bmike

Was this realted to Sydney?

Link

Serpico

yeah, I think that was his name Jim Price

thanks for posting

Juha

Yes.

rebaths

Wow 9 days in jail for murder? I guess if you ever wanted to kill someone, you should just wait until they are riding their bike then run 'em off the road... the justice system would practically congratulate you for your good aim!

Reynolds 

That was not murder.

badkarma

The kid showed incredible remorse. He made a mistake when he was 16, should he sit in jail for 20 years because of that?

The sentence was pretty broad, I believe he had to go to drivers' ed classes or schools and talk about what he did and the ramifications of it in addition to what was already stated. There was a thread about the sentence he received a while back (my search didn't turn it up, but maybe someone else can find it); the family of Jim agreed with the sentence set down, so as long as they're fine with it, so am I.

Jared88

+1. Imagine the guilt the teen has to go through for the rest of his life.

badkarma

FWIW, here's the sentence

cydewaze

I think rebaths's point is that there aren't many other ways that you can basically get off free for killing someone. If you "made a mistake" and drove drunk, you would likely get a stiffer sentence than the above, even without hurting anyone. If you "made a mistake" and drove 80 through a neighborhood and struck a kid crossing the street, I doubt people would care how remorseful you were.

I think the point is that there are multiple standards, and it just so happens that when a bicycle is involved, the standard applied is the most lenient one possible. I'm sure that in the above case, the sentence was appropriate for all involved, but we're all sick of seeing cyclists killed and the driver getting a slap on the wrist.

Reynolds 

I've been at both sides (almost).
As a cyclist, nearly got killed a couple of times by reckless drivers.
But, as a teen driver, long long ago, I could have killed someone myself too. Luckily i never hit anyone. But I shudder to think of what might have happened...

Second Mouse

One of the differences here is that driving drunk and driving 80 through a neighborhood are both illegal. I don't believe text messaging while you're driving is illegal in Colorado. I could be wrong about the illegality in Colorado part, though.

This isn't meant, in any way, to diminish what happened to sydney. And it would probably be a real good idea to make talking on the phone and text messaging while driving illegal everywhere. It's just an explanation for a more lenient sentence than might have been imposed otherwise.

operator

And then you realize all they have to do is find a motive or any casual connection between you and the victim and you go to pound me in the ass federal prison.

Stop harping this line, it ain't true.

Mariner Fan

I've traveled outside the US and was amazed how aggressive the drivers were. I thought I would see multiple accidents daily.
The difference in the drivers there and here is that they pay attention! Dr Pete mentioned that he would be more comfortable riding in Europe than here because the drivers are aware of their surroundings. I agree.

cydewaze

I guess that's a valid point.

cyclintom

Right, he was just doing the victim and his family a favor by driving a dangerous vehicle and not caring where it went.

Sick people such as yourself look the other way while 40,000 people die every year from these sorts of "accidents". That's 110 every day. Then the headlines scream that 100 people were killed in Iraq as if that is somehow far more important than the million murdered under the wheels of private vehicles in this country.

This is a society that is making ancient Rome look like a friendly Bar-B-Que among neighbors.

Reynolds 

He did wrong. He killed someone. He was irresponsible. He must be corrected. But he's not a murderer in my book.

badkarma

It was vehicular manslaugher. The driver had no intent to kill. Was he negligent by using his mobile while driving, you bet - but he had no intent to kill. He made a mistake, and he'll have to live with that for the rest of his life. Hopefully, by the driver educating others as to the dangers of mobile phones and driving, there'll be a decline in these sorts of accidents - but I'm sure that's just wishful thinking.

People need to pay attention while driving, that's the bottom line.

JackTheLadd

With all due respect, it wasn't a murder. Murder is defined by the intent to kill, and nobody has ever suggested that the driver intended to kill Jim Price.

I'm not arguing with you at all about the disconnect in society between how some deaths are viewed (i.e. many traffic-related deaths), and others (such as shooting deaths, or terrorism-related deaths). Society currently chooses to effectively ignore the cost of one type of death, but panic about the other, even when the numbers suggest we should be doing otherwise.

cuda2k

We're now less than a month away from the 1 year anniversary of sydeny's death (note no captail 's', thats the way he preferred it). I was one of the first people here on BikeForums who was able to confirm that Jim Price was sydney. It was a very unreal weekend and several weeks following. There are still two stickies in the Mechanics forum dedicated to sydney.

As for the murder debate - Jack has it right. It's not murder. What the young man did was irresponsable, but not illegal and he never intended to hurt anyone. It was a momentary lapse of attention and judgement for which he is paying dearly every day. And no doubt he will pay for it every day of the rest of his life. Long after his community service and probation is over, he will still live with the fact he took another man's life. The family of Jim Price said they did not want the driver locked up for years as there had already been enough lives ruined by the event. For those who express the level of genuine regret that this individual did for his actions - community service is often the best course of action in my opinion. To spread the word to as many people as possible so future lives can be saved. Much better use of his time than sitting in a jail cell living off tax payer money.

Reynolds 

+1

WCroadie

If Jim's family is find with the sentence then that is what matters. I doubt I would be if that kid killed my family member. We all did stupid things when we were teens and some still do but if you kill someone you should pay dearly. I think using cell phones while driving should be illegal! Too many jacka$$e$ chatting it up while driving and not paying attention. I really don't know what is so important that you gotta use the phone while driving. I could go on and on but won't.

RIP sydney.

rapidcarbon

he should be banned from using phone, pager AND driving for at least 10 years and that's still better than spending 1 month in jail.

cyccommute 

Would we be a better society if we were to kill 80,000 per year? Let's call all traffic accidents murder and then put to death the people responsible. Perhaps in colliseums with lions and charge admission. Would that be any better? Are you willing to bet your life that you are a better driver than anyone else on the road?

Some people on these forums have an inability to put themselves in other's shoes. Would you want to stand before a judge and fight for your life if you make a mistake? Have you never drifted out of your lane? Never run off the road? Never had a close call? Are you willing to bet that it will never happen in the future? Most people have driven a car in their lives and they have made mistakes. Should we punish them as harshly as we possibly can, never mind that pesky Bill of Rights stuff.

I've been as close to being in this kid's shoes as I ever want to be. Not a day goes by that I don't have images pop into my head from my accident. Not a day goes by that I don't think about the woman I injured. Not a day goes by that I don't have problems driving by the intersection where the accident occured or past her house.

You, and others like you, don't want justice. You want vengence! Blood for blood! No mercy, no quarter. But what if you are the one standing accused? Would you still scream for blood, vengence and no quarter?

Would you really?

Bobby Lex

All killing is not murder, you simpletons!



Bob

El Diablo Rojo

+1? Imagine the pain Jim's wife and children have to live with. Imagine the pain of not having a the person you love with you for the rest of your life. Imagine the pain of his daughters not having their father there for the big events. Their wedding, their grandchildren. Life if full of consequences and if you can take the responsibility of driving a car then you have to take the responsibility when you kill someone with it. In my eyes text messaging while driving is no less reckless than drinking and driving. This kid got off scot free, no matter how bad he feels.