Horrible drunk driving accident in Ohio

[Thomas Veil]

Maybe it's because this happened in Toledo, which I've driven through, in Ohio, where I live.

Maybe it's because the accident was so horrifying -- check out the picture; read about the four little kids killed.

Maybe it's just that I'm an old fogey and I want all of you, of us, to think about this the next time we've had a few too many.

But this is just sickening:

Police: Drunken driver kills woman, 4 children

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) -- A drunken driver went about four miles down a highway in the wrong direction before his pickup truck slammed into a minivan, killing a woman and four children and injuring three others, police said Monday.

Michael Gagnon, 24, drove north in the southbound lane of Interstate 280 late Sunday, colliding with the minivan and leaving scattered toys, stuffed animals and bits of gift wrap along the edge of the road, Toledo police said.

An 8-week-old girl was among those killed.

Gagnon had a blood-alcohol level of .254 after the crash, more than three times Ohio's legal limit of .08, police said. He was charged Monday with aggravated vehicular homicide.

Gagnon's brother, Samuel Gagnon, told The (Baltimore) Sun they had been drinking at a hotel Sunday night and that his brother left in the truck without telling anyone before their sister arrived to drive them home.

Samuel Gagnon declined comment to The Associated Press.

Michael Gagnon stopped at a fast-food restaurant just before the crash. Workers called to alert police, but Gagnon left before an officer arrived, said Lt. Hank Everitt of the Oregon Police Department. Soon after, a 911 call came in about a driver going the wrong way on the interstate, he said. Other drivers also alerted police before the crash, he said.

Danny Griffin Jr., the minivan's driver, was rounding a curve when the minivan and the truck collided, said Ron Spann, a deputy chief with Toledo police.

"I can't imagine the shock when he saw that truck," Spann said.

Both drivers tried to avoid each other, but the crash ripped a side door off the minivan, throwing out some of the victims, police said.

Bethany Griffin, 36, Jordan Griffin, 10, Vadi Griffin, 8 weeks, Lacie Burkman, 7, and Haley Burkman, 10, were killed, according to police. All are from Parkville, Maryland.

Three others who were in the minivan were taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center. Griffin, 36, was in serious condition, while Sidney Griffin, 8, was in critical condition, a hospital spokeswoman said. Beu Burkman, 8, was released late Monday.

All eight had been visiting family in Michigan and were returning to Maryland.

Gagnon was taken to a hospital with an injured jaw and remained there Monday afternoon, Spann said. He will be taken to jail when he is released from the hospital, Spann said.

 

[FJ218700]

when he gets out of the hospital, that a**hole should be used as a crash test dummy for about a week straight until he goes to jail.

 

[eRondeau]

That is so tragic. I feel for the families of those involved, but I also feel terrible for the police officers who were obviously well-aware of the danger this drunk driver posed but were unable to stop him in time. That's a case where another minute or two might have made all the difference.

There was a similar tragedy in a city near me just a month ago, where a drunk driver crossed to the wrong side of the road and smashed into an oncoming car killing four elderly women. They were returning home from a church supper.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=ca4e9841-621f-4626-833f-0a6b5e0bad8e

 

[iTeen]

a whole family killed because some ******* decided that he should drink and drive.my god this makes me soo mad. he should be in jail for the rest of his life.

 

[Over Achiever]

Yikes, I currently live in Toledo, and it's very scary to hear about it on roads I've traveled on. Makes life seem that much more tenuous.

My thoughts go out to the family of the victims =(

EDIT: Here's a local version of the story:
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=7559419

 

[psycoswimmer]

I really feel for the family that was injured. It always seems like the victims are the worst hurt / killed, while the drunk driver gets off with a scratch.

However, by reading the article, it seems like the side door of the minivan was ripped off, and the people went flying out. I'm not trying to add insult to injury, but were the children wearing seatbelts? If they weren't, it makes you wonder if they would still be living right now if they had been.

 

[Over Achiever]

However, by reading the article, it seems like the side door of the minivan was ripped off, and the people went flying out. I'm not trying to add insult to injury, but were the children wearing seatbelts? If they weren't, it makes you wonder if they would still be living right now if they had been.

I remember somewhere in the story that they said some did wear seatbelts, as the chair was ejected as well as the passenger. But I'm sure some didn't wear their seatbelts, as it was a Chevy Astro, and I'm sure people weren't all sitting facing front. Was it a road trip?

The two vehicles struck nearly head-on. Both vehicles had tried to swerve out of the way of the other. The heavier Ford truck sheared off the passenger-side doors of the van. Several passengers on the passenger side were ejected from the van. It appears at least some of the van passengers were wearing seat belts as both the passenger and the seat were ejected.

 

[Thomas Veil]

I'm not sure seat belts would've made much of a difference. Look at the photo again. Half the car is gone.

 

[PlaceofDis]

such a tragedy. always makes me sad when i hear these stories

 

[valdore]

Sure would be nice to just launch a bullet between the eyes of the POS SOB who did this.

 

[chris200x9]

This is one more reason I believe EVERYONE should have a gun at all times, a drunk guy pulls up to your window at a fast food place you shoot him.

 

[Thomas Veil]

This is one more reason I believe EVERYONE should have a gun at all times, a drunk guy pulls up to your window at a fast food place you shoot him.

Assuming you're even serious, let's not go in that direction. We'll end up in the PRSI forum.

 

[d_and_n5000]

Ugh.

Stupid people.

Hopefully this guy's able to get help, 'cause obviously he's got a hell of a problem.

 

[furcalchick]

when drunk driving is involved, it's not an accident. i've always had this saying, you drive, you die. dopes like this make me scared sometimes to get on the road at all, thinking that i'll die at the hands of drunken idiots. that's not how i want to be remembered.

stories like this make me depressed and think it's all my fault. so sad.

 

[klymr]

My sister-in-laws father was killed by a drunk driver just over 4 years ago this last November. The b*****d already had 4-5 DUI's and was driving a company vehicle. He was NOT supposed to be driving the company truck because he had no license and all the convictions.

The guy crossed the median at the last second and took off the whole side of the car killing her father instantly. I think they said they figured the guy was going like 75 when he her fathers car going about 50. His story was there was a moose in his lane and he had to swerve to miss it. I think he got put in jail with a $1000 bail. Who let's someone back on the street after being caught drunk behind the wheel that many times?!


It's a tragedy to hear about these accidents. It's a little more personal when you know someone who has been affected by an accident like this though.

 

[ntrigue]

An eye for an eye. Kill him 5 times over.

 

[iTeen]

An eye for an eye. Kill him 5 times over.

if only
we had a similar accident here in Washington a while back, a man was DUI, and hit and killed 6 children and the mother. the guy who was drunk was the one who survived. sometimes i hate this world

 

[sushi]

Sad story indeed.

Not sure what the answer is with drunk drivers. Many who have accidents have been caught DUI before. Stiffer penalties might help as a deterrence.

Man this is so sad...

 

[Dakotafan]

That's horrible. The DUI laws are not harsh enough. I read somewhere a guy was arrested for like the 14th DUI offense.

These people are putting lives in jeopardy and are only getting a slap on the wrist when caught.

 

[Naimfan]

Maybe it's because the accident was so horrifying -- check out the picture; read about the four little kids killed.

Maybe it's just that I want all of us to think about this the next time we've had ANY.

This is just sickening:

Yep. ANY is too much if you're going to drive.

Who let's someone back on the street after being caught drunk behind the wheel that many times?!

If you really want to know, it is the legislature, which defines the level of punishment for crimes, as well as deciding how to categorize the level of a crime. Personally, I'd say that after some number of DUI's you just get "all day and all night," which means life without the possibility of parole. And the death penalty should be on the table for someone who has multiple DUI convictions and kills someone while DUI.

 

[vixapphire]

if only
we had a similar accident here in Washington a while back, a man was DUI, and hit and killed 6 children and the mother. the guy who was drunk was the one who survived. sometimes i hate this world

maybe there's some redeeming feature here in that the drunk guy gets to spend the rest of his life (hopefully in the klink) thinking about what he did.

what about the dad (driver of the minivan)? having just spent christmas with his family and driving back home with the car full of gifts, in a split second he has just lost his wife and four kids! i can't begin to appreciate the depth of grief and sorrow that'll mark the rest of his life. with a wife and kid of my own (and a love of going on road trips), it's very difficult to read things like this.

 

[dmw007]

Truly terrible!

 

[dextertangocci]

It's disgusting how someone can have no consideration for not only his life, but all the others on the road

 

[Iscariot]

Yep. ANY is too much if you're going to drive.



If you really want to know, it is the legislature, which defines the level of punishment for crimes, as well as deciding how to categorize the level of a crime. Personally, I'd say that after some number of DUI's you just get "all day and all night," which means life without the possibility of parole. And the death penalty should be on the table for someone who has multiple DUI convictions and kills someone while DUI.

What is stopping drunk driving from being punished on the level that many (including myself) feel that it should be? Strength of the alcohol lobby?

Where I'm from drunk driving is as common as drinking. I can't think of anyone I know in my folks home town who doesn't have at least one DUI.

 

[drewyboy]

Same thing happened here in Minneapolis,MN. A sheriff had his wife along doing a ride along on his shift new years eve.. and well they were able to bring the new years together. Anywho... 3am rolls around and the same thing happens, a drunk driver was in the wrong lane on a highway and smashed into his patrol car and killed his wife. What a way to end a new years.

This country's driving laws are ****. I dont swear often but I am pissed. In europe...correct me if i'm wrong, it is a lot more expensive to get a license and after a few offenses your license is taken away. There recently was a law passed in europe stating that if your caught talking on your cell phone while driving you are put in jail for 2 years... no questions. That's how it should be over here.