Driver kills two more

[silver]

This is horrifying. I'm trying to find more info. This is from the area that my parents live.

This kid, 19, killed a cyclist two years ago. Now, he's hit and killed two more!

http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp...9&nav=8fapdoW2

http://blog.al.com/live/2007/09/teen...r_charges.html

[Trek420]

Will someone explain to me like I'm a 4 year old how he was out driving 2 years after the first murder? Was that a case of "Oh he's just a kid"

[Zen]

Drunk at 9AM.

He has a problem and needs some time behind bars to dry out and hopefully rehab.
If he doesn't get that it's bound to happen again.

keep us posted on this one.

[Torrilin]

Will someone explain to me like I'm a 4 year old how he was out driving 2 years after the first murder? Was that a case of "Oh he's just a kid"

Usually minors do not get penalized as harshly as adults. Since he would have been 17 at the time of the first offense that would have helped. And it's a lot easier to get light punishment for murder with a car. Drunk and/or reckless drivers are rarely punished as murderers, even if the offender is an adult with a history of accidents. Doesn't matter if the victims are on bikes, on foot or in cars... the driver will get away with far less jail time than a murderer deserves. (Yes, I know it's legally not murder, and I disagree with the basis of those legal rulings.)

I feel so sorry for the families involved. This has to feel awful.

[Wahine]

Drunk at 9AM.

He has a problem and needs some time behind bars to dry out and hopefully rehab.
If he doesn't get that it's bound to happen again.

keep us posted on this one.

I agree 100% Zen. This is someone with seriously self destructive behavior. This kid will keep killing people until he takes himself out with them or gets help and dries out.

I feel terrible for the cyclists' families. It's not fair that they have lost loved ones and this 19 year old is still living and will more than likely get a second, scratch that, third chance at life when the cyclists never did.

[Pax]

Those poor families.

I swear, with things like this becoming all too common I'm almost ready to hang the bike on the garage wall, sell off the motorcycle and just stay off the road.

[silver]

I'm still putting together info on this. Below is some info that I found on the first man that the driver killed. This is just tragic.....the first man, Larry McDuff....his wife was killed riding her bike two years previously, so he was all about safety.

I did find a blurb in a blog...so it's unsubstantiated, that the McDuff family asked for leniency for the driver who was 17 at the time. But I've not found what his punishment was.

This makes me angry.....but I will not stop riding.


http://thetrailblazers.org/content/view/17/

MCDUFF MEMORIAL

At 8:30am on Monday, June 13 Larry McDuff was riding his bike to work at Bee Natural Organic Farm in Fairhope. He helped out with the crops and goats at the farm two days a week in exchange for fruits, veggies, and cheeses to support his vegetarian lifestyle. He was riding south in the bike lane on Greeno Road when a hit and run driver struck and killed him.

Ironically his beloved wife Ann was killed in the same way two years previously on Baldwin County Hwy 27, now US 181. Since that tragedy Larry had always worn a fluorescent lime green jacket, a helmet, and a flashing red light on his bike for maximum visibility.

The McDuffs were environmental role models for all who knew them. They rode bikes instead of cars, dried their clothes out in the sun, and travelled the world on foot. Summers they trekked elaborately planned trips such as the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada, the Appalachian Trail twice over, the John Muir Trail in California, and an even more daunting one in Peru. When their four children were old enough they took them to Europe which they explored by bike.

[7rider]

Oh, my. These two guys were neighbors of my friend's step-daughter in the Fairhope area. My friend stayed at our house Monday night and got word from his wife about the accident and told us about it.

[lilduff]

Larry was very considerate to the family of the man who killed his wife in 2003(?). He told that man to live his life and not let this accident keep him from doing so. Larry taught his children compassion.
Larry's family did ask for consideration to the 17 year old who hit and killed him 2 years ago. The teen did leave the scene but later turned himself in.
Now it has been said that the teen was probably on drugs durning that first accident. (But remember, he left the scene) The court records were sealed.
He is accused of DUI during this occurance and is accused of murder of these 2 gentlemen.

[silver]

Larry was very considerate to the family of the man who killed his wife in 2003(?). He told that man to live his life and not let this accident keep him from doing so. Larry taught his children compassion.
Larry's family did ask for consideration to the 17 year old who hit and killed him 2 years ago. The teen did leave the scene but later turned himself in.
Now it has been said that the teen was probably on drugs durning that first accident. (But remember, he left the scene) The court records were sealed.
He is accused of DUI during this occurance and is accused of murder of these 2 gentlemen.

lilduff, thank you so much for offering this information. You must be very familiar with this. It's just so awful that it's next to impossible to wrap my thoughts around.

I was just in shock to read about it. My background is that I was riding with a man who was hit and killed by a 19 year old driver. He was tested and tested negative for substances. I never wanted vengence on him but did feel that he should have some penalties other than the $125 that he paid. Possibly loss of his license for a time and probation. I don't know what it right. I certainly understand the compassion extended. (I hope that I didn't come across as finding fault with that.....who could have foreseen this) I would be interested in what penalty he did receive.

Please, give us any info that you feel that you can to help us understand. I was in the area (Gulf Shores) when Mr. McDuff was killed but know very little about him or the resolution of that case. I do remember my parents telling me that his wife had been killed while riding.

[Trek420]

I like to think I'm a forgiving person, I'm not vengeful by nature, that's not my job if you wanna get spiritual about it.

I love cycling and don't want to think of cycling as punishment. But that young man should never drive again. I lost my cousin to a bike crash so I think it's fair to .....

...let him bike, for the rest of his life. The 3 people the murdered rode everywhere to Europe, work, for fun ..... let him ride.

[Mr. Bloom]

I don't have any problem at this point saying that this young man should serve time. And he should never, ever, ever be given a license to drive. But someone like this.....and I am being judgemental....would drive without a license.

trek, it was about this time last year....wasn't it?

Oops, this is silver, forgot to check the log in

[SouthernBelle]

In many states he would be charged with vehicular homicide or a similar offense with a different name. I would guess that this is the current charge.

[KnottedYet]

trek, it was about this time last year....wasn't it?

Yeah, it was November.

[Batbike]

Will someone explain to me like I'm a 4 year old how he was out driving 2 years after the first murder? Was that a case of "Oh he's just a kid"

I cannt answer your question as to "WHY" this driver was driving 2 years after the first murder, but I can tell you about a recent driver in my area of VA who killed a cyclist and the results. The driver is a prominent woman, mother of 2, who apparently was talking on cell phone and discipling children in minivan, not paying attention to road and accidently hit a cyclist. The cyclist was another prominent citizen, a heart surgeon. The driver got charged with RECKLESS DRIVING and a $1500 fine because the law states that you have to have proof of INTENT or be under the influence to charge murder -- she clearly did not fit the murder criteria when she killed the cyclist. She is out driving her minivan again (probably with cell phone and kids).

Maybe in the first case of this 19-year old, he got off with something like reckless driving. I don't know. Personally, I feel the laws need to change to protect cyclists ... but that is another post.