[Gas Man]

Article

Another Angle

Cyclist convicted in FHP trooper's death

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A motorcyclist, whose race with a sports car on Interstate 4 led to a Florida Highway Patrol trooper's fatal crash, was convicted of aggravated manslaughter by a jury on Tuesday.

Donald Williams was also convicted of vehicular homicide and fleeing and eluding a law-enforcement officer in causing the death of 49-year-old Trooper Darryl Haywood on Oct. 2, 2004. The jury deliberated for three hours, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Williams will be sentenced at a later date. He could face up to 60 years in prison.

According to reports, Williams, on his blue 1999 Suzuki, was racing a Porsche when Haywood started to pursue them. The patrol car had a blow out, causing Haywood to lose control of his vehicle and crash into a tree.

Williams was arrested later that day at an Interstate 95 rest stop in St. Johns County.

Don't get me wrong I feel very bad that a officer died but mechanical failure????

 

[fatburg]

I gotta admit I can't answer that yes or no. This kinda thing is what is causing the non-persuit laws for non-violent situations in many places which I am still not totally sure I agree with, just cause you run you go free :scratch: it's safer but is it right?

In this case depending on the persuit conditions, the blowout could have been a direct effect of driving at excessive speed, hard cornering, etc. which he would be direct cause of the persuit and not deamed simply a mechanical failure. This one could be argued both ways for a long long time.

 

[Gas Man]

Yep so a good sicussion to be had!

And what about the driver of the car?

 

[pickle.of.doom]

Do you think the cop would get 60 years in jail if he would've run down a kid while he was on that high speed pursuit?

 

[Trip]

I would investigate the maintenance practices of that police department. If they didn't regularly maintain their cars and check for potential problems, I would say it was their fault. I don't think speeders should be responsible for automobile problems of the police.

 

[Gas Man]

Both great points!

 

[fatburg]

Yep so a good sicussion to be had!

And what about the driver of the car?

good point on the car.

and as far as the cop hitting a kid, yes he would. Just recently an officer in KC got two counts of manslaughter because he t-boned a car going through intersection during a persuit.

But how far does the cause and effect reasoning go. Cause technically had the guy not run in the situation here in KC, the cop would have not been in persuit therefore not t-boned the car killing two girls. So couldn't it be said it was the original suspects fault?

I am very glad I am not in the decision making position on this one.

 

[Gas Man]

How did they catch the MC rider?

 

[JayMax]

I think it's pretty simple. As awful as it sounds, it's the officer who is at fault, if this was caused in a pursuit. Florida supposedly has a No Pursuit law, which the officer would have been breaking. Chasing an idiot who is racing isn't worth it. Get the plates, and go investigate 'em later. Use the cam. The risk involved with the guys running, the officer, and the public ( such as the KC example explained ) show it isn't worth the risk unless a major crime was involved.

 

[jeeps84]

How did they catch the MC rider?

Didn't you read your own post?
The caught him in a rest area later and identified by photo from cop car.
Whose at fault? Good question. :scratch:

 

[Gas Man]

Photo... missed that... was thinking how did they catch him....

 

[crotchmower]

I wonder if the reason they didn't go after the person in the Porsche is because they can't prove who was driving. :scratch:

 

[JayMax]

By the same token, how would they prove who rode the bike if the rider is helmeted?

If they used the cam to id the license, that would be it, unless the officer thought he had a better chance to catch the cyclist over the car.

Either way, the chase should not have happened. There are too many variables allowing it to end up badly, to make it worth the risk of catching someone just racing.

 

[Gas Man]

I think I agree... I have many family members in various aspects of law enforcement... the sargent says... "forget it...we'll catch another day..." But I have heard others, non-family, at cop BBQ's... "I just chase 'em to see if they'll crash!"

DAMN COPS!

 

[talisman_13]

Why is it the fault of the MC the cop died? Just because he was running? Had the MC crashed and died, or the Porsche driver, would the cop be charged with manslaughter? It's unfortunate of course, and it really sux for the poor guy's family, but why is it the fault of the MC because of "mechanical failure"? Had the cop been chasing the Porsche and not the "bad person riding the bike" would the tire have blown out? He shouldn't get 60 years, that's for damn sure. Maybe losing his DL for a long time...but not hard time.

 

[Homer4598]

The MC rider was charged because flight from a police officer is a crime, and one who is committing a crime is responsible if someone dies during the course of the crime (or flight from it). If they get the driver of the Porsche, I'm sure he'll get the same.

 

[Gas Man]

I would look into, as said before, the maintance records of the car and chase policy for the city and state!

 

[drewpy]

personally, shame on the mc rider, but just cuase the cop wrecked doesnt mean that its his fault

 

[Gas Man]

Yeah shame on the MC rider for getting caught and therefor being put in this position! Is that what you meant? :wink:

 

[jeeps84]

Yeah shame on the MC rider for getting caught and therefor being put in this position! Is that what you meant? :wink:

:disapp: :wink: :lol: