Just need to vent about stupid parents/drunk drivers

[Rogue Leader]

I'll keep this short and sweet, for those of you that don't know I am a volunteer firefighter, and have been for the past 13 years. We cover the parkway down to the beach by me. Today we were called for a tool job at an auto accident, some asshole with his 3 daughters in the car was coming home from the beach, drunk, and lost control, crossed the median and hit an SUV head on. He hit it hard enough to rip the front suspension off the truck, his car (an old Subaru Loyale wagon) was practically bent in half. We had to cut his daughter out of the front passenger seat, she was in and out of consciousness. We had to get her to the hospital in the helicopter. The passenger in the SUV was not breathing when she was extricated. I haven't gotten any reports of their condition since but I can assume they are alive as we usually hear pretty quickly if they did not survive.

Pardon my french but after we cut his daughter out of the car it took all my might to not turn the tool on his neck and cut his ****ing head off. I'm not one for breaking up a home but I hope they take this shitbags kids from him.

Sorry just had to vent. It 5 hours later and I'm still sitting here at my computer so angry I could punch a hole in the wall.

[Future MDPilot]

As I continued to read my hand just stayed on my mouth in disappointment. I rue the day when I have to hear a story like this, but for you to have seen it yourself... wow it must be terrible.

Vent on here rather than breaking your hand . With a broken hand, how can you save lives ?

[ibeck]

I'd first like to thank you on your volunteer fireman service. I had plans to be involved in big brother this summer, unfortunately summer classes brought it to an abrupt end. It's nice to see there's still people out there just trying to do good in today's messed up society. As for the dad, completely understand your need to vent. I'm pretty sure if I was in your position, I wouldn't have been able to hold myself back.

[The Stig]

One FF to another, I completely understand how you feel. Vent away. Hopefully the guy will end up doing some time and social services can find a better home for his daughters.

[Iwantone2]

The nerve of some people...

It's that whole, "I'm a man, and nobody tells me what to do..." mentality. Seriously though, I hope that tool learns his lesson.

[Steve Dallas]

First, thumbs up for your service as a FF.

I continue to be amazed at the people who try to defend drunk driving.

Personally, I think all drugs should be legalized, but the penalties for using them while driving or operating machinery that can harm people should be increased.

I'm talking about penalties in the range of 6 months jail time for a first offense. 1 year jail time for a second offense (2nd and all other offenses considered felony). 3rd offense should be 5 years. Subsequent offenses would fit the three strikes rule and life imprisonment. Additional time if the offense includes manslaughter (should be considered murder if you drink then kill someone)

There is absolutely NO excuse for drinking and driving. Get a cab, walk, call a friend/family member...whatever. Just don't do it.

[Berean]

Drunk driving is no accident. The day we charge people with murder and hand out the appropriate sentence, is the day we're serious about drunk driving.

[Rogue Leader]

Thanks guys, just read the article in the local paper, turns out the front seat passenger was his wife (damn she was small looked like a kid!) and she is critical, everyone else is fine. Doesn't make it any less stupid. I've calmed down now at least. According to the article he:

faces charges of reckless assault, vehicular assault, driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment, assault and various vehicle and traffic violations, police said. Upgraded charges are possible, "pending further investigation," according to a news release.

[angie7]

I am so sorry :( My b/f is a LEO and what you guys see and deal with is unbearable! I'm glad that everyone is okay and that douche is going to be charged! So digusting how people are these days. My cousin was killed by a drunk driver and my b/f's goal is to arrest at least one drunk driver every nite he works.

On another note, it seems so many people don't care. I was at a local pub last week with a friend of mine. It was approx midnite when we witnessed, 3 small children WALKING THRU THE BAR! My b/f was on duty so I sent him a quick text and he had someone working that area come check it out. I'm not sure what happened but apparently the bar took it seriously. A few days later, my b/f and I were at the same bar and some man walked by with a toddler! It was nearly 11pm. The security refused to let him leave in his own car and called the cops on him. WTF is wrong with people??

[Ivas]

Dudes, I very often have a beer or three while sittin' in my Camaro when it's in its parking space at our apartment complex. Once the first sip goes down the throat, there's NO MORE DRIVIN' for that day. Simple as that. If I gotta' go somewhere later, it'll be by someone else driving. It doan hafta' be in another car, though I, on general principle, doan like anybody drivin' my-too-fine-for-another-person-to-drive-Camaro. Lol.

[pgviper]

What beach was the guy coming from?

Just curious...

Could you post the article?

[Camaro2LTRSMMissouri]

I'm the victim of a 89 ( yes 89 ) year old drunk driver head on motor vehicle accident . He was on the wrong side of a divided highway at 1:00pm. He was also on 12 prescription medicines and 8 stated "do not drink and drive or operate motorized machinery while taking this medication".

I turned the car at the last few seconds to take the hit slightly off center. They were able to get my wife out, and to the trauma center in a matter of minutes. I was pinned and it took about 45 minutes for them to remove me from our vehicle. I will never forget the Paramedics, they couldn't get to my arms to start an IV so they started one in my neck. The Paramedics never left my side , always talking to me and remained completely cool and calm.

It's been a long haul since the accident but I'm retired and enjoying the grandkids - not pain free but I do enjoy them. I've had 4 surgeries and have 4 more scheduled.

[Ivas]

Originally Posted by Camaro2LTRSMMissouri

I'm the victim of a 89 ( yes 89 ) year old drunk driver head on motor vehicle accident . He was on the wrong side of a divided highway at 1:00pm. He was also on 12 prescription medicines and 8 stated "do not drink and drive or operate motorized machinery while taking this medication".

I turned the car at the last few seconds to take the hit slightly off center. They were able to get my wife out, and to the trauma center in a matter of minutes. I was pinned and it took about 45 minutes for them to remove me from our vehicle. I will never forget the Paramedics, they couldn't get to my arms to start an IV so they started one in my neck. The Paramedics never left my side , always talking to me and remained completely cool and calm.

It's been a long haul since the accident but I'm retired and enjoying the grandkids - not pain free but I do enjoy them. I've had 4 surgeries and have 4 more scheduled.

Man, am I glad to hear that you, too, are gonna' be as right as you can be in the altered circumstances of your life brought on by the misfortunes of crossing paths (literally) with a very senior driver.
My father is 88 and driving, albeit veerry carefully, on selected non-highway routes at greatly diminished speeds, 15mph or less. I've been trying to get him to cut it out altogether, but to no avail as of yet. He is fully cognizant of the dangers in driving at an elevated age, and he will cease and desist, on his own, before anything untoward should occur. I believe him, yet he is NOT the average oldster behind the wheel. It's gonna' be hard to wrest the wheel outa' the agèd hands o' most of 'em. My father is himself an advocate of voluntary abstinence from behind the dashboard. I'll be askin' him for an even more active rôle in this advocacy once he fully retires from the wheel.

[CaniacFan]

I don't envy what you have to "see" on your job. This douche was so damn lucky he didn't kill any of his family members.

Vent, please!!! We are here for you my friend..