No charges against 75-year-old driver in Altamonte Springs double-fatal crash

[Baitball Blogger]

Is this another Florida Story? Woman causes accident that kills two people. No charges will be filed
I don't know if it's a coinky-dinky but, based on the last name, there may be family members in the inner circles.


No charges against 75-year-old driver in Altamonte Springs double-fatal crash

Cynthia Guthrie was headed to a doctor's appointment in October after she had slipped and fallen.

But while driving there, the 75-year-old former teacher failed to slow down as she approached a red light at an Altamonte Springs intersection, killing an infant and father in the car ahead of hers and causing a multivehicle chain reaction.

She will not face criminal charges for causing the seven-vehicle crash near state roads 434 and 436, the Brevard-Seminole State Attorney's Office announced Thursday.

<snip>

In a letter sent to the Altamonte Springs Police Department, State Attorney Phil Archer said charging Guthrie with manslaughter or vehicular homicide wasn't appropriate.

Her driving may have been careless, but it didn't meet the legal burden for proving the crimes — reckless disregard for safety or human life.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-cynthia-guthrie-fatal-altamonte-crash-20160107-story.html

[hollysmom]

1. A lot of times older people don't get charged if the voluntarily give up their licenses.

My mother had a stroke and crashed her car - no one was hurt, but she did not even get a ticket, just gave up her license.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. "No one was hurt."

Not exactly the same set of circumstances. In your case, it would be understandable if they paid for the damage they committed and surrendered their license.

[niyad]

5. in this case, two people are DEAD, and a third is still suffering from amnesia. not quite

the same thing.

[hollysmom]

7. I realize that, but it happens up here when some older person, i.e. my age, hits the gas instead

of the brakes. If you are old around here, most people feel it is not worth the prosecution and possible incarceration of an older person with their health issues, just yank the license. Not saying it is right or wrong, just what is. There is a mandatory eye test though when you get older.
As far as my mother, she is lucky she did not kill anyone, she was 82. The stroke was a precursor to future strokes. She wiped out about 100 feet of cars, luckily no one was near them, could have wiped out a bunch of school kids for all she knew. She was devastated, but still did not want to give up her car. I hired someone to drive her an hour a day and was lucky to find that woman.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. However, I wonder if they have made it more difficult to succeed with a Civil lawsuit because

the State Attorney's Office gave them a pass?

[Human101948]

3. The fact that she rammed a car at a stoplight proves she was unfit to drive...

No evidence of mechanical failure. What excuse is there for this?

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Let's just say, that because this came from the same State Attorneys Office that

handled the Zimmerman case, I think it warrants some debate.

[niyad]

6. from what I read here, she did more than fail to stop. sounds like she was speeding:

The crash left Jose Vargas Rosario and his 1-year-old son, Brayden Vargas, dead at the scene. They were riding in the car with Ivelisse Martinez, 27, who has suffered from amnesia ever since Guthrie's Crown Victoria barreled into their stopped car, breaking through the back window.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. I hope their family members help her and hire a great lawyer for her.

Just to be safe, it's best to get one from out of the area, in case there are hidden local political firewalls to overcome.

[niyad]

10. you make a most excellent point.

[DI Freighter Watcher]

11. Privilege

Driving is a privilege not a right. Senior citizens need to get this fact. If the driver was 16 would they not charge them with reckless driving at a minimum. I have instructed my kids to take my car when I can no longer respond as I should. I will not let my stubborn pride be the reason some innocent person dies. If only seniors could just see it is about public safety not their rights.