians would take more responsibility. I don't care if I have the right-of-way as a pedestrian, me versus 3000+ pound car, I lose, I don't care how much a lawyer says he can get me.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
