Cop Drives 126mph While Texting, Kills Teen Girls
09-23-10, 10:03 AM
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Cop Drives 126mph While Texting, Kills Teen Girls
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/texting-...news-8085.html
Former Illinois State trooper Matt Mitchell was driving at 126 mph on Interstate 64 while emailing/texting his girlfriend on his phone. In his state, he crossed over the median and crashed head-on to another car, killing sisters Kelli and Jessica Uhl and injuring Kelly and Christine Marler, of Fayetteville. Mitchell sustained severe injuries to his leg.
Mitchell was suspended with pay for two years on his $68,000 annual salary. After pleading guilty to criminal charges, Mitchell resigned from the state police. His guilty plea landed him 30 months probation.
Former Illinois State trooper Matt Mitchell was driving at 126 mph on Interstate 64 while emailing/texting his girlfriend on his phone. In his state, he crossed over the median and crashed head-on to another car, killing sisters Kelli and Jessica Uhl and injuring Kelly and Christine Marler, of Fayetteville. Mitchell sustained severe injuries to his leg.
Mitchell was suspended with pay for two years on his $68,000 annual salary. After pleading guilty to criminal charges, Mitchell resigned from the state police. His guilty plea landed him 30 months probation.
09-23-10, 10:11 AM
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If he get's the workman's comp settlement he's hoping for I hope that family goes after every penny he has in a civil wrongful death suit.
09-23-10, 10:13 AM
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what does this have to do with cycling?
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
09-23-10, 10:37 AM
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And because the punishment seems incredibly minor given the crime. Which is something to remember. It's not just when cyclists die that the punishments are pathetic.
And because the punishment seems incredibly minor given the crime. Which is something to remember. It's not just when cyclists die that the punishments are pathetic.
09-23-10, 10:51 AM
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Isn't this negligent homicide?
I just can't believe he isn't doing any time for this. Any "regular" citizen would.
This is outrageous!
I just can't believe he isn't doing any time for this. Any "regular" citizen would.
This is outrageous!
09-23-10, 10:53 AM
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09-23-10, 10:53 AM
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Oh please. This is one reason people don't take cyclists seriously.
Definitions of murder on the Web:
Definitions of murder on the Web:
- kill intentionally and with premeditation; "The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered"
- unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn - Murder, as defined in common law countries, is the unlawful killing of another human being with intent (or malice aforethought), and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide (such as manslaughter). ...
09-23-10, 10:58 AM
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126mph is well above any posted speed limit, so that's reckless driving in itself. The driver is a state trooper and he decides it's a good idea to text at this speed - really??!!
He definitely should've known better. I say charge him with involuntary manslaughter x2.
09-23-10, 11:03 AM
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Oh please. This is one reason people don't take cyclists seriously.
Definitions of murder on the Web:
Definitions of murder on the Web:
- kill intentionally and with premeditation; "The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered"
- unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn - Murder, as defined in common law countries, is the unlawful killing of another human being with intent (or malice aforethought), and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide (such as manslaughter). ...
Doing 126 mph while essentially blind is about as premeditated as it gets. I personally KNOW that driving at that speed while not watching is going to kill someone.
09-23-10, 11:04 AM
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09-23-10, 11:06 AM
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Faster but still slow
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It is like saying one isn't culpable for arson because they didn't intend for a fire to happen even though they spread 80 gallons of gasoline on your house and tossed a molotove cocktail into your living room.
09-23-10, 11:10 AM
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Thanks for reminding us to watch the road when driving fast.
09-23-10, 11:13 AM
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Hah, apparently over-confidence is a big problem among those who have had addition driver training(handling aspects only). Paradoxically, it leads them to take more risks because they feel more "in control" and confident.
09-23-10, 11:16 AM
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Either that....or they know they will not be held acountable for their reckless actions no matter how reckless or how significant the impact to others.
09-23-10, 11:19 AM
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It's not murder, which is why he wasn't charged or convicted for murder.
09-23-10, 11:24 AM
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aka Phil Jungels
He doesn't need compensation - we are PAYING him while he is on "suspension........." GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!
09-23-10, 12:51 PM
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That would be something more like "reckless endangerment," "negligence" and/or "involuntary manslaughter." Now, if you knew that a particular individual would be on the other side of the freeway and timed it just right to take them out, instead of some other driver ... that would be premeditated. But nobody thinks that's what happened.
09-23-10, 12:58 PM
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aka Phil Jungels
09-23-10, 01:15 PM
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That would be something more like "reckless endangerment," "negligence" and/or "involuntary manslaughter." Now, if you knew that a particular individual would be on the other side of the freeway and timed it just right to take them out, instead of some other driver ... that would be premeditated. But nobody thinks that's what happened.