Is there any legal punishment that's enough for this driver?

[Niki1 1]

Stupidity like this sets me off. Be stupid and hurt yourself, OK. Be stupid and hurt some one else? You need to pay dearly.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40180395/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossilbe before they were done.
Louis D Brandeis

Where are we going and why are we in this basket?

[Dr_Tuls 0]

This is crazy, almost the same thing happen to a group of riders in TX a month ago or so now. My buddy and his wife were riding in a group, they lived, but two others were killed... so crazy. There's so many things I could say about situations like this. This is the number one reason I started jumping instead of getting another bike.

Edit: Looks like they caught the guy involved in my friends accident. I hope they find this other person involved in the link you posted.
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/sportatorium/2010/11/justice_served_they_caught_the.php

[skyrider 0]

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Stupidity like this sets me off. Be stupid and hurt yourself, OK. Be stupid and hurt some one else? You need to pay dearly.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40180395/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Thanks, I have been searching the net trying to find anything more about this assclown...and here it is at DZ.com....damn, wish I'd come here first!

My son was out on that same road with his Dual Sport motorcycle club Thursday.....it could have just as easially beeen his group! He rides that area almost every week!

[airtwardo 6]

A good friend of mine was turned into a quadriplegic with major head trauma two years ago in Illinois when a drunk driver hit several motorcycles on the interstate.

Drunk driver was going over 100 mph when he plowed through the group.

My high school buddy hasn't been home since the assault, several of us visited him at the 'hospital' during a recent H.S. reunion...freakin' tragic!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[skyrider 0]

I was so excited to see an arrest was made, I din;t catch, they arrested a "Victim" (didn;t read it all before posting)

The Gold Honda Accord that "caused" the crash, is still not found..

the guy they got , is simply another victim,(avoided a head on) that reacted stupidly...

[thrillstalker 0]

it is so fucking pointless and stupid that this tragedy occurred, that i don't even know what to say.

"Never grow a wishbone, where your backbone ought to be."

[AggieDave 6]

In Texas the DA in Montgomery County got a Capital Murder conviction on a habitual drunk driver who killed someone in an accident. Capital Murder in Texas means you will be killed for your crimes by lethal injection.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[skyrider 0]

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In Texas the DA in Montgomery County got a Capital Murder conviction on a habitual drunk driver who killed someone in an accident. Capital Murder in Texas means you will be killed for your crimes by lethal injection.

Problem here is, they have not caught the driver yet..(That accord).they only got a victim that killed poeple with his reaction!

[JohnMitchell 14]

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Problem here is, they have not caught the driver yet..(That accord).they only got a victim that killed poeple with his reaction!

I understand how you feel, but could that "victim" driver have done a better job of controlling his car if he had been more sober? Does anyone know what his BA was?

[skyrider 0]

Another Update...As I figured the driver is also a Victim, not the criminal!

By ELLIOT SPAGAT, Associated Press Elliot Spagat, Associated Press – 40 mins ago
SAN DIEGO – A man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he slammed his car head-on into a group of motorcycle riders celebrating their club's 10th anniversary, killing four motorcyclists and his companion, authorities said Sunday.

The driver, Carlos Ramirez Bobadilla, was among six people injured in Saturday's crash on a remote desert highway, said California Highway Patrol Officer DeeAnn Goudie. Ramirez, 36, was recovering from hand fractures at a San Diego hospital.

The arrest was made when officers smelled alcohol on his breath about five hours after the crash, Goudie said. Results of a blood test were pending.

It is unclear if the driver's alleged alcohol consumption contributed to the collision, Goudie said, but he was arrested on a misdemeanor and is not being held responsible for the deaths based on evidence collected so far. Authorities were looking for the driver of a gold Honda Civic who forced Ramirez off the road when trying to pass the motorcyclists on the undivided two-lane highway east of San Diego.

Ramirez, of Mexicali, Mexico, swerved his white Dodge Avenger to the right shoulder to avoid the Honda and then overcompensated by swinging left into oncoming traffic, Goudie said. Ramirez's speedometer was found stuck at 60 mph, 5 mph below the speed limit.

"It would have been nice if he had just gone off to the right," she said. "He would have been stuck in the soft sand."

None of the motorcyclists got the license plate of the Honda driver — described as a man wearing a baseball cap. No one pursued him, choosing to stay behind to attend to their friends.

"I was the first person on scene that had a uniform on," Goudie said. "I was being dragged in every direction by frantic people saying, 'Help this person, help that person.'"

The CHP withheld names of the five who died, pending notification of next of kin. They included a husband and wife who were on a motorcycle that was first to be struck.

A man who was driving a motorcycle behind the couple was struck next and died, Goudie said.

Ramirez turned and hit a third motorcycle, killing a woman who was riding on the back and injuring her husband, Wilson Trayer, 39, of Lakeside, Goudie said.

Trayer's motorcycle sliced 18 inches into the front passenger door of the Dodge that Ramirez was driving, killing Ramirez's companion, a 31-year-old Mexicali woman who owned the car, Goudie said.

Carl Smith, president of the Lakeside-based Saddletramps Motorcycle Club, said three riders were seriously injured but expected to survive. Two others had less serious injuries.

William Barnes, 57, of San Diego suffered a punctured lung and broken hip and ankle and his wife, Melanie, 46, broke her pelvis and had a brain hemorrhage, Smith said. Trayer broke his pelvis, ribs, back and jaw, according to his daughter, Sierra.

"It's going to be a long recovery for the three of them," Smith said.

One of the injured — John Philip Lombardo, 55, of Lakeside, whose leg was hit by an ejected motorcyclist — was released from the hospital, Goudie said.

Another rider had her spleen removed, Smith said. Goudie identified her as Kelly Halley, 42, of Santee.

Smith was leading the motorcycles and watched in his rearview mirror as Ramirez turned his sedan into oncoming traffic and struck the middle of the pack. There were 21 riders on about a dozen motorcycles.

"The car was out of control when I went by him. He narrowly missed me and my vice president," said Smith.

Smith doesn't blame Ramirez, despite the allegation that he was driving under the influence. He considers Ramirez a victim because his companion died.

"It looked like he overreacted, but the guy in the Honda Civic was at fault," said Smith, who estimated the Civic was going 95 mph when it passed the motorcycles.

The group met Saturday morning at Smith's Alpine home and had breakfast at the Golden Acorn Casino off Interstate 8 in Boulevard. They planned to spend the night at the Quechan Casino Resort in Winterhaven, near the Arizona state line.

"They were just going on a nice, leisurely ride in the desert because the weather's gorgeous now," Goudie said.

The accident occurred about 1 p.m. Saturday on state Route 98 near the hamlet of Ocotillo, about 80 miles east of San Diego. The curvy road, which hugs the Mexican border, links Mexicali to Interstate 8 and is used by motorists from Southern Californians and Mexico's Baja California state.

Smith said club members are close friends — many in daily contact — who go on long monthly rides and do an annual charity drive for the Boys and Girls Clubs of East (San Diego) County. They plan a blood drive to help the injured riders.

[CSpenceFLY 1]

I understand what you are saying but that could happen to anyone. In some states you could get caught up in an accident like that after having one drink and spend the rest of your life in jail.

[shermanator 3]

arrested 5 hours later for smelling alcohol in his breath... ... if I was involved in something like that, i would hit a bottle myself!, and I don't drink.

CLICK HERE! new blog posted 9/21/08
CSA #720

[mutumbo 0]

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arrested 5 hours later for smelling alcohol in his breath... ... if I was involved in something like that, i would hit a bottle myself!, and I don't drink.

so theres a possibility that he was sober at the time of the crash?

Thanatos340(on landing rounds)--
Landing procedure: Hand all the way up, Feet and Knees Together and PLF soon as you get bitch slapped by a planet.

[FanOfFalling 0]

Fleeing the scene of an accident doesn't exactly lend itself to the conclusion.

[mutumbo 0]

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Fleeing the scene of an accident doesn't exactly lend itself to the conclusion.

im by no means defending that action, but i can see why one would. think about it, seriously, if you just plowed through a group of bikers and knew you most likely killed some, would you honestly not panic? and as we all know panic makes you do REALLY stupid things in critical situations. like fleeing the scene, or not being able to find that cutaway and reserve pilow that has been in the exact same spot as every other jump, i mean isnt that why you go through all those EPs, so even in times of extreme panic inducing stress you can pull through, right?

Thanatos340(on landing rounds)--
Landing procedure: Hand all the way up, Feet and Knees Together and PLF soon as you get bitch slapped by a planet.

[jf951 1]

california still allows capital punishment

Jump more, Bitch less.

[futuredivot 0]

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Fleeing the scene of an accident doesn't exactly lend itself to the conclusion.

The driver arrested for DUI didn't flee the scene of the motorcycle fatalities. The DUI arrest was a totally different incident that occurred hours later. The arrest article wasn't written that well and is a little confusing. The driver that caused the motorcycle wrecks is still at large.

You are only as strong as the prey you devour

[skyrider 0]

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Fleeing the scene of an accident doesn't exactly lend itself to the conclusion.

The car that fled still has not been found, this car was run of the road and lost control...Even the bikers said that!

[futuredivot 0]

Dude-do you EVER sleep?

You are only as strong as the prey you devour

[skyrider 0]

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Dude-do you EVER sleep?

Insomnia is a bitch...I hope to get back to bed soon!

[skyrider 0]

another update:

Members of a local motorcycle club are making a plea to a mystery driver in connection with a crash Saturday afternoon that killed five people and injured six others.

The members of the Saddle Tramps motorcycle club of Lakeside held painfully somber prayers outside the San Diego Harley-Davidson Store in Kearny Mesa on Sunday. It came one day after four members died on Highway 98 just west of El Centro when they were hit head-on by a Dodge Avenger.

The victims have been identified as Lance and Amy Health of Alpine, Bill Miller of Ramona and Tonya Trayer of El Cajon. The club had been celebrating its 10th Anniversary with a ride to Yuma, Ariz.

Club president Carl Smith said the crash sent one the bikes, "probably 10 foot in the air totally engulfed in flames."

The collision also killed a passenger inside the Avenger. But witnesses say that sedan is also a victim of the crash. They say the true culprit was a gold Honda Civic that tried to get around them on the Eastbound lanes by driving into on-coming traffic. The Dodge was going in the opposite direction and lost control as its driver tried to avoid the Honda, plowing into the pack that was 12 choppers deep.

"An idiot, trying to pass 12 bikes at a time. I mean we were riding the speed limit," the Saddle Tramps Vice President said about the driver of the Honda.

"We know what car you were driving. We know you were wearing a baseball cap. Some of them even saw your face," said the victims' friend Monica Smith.

The Honda escaped the wreck and simply drove away, according to the CHP.

Club members say the driver left more than five lifeless bodies on the highway.

"You've left some children without their parents and their mother and you wouldn't want that happening to you. Okay? Whatever your penalty is be a man."

Carl Smith is asking the driver to turn himself in and be responsible.

The driver of the Avenger, 36-year old Carlos Bobadilla, has been booked on suspicion of drunk driving. But the members of the Saddle Tramps says he's not to blame for the crash. They say the wreck would have been impossible to avoid even if he wasn't drinking.

It is unclear if the driver's alleged alcohol consumption contributed to the collision, Officer DeeAnn Goudie said, but he was arrested on a misdemeanor and is not being held responsible for the deaths based on evidence collected so far.

The crash happened on Saturday around 1 p.m. on State Route 98 near Ocotillo, a few miles north of the Mexico border and 80 miles east of San Diego.


Pictures and Video at link : http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local-b ... 48919.html[url]Source: Motorcycle Club Makes Plea With Driver in Deadly Pile-up | NBC San Diego

[MikeJD 0]

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Be stupid and hurt yourself, OK. Be stupid and hurt some one else? You need to pay dearly.

The distinction is often just a matter of luck, though, isn't it? I sometimes think it's odd that the result of reckless behaviour has so much influence on charging and sentencing. People drive like this all the time, and usually are 'lucky' enough to get away with it, or only to hurt themselves. Their 'guilt' isn't actually any more or less either way.

In terms of punishment, if the Civic driver has any humanity at all then the realisation of having caused those deaths will be worse than anything the law can throw at him.

[skyrider 0]

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Be stupid and hurt yourself, OK. Be stupid and hurt some one else? You need to pay dearly.

The distinction is often just a matter of luck, though, isn't it? I sometimes think it's odd that the result of reckless behaviour has so much influence on charging and sentencing. People drive like this all the time, and usually are 'lucky' enough to get away with it, or only to hurt themselves. Their 'guilt' isn't actually any more or less either way.

In terms of punishment, if the Civic driver has any humanity at all then the realisation of having caused those deaths will be worse than anything the law can throw at him.

I disagree, you over estimate the menatlity of the type of person that runs from such a mess, after causing it! My bet is their one nad only concern, is getting caught...

[Niki1 1]

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california still allows capital punishment

At the risk of getting this sent to the Speaker's Corner:

To start with, I'm not a blind advocate of the death penalty. Having said that, I do believe that there are some things that people do that do reach the level (at least mine) of deserving of this most extreme penalty.

For this dickhead, I would reccomend he be dragged, cut, shot, burned, tased, beaten. Every day for some period of time. I have a hard time thinking that anyone who could act with such a wreckless disreguard for other people could ever show a level of remorse that I would find acceptable. But I'm afraid that locating this guy and then convicting him has a low probabliity of happening.

Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossilbe before they were done.
Louis D Brandeis

Where are we going and why are we in this basket?

[rehmwa 2]

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The distinction is often just a matter of luck, though, isn't it? I sometimes think it's odd that the result of reckless behaviour has so much influence on charging and sentencing. People drive like this all the time, and usually are 'lucky' enough to get away with it, or only to hurt themselves. Their 'guilt' isn't actually any more or less either way.

Your point is frequently overlooked (though there is a thread on just this point somewhere in here).

The issue becomes an emotional response when looking at the consequences rather than the actions and the unbiased view of those actions vs the potential threat to the rest of society.

It's also interesting to see motorcyclists here taking special interest personally, though I wouldn't see any distinction here as well if he caused deaths to pedestrians, bicyclists, or passengers of cars.

Running away, though, adds something significant here that doesn't come into play unless an accident is caused in the first place. Fleeing speaks directly to the likelihood of the criminal repeating the offense - so that should increase the penalty significantly because of the added future risk of re-occurrence.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants