The guy who killed a friend of mine got sentenced today...

[YellowRubberDuckie]

Here's what happened. Krystle and three friends were driving home from Stillwater, OK, after a BBQ/concert thing. They were headed toward I-35 on a four lane state highway. About that time a drunk guy gets on going the wrong way, without his headlights on. A few minutes later, the bastard hits them head on. They never saw it coming until it was too late. Krystle was killed instantly. The three friends she had in her car were critically injured, but all survived with various long lasting physical effects, not even mentioning the emotional hardships of watching your friend die.

Today the guy that hit them received a sentence of 15 years, 3 1/2 in jail, 11 on parole/probation, 6 months already served. Krystle's family was happy with the outcome. They were happy he at least got some jail time. I don't think it's enough. He is a spoiled brat rich kid who had been arrested a few weeks earlier for public intoxication. If he hadn't been out that night, she'd still be alive. It is such a waste that a bright girl who was going to help so many kids was killed at 19. And this little bastard who cared more about himself than anyone else gets 15 years under DOC supervision? Am I supposed to be happy about this? I'm pissed.

Thanks for listening to me rant. Oh, and they showed the crash pictures I'd been avoiding tonight on the news. It was not easy.
Duckie

[southerngirlwriter]

1. I'm sorry that you lost your friend.

Our justice system is screwed. There are people in my state serving longer than that for possession of pot.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

3. Thanks.

It happened in 2002, and she was a very sweet, loved girl...
Duckie

[southerngirlwriter]

5. Grief can be sooooo hard.

I really hope this gives you at least some closure, if not some peace.

I've lost a lot of people in my life. Suicide is the worst way to lose someone, but a sudden, senseless death like this is almost as hard. There's nowhere to go with it. In some ways it's worse than suicide. When someone wants to die, and then they do, you can at least be hopeful that they've found relief from their demons, wherever they are.

A bright future, a young, vibrant girl with everything to live for -- it's just awful. I will pray for you and for her family to find peace.

[KCDem]

2. Really sorry to hear that, Duckie

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and Krystle's family and other friends.

:hug:

[HEyHEY]

4. Duckie - it's a hell of a lot better than here

Alot of drunks who kill in Canada only get four years.

SOrry about your friend. I hope you never forget her voice.

[NC_Nurse]

6. I'm so sorry

to hear about your friend. :-(
Here's some love for you!:hug:

[madmax]

7. Sorry for your loss Duckie

We're all here for you lovey - :hug:

[liberalhistorian]

8. I'm so sorry about your friend, Duckie,

that has to be just awful to have to deal with. It does seem to be so unfair as to make you want to scream and throw things all the time, I'm sure.

I certainly understand your anger and frustration. At the risk of sounding insensitive, though, may I say that his sentence was much tougher than what the little fucker would have gotten around where I am?

A friend of mine lost her sister to a woman who'd been drinking and smoking pot ALL FUCKING DAY before she decided to get behind the wheel of her truck and hit my friend's sister who was walking home after a birthday party. She knocked her clear into another yard, then just drove off, not even stopping at all, not even to make an anonymous call that someone had been hit and needed help.

They caught her a few days later after her boyfriend saw the front of her truck and turned her in. So what did she get, after needlessly taking the life of an 18-year-old who'd gotten a scholarship to college, the first one in her family to go, and who was going to be a teacher? Seven years, the first four suspended, with a year on probation. THAT WAS IT!

And that's the way it is around here, we have people who've been arrested multiple times for DUI, they get a slap on the wrist, and bam, they're off driving again. It makes me so angry I can hardly see straight!

Again, I'm sorry, Duckie, the pain will never entirely go away, but it will get better, promise!

[KissMyAsscroft]

9. Im sorry to hear about your loss...

And I know that the sentence seems light, but I assure you that the amount of prison time that he will serve is going to ruin his life. 11 years of probation realy does eliminate your freedom. I know it doesn't seem that way, but I assure you it will be rough.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

10. Thanks guys for your comments...

If we had Drunk driving laws like they have over in Europe, we'd be devoid of this crap. Over there, you get caught once driving drunk, and you can never drive again, you lose your car and there's nothing you can do about. We need that here!
Duckie

[pintobean]

12. My prayers are with you

and all that knew her. Assholes like that usually violate their parole and end up back in prison.
If I was in a situation like that, I'd throw him a party when he got out. After he's good and shit faced, give him the keys to a car with one headlight and no tail lights. A willing cop waiting down the street and we have a parole violation.

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Am so sorry he didn't get more time. Will be praying 4 you.

*hugs*

[argyl]

13. That's a travesty.This guy should be looking at 15 to 20 years hard time.

Maybe parole after 12 if he's been a model prisoner and has shown genuine remorse over his awful crime.
Being a problem drinker/alcoholic is not a mitigating factor in this case.He may have had no control over his actions when he was drunk behind the wheel but but he did have a choice to stay sober or get drunk,drive,and subsequently kill someone.
My condolences.

[MrSlayer]

14. Dude should be in the chair, riding the lightning.

I have no tolerance for drunk drivers.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

15. 4 years in jail WOULD be okay IF...

...he WAS FORBIDDEN FROM DRIVING FOR LIFE!!!

For good measure, I'd forbid him from even sitting on the passenger seat. Back to the slammer if he does.

Who's with me?

Edit: spelling. And grammar. And another thing: get MONEY from the bastard. As much as possible. And make him work while he's getting to know Bubba.

[Love Bug]

16. I'm sorry for your loss

As meager as this sentance is, the laws are better than they used to be. In 1981 my 21 year old cousin and his best friend were killed by a drunk driver and THEY DIDN'T EVEN ARREST THE GUY. There just were no laws in place at that time to deal with this. My aunt and uncle got involved in MADD after that.

3 years in jail? We still have a long ways to go.