Four students killed in N.C. car [RX-8] accident
#76
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Originally Posted by icyur2
I would raise hell on why the @#$ was the driver going that fast on an exit, AND had previous car accidents (due to speed?) before that.
As for too many bad parents in this world, I don't think thats true. I think there are just as many "good" parents as there are "bad" parents, you just don't hear about good parents kids on the news anymore. When Johnny graduates high school with a 4.0 and goes on to become someone great, he doesn't make headlines. When Johnny kills 3 of his friends while speeding, not only does it make the headlines, but it automatically somehow implies his parents don't care? That's just crap.
#77
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Originally Posted by djseto
RX-8, Ford Focus, or Volvo...it doesnt matter. The driver was doing over 100mph on an exit ramp and was pushing the laws of physics to the limit. If this happened and he was driving an uber safe Volvo, would we say, " damn those parents for buying him a volvo"? No. Did him having an RX-8 give him a false sense of security that he could do 100+mph, *maybe*.
Originally Posted by djseto
I bet there isnt one person on this forum who hasnt pushed their 8 just a little more than they should have. Whether that means taking an exit ramp a little faster or speeding just a little more than usual, we've all done it. Anyone who claims they haven't is a liar. You don't buy an 8 and drive it like a sedan 100% of the time, if you did, then you wouldn't appreciate what makes an 8 an 8.
#78
Time to speak/write again...
My first post in this thread was a protest to the conviction and subsequent application of the death penalty to these 4 young adults. I think the driver of the car is at fault in the accident and the possibility of a seizure or something outside his control is remote. His past driving record certainly indicates a tendency to make bad driving decisions. So, I am not standing up for his actions.
I was upset and remain upset at someone saying he and his friends deserved to die and that the gene pool is now better off without him. What kind of a world do we live in that we can coldly say that this was an equitable doling out of punishment for the crime committed?
Thankfully, my life has not been touched with any tragedy like this and I hope I never experience it. I have 2 daughters that won't be driving for several more years. When they start, I will pay for a teen driving school. If they like speed, I will take them to HPDEs so they learn what a car can and can't do. We talk daily about being aware of who they are with and making decisions for themselves and not succumbing to peer pressure. I don't think I am an exceptional parent or the most compassionate person in the world. Instead I tend to jump to conclusions and act judgemental. That said, I still am appalled that people can look at this accident and say it served the kids right. I am appalled that people can say the parents got their punishment for doing a bad job raising their son. If the punishment for speeding and bad parenting (if that is indeed the cause) is death what the hell do you do for an encore?
My first post in this thread was a protest to the conviction and subsequent application of the death penalty to these 4 young adults. I think the driver of the car is at fault in the accident and the possibility of a seizure or something outside his control is remote. His past driving record certainly indicates a tendency to make bad driving decisions. So, I am not standing up for his actions.
I was upset and remain upset at someone saying he and his friends deserved to die and that the gene pool is now better off without him. What kind of a world do we live in that we can coldly say that this was an equitable doling out of punishment for the crime committed?
Thankfully, my life has not been touched with any tragedy like this and I hope I never experience it. I have 2 daughters that won't be driving for several more years. When they start, I will pay for a teen driving school. If they like speed, I will take them to HPDEs so they learn what a car can and can't do. We talk daily about being aware of who they are with and making decisions for themselves and not succumbing to peer pressure. I don't think I am an exceptional parent or the most compassionate person in the world. Instead I tend to jump to conclusions and act judgemental. That said, I still am appalled that people can look at this accident and say it served the kids right. I am appalled that people can say the parents got their punishment for doing a bad job raising their son. If the punishment for speeding and bad parenting (if that is indeed the cause) is death what the hell do you do for an encore?
#79
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Originally Posted by expo1
So Mazda should design their cars to survive 50' drops at 100 MPH???
I guess given the extreme speed and impacts in the previously mentioned crashes, fire isn't that unusual.
#80
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Originally Posted by TrackAddict
I was upset and remain upset at someone saying he and his friends deserved to die and that the gene pool is now better off without him. What kind of a world do we live in that we can coldly say that this was an equitable doling out of punishment for the crime committed?
It is NOT punishment. No one DESERVES anything. Ever.
Their death was the consequence of their actions. The gene pool is not "better", just simplified.
Why do people think anyone "deserves" anything? No one is entitled to anything, positive or negative. There are just consequences and results. Some are equitable and others are not.
Your only value and reward as a human being are your contributions to those you can affect directly.
These kids made none and neither did their parents in rearing them.
Even if the kid cured cancer on the way out the door for this victory drive, the value of the consequence is the same and has nothing to do with being deserving or not.
Death doesn't care and neither does life.
Only those that are benefactors of one's good name can speak of one's value.
To the rest you are just protein.
#81
He's as bad as Can
Originally Posted by djseto
I bet there isnt one person on this forum who hasnt pushed their 8 just a little more than they should have. Whether that means taking an exit ramp a little faster or speeding just a little more than usual, we've all done it. Anyone who claims they haven't is a liar. You don't buy an 8 and drive it like a sedan 100% of the time, if you did, then you wouldn't appreciate what makes an 8 an 8. I am not saying we should all go out and drive like its an F1 car, but if you seriously think you drive your 8 like any other car, then you clearly got the wrong car.
#82
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Well at least he went out in style. I hate running into an old persons home with all his gadgets that are keeping him alive, and for what. Old mans house looks like a car shop lol. Old man dead on the ****'r or eating his oatmeal sunday morning. BORING if you ask me. I see alot of boring deaths all the time(fire fighter). at least sparky and his buds went out in a ball flames, so great that we are all talking about it. But no ones talking about old man. Whats the big deal about death that has you guys all cry "be nice be nice" I have had best friends burn in front of me. Big deal, life happens. Dont cry about it. They go to heaven or hell so it's not like their lives are over, The real **** has just begone for these kids. They are lucky if you ask me to go out like stars
#83
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Originally Posted by expo1
Being 39 those moments are mostly limited to the track. The rare times I do push it on the street I am the only one in the car. If you have passengers in the car you need to realize you do have some responsibility for their safety. If the driver had has much compassion for others as some of the posters here do this would have never happened. Taking an off ramp at 100 is stupid; taking it at 100 with passengers is criminal.
#84
Sorry, did not read the story, just from glancing over thread..so..if the other accidents were what DJ stated, all of us at one time or another made bad decisions..that being said, granted, you don't hear much about the "good" parents, but with the work menality of parents now-a-days (aka both parents working), the kids are put in the rear seats..the parents might care, but sometimes are overburden with the work/life, etc. that they don't take the time to if not teach, but put values into their kid(s)..in this case, we can assume all we want..what matters is that the driver made a fatal decision that not only killed 3 innocent passengers, but had the potential on taking out others along the way..whether the parents had anything to contribute to this..I don't know..so I do apologize for "assuming." Suffice to say, whether in a sedan or a sports car, for a driver to choose to speed over 100mph at an exit is irresponsible. But, like what I said, the parents now have to live through his fatal choice and wonder if they could of help changed this unfortunate outcome..
#85
Correction, irresponsible isn't the word for this situation..like Expo1 said, it is "criminal." When you are putting other people at danger for your stupidity, you consciously chose to commit to an action that could lead to multiple deaths..in this case, they were the 3 innocent passengers who could not control the outcome...surprised that there weren't other casualties...
#86
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Wow. Just got my 8 a week ago, then went on vacation, and returned to N. Carolina to hear about this tragedy from my next door neighbor. What a sad, sad loss. The local TV news reported last night that there was evidence that alcohol was involved. The only good thing to come out of this is that it may serve as an example for other teens- and their parents.
#87
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I looked at picture in the link to one of the articles. It actually looks like the exit wasnt a typical 20-35mph exit ramp like most of us normally see. For those of you in Atlanta, it looks almost like the onramp to 285 from 85N at Spaghetti Junction. For those of you not, it looks like a 2-3 lane exit ramp from one highway onto another that doesnt have a tight , decreasing radius path, but more of an onramp/overpass thing. Anyone from that area know?
#88
He's as bad as Can
http://www.nbc17.com/news/7755693/detail.html with a video of the overpass and RX-8
#89
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Originally Posted by djseto
I looked at picture in the link to one of the articles. It actually looks like the exit wasnt a typical 20-35mph exit ramp like most of us normally see. For those of you in Atlanta, it looks almost like the onramp to 285 from 85N at Spaghetti Junction. For those of you not, it looks like a 2-3 lane exit ramp from one highway onto another that doesnt have a tight , decreasing radius path, but more of an onramp/overpass thing. Anyone from that area know?
Last edited by SilverEIGHT; 03-07-2006 at 01:33 PM. Reason: Added quote from djseto
#91
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DrKillJoY... as far as I'm concerned, your started (reported) one of the most important threads that has been on this forum in quite some time. It's threads like these that make people think, change their ways, alter their driving and hopefully teach some a little humility. Thanks!
#92
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I just saw a news report on ABC 11, police now say the teens may have been drinking prior to the incident. I still feel for the families but now to have live the fact that their child may have been drunk at the time also adds to their pain. It's just another sad statistic to chalk up.
#93
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Originally Posted by SilverEIGHT
Very familiar with that ramp. It scares the hell out of me driving 60 MPH on a sunny day with no one around.
Watching the video of the accident, I am puzzled as to why the car, which slid some 400 ft along the guard rail barrier, suddenly got flipped into the air. The 8 is so low to the ground and has such a low center of gravity, that I can only think that while the car was grinding the wall (passenger side of the car), the driver tried to steer to much to the left to get himself off the wall, causing the car to make its way to a perpendicular angle to the direction he was travelling, therefore causing the car to roll. does that make sense to anyone? If you are familiar with motorcycle racing term, this would essentiall be a "high side" crash when going through a corner. Does anyone think maybe he was going so fast that when the DSC kicked it to put him back in line, that it caused the car to flip because it was just going so fast that the DSC whipped him back into line, but the speed caused it to be unstable (again, another "high side" scenario) ?
For those of you who didnt watch the video, you should, the wreckage doesnt even resemble a car, nevermind an 8.
Last edited by djseto; 03-07-2006 at 02:31 PM.
#94
I actually was just on that road and that exit where the accident occured. Not a pretty sight...skid marks for a long ways...I feel really bad for their families and friends and especially the 4 kids. Loss of life so early to a really poor decision. Please be carefuly everyone!!
#95
Originally Posted by djseto
I looked at picture in the link to one of the articles. It actually looks like the exit wasnt a typical 20-35mph exit ramp like most of us normally see. For those of you in Atlanta, it looks almost like the onramp to 285 from 85N at Spaghetti Junction. For those of you not, it looks like a 2-3 lane exit ramp from one highway onto another that doesnt have a tight , decreasing radius path, but more of an onramp/overpass thing. Anyone from that area know?
Today, I was driving at about 60 mph over the bridge and I changed lanes to the left. I did feel the tires grab some as the g's increased but not bad. The curve does tighten up in the middle of the bridge. At over 110 mph it would be virtually impossible to make it.
#97
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Unless it was sideways for 120 ft I don't understand how a car with ABS leaves classic 120ft skid marks. I s'pose the police may have measured the ABS chatter marks left on the road. Has anyone seen the skid marks?
BTW guys, the car belonged to the drivers father. I posted a link in the Lounge thread with a report about it.
BTW guys, the car belonged to the drivers father. I posted a link in the Lounge thread with a report about it.
#98
It's tragic that a bunch of kids lost their lives in a fast car. That's not really all that new though. It happened with the old musclecars wich were far more dangerous if pushed to far. I should know. See my avitar? Thank God it's still in one peice. My parent's would not let me have it until I could buy it from them and that was after college! The really dumb part is that the drivers parents obviously thought their son needed a $30k sports car before he was ready.
#99
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Originally Posted by musclecarconvrt
The really dumb part is that the drivers parents obviously thought their son needed a $30k sports car before he was ready.
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
It was his fathers car, not his.
#100
Your right. I succumbed to pre-mature postation after reading the first page about kids dying in a car wreck. I've read ever one now. Wow there's some cold folks up in here. So, either his dad let him have the car for the evening or he "borrowed" it. However he came to be so far outside of sane judgment, It's horrible and really reminded me of how lucky I am my parents kept me on a short leash. I didn't realize I was even mortal until I hit about 24. By that time, I had a couple of good old American lead-sleds to learn on. My first car was a 66 Malibu. Yep, 2 tons of fun. It took a gallon and a half of bondo and a case of grey primer to even get it presentable (by red neck standards anyway). My second car was a much cleaner 77 Camaro with an ever so slightly more powerful 305. I managed to blow the tranny and rear end out of that car. Dad was not impressed. Thank God my guardian angel was faster than I in those days. By the time I finally did get to buy my 69 Mustang (from my mom!) I had been blessed with enough close calls and lectures from my parents to teach even my dull head that there was a line I shouldn't cross. 100+ at an off ramp with a load of friends is way way past that line. It's so sad and I feel for the parents too, but what the H were they thinking? The RX8 is by far the safest feeling car I've ever driven. You've really got to push it to be in trouble. Many (not all) teens simply do not posses enough skill or good sense to be aloud a night out on the town alone in one. Especially with prior accidents! My dad wouldn't let me near our 9.4 second drag car when I was a kid. Thank the good Lord too. I'm still here.