Rebecca Gayheart charged with manslaughter.

[Young Knave]

Apparently she hit a nine year old boy with her car and killed him. Some cars were stopped waiting for him to cross the street, and she whipped around them at 40 miles per hour. Obviously she wasn't trying to kill him, but what she did was horribly careless. It reminds me of the Stephen King case, where the driver was messing around with his dog and weaving all over the road when he struck King.

I wonder what people think the right punishment for this kind of thing should be? Is up to a year in jail and a suspension of a license enough? It was an accident, but someone is dead because of someone else's total disregard for others' safety.

 

[Pokerman]

Vehicular Manslaughter-whatever the maximum penalty that charge imposes. Permanent license revocation.

 

[celiaKitten]

My 38 yr old Aunt, 17 yr old cousin and 5 others were killed when a semi driver fell asleep at the wheel. The fire incinerated everything.. he walked away with no injuries. 2 years later, he recently received 1-4 yrs in prison.

7 people killed because of his obcenely poor judgement. His wife testified that he had trouble sleeping and had only 2 hrs the night before going on a 3 day haul.

Stupid, pointless, heartbreaking.

4 years is not enough - it's not enough at all.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

I wonder what people think the right punishment for this kind of thing should be? Is up to a year in jail and a suspension of a license enough? It was an accident, but someone is dead because of someone else's total disregard for others' safety.

I have no idea who this person is - I expect a celeb since there is not explanation, but I don't keep track of celebs. So I do not know the circumstances - was the person crossing in a crosswalk? Was the person crossing with or against signals? What was the posted speed for that street?

All kinds of mitigating factors come into play. Even when I know some of what is going on I do not try to second guess the justice system; I am not there in court listening to all the facts presented, so I cannot make a judgement even if my questions are answered. Let the courts handle it.

I do think too many people speed too much in residential areas. I have been known to speed; when I ride my bike I usually go well over 100 MPH at least once during the ride - but that is on the highway or a country road where there are no people to hit. I try never to speed in residential areas - I have too often seen the results; twice I have seen a child laying on the street with his brains exposed - the second time I was one of the people who gave him first aid.

So slow down people and obey the speed limits in residential zones, especially if kids or other pedestrians are around. You will get there a few seconds later and you won't have killed or maimed anyone.

 

[ohiobbw]

Re: Re: Rebecca Gayheart charged with manslaughter.

I have no idea who this person is - I expect a celeb since there is not explanation,

She is a celeb, sort of, not really well known. But she's been in a few different things. She was the Noxema(I can't spell) girl for a while in their commericals and print ads. She was in Urban Legend and some TV shows too.