It is really sad that a little girl was killed as a result of a stupid street race. Her life was just in the beginning stages and now it is over. Street racing is a huge problem. Many lives are lost as a result of street racing and hit-and-run accidents. This accident is just one case of many out there. Are a few minutes, even seconds, of speeding down a road worth risking your or another person's live? I guess street racing cannot be stopped since it occurs on freeways, busy streets, remote areas, in the early hours of the morning, etc in all different places and cops cannot get to every street race. However, what is the point of it? Is it the bragging rights, thrill, or risk factor that causes people to do street racing? I think that it is so irresponsible and plain stupid. A street racer is not just risking his or her own life, but putting others in danger. Not to mention it is illegal...But those are just my thoughts. What are yours?
Monday, November 16, 2009
6 Year old Girl Killed in Street Race Crash
The San Mateo Coroner's office has identified the 6 year old girl who was killed in a street race crash Friday, as Lisa Xavier of Menlo Park. Xavier and her mother were hit by a car who ran a red light. After their car was hit, they were taken immediately to the Stanford hospital where Xavier died the next afternoon and her mother is still in grave condition. The driver of the car that ran the red light then exited his car, got into the other car involved in the street race, and sped away. The person of interest in this case is Shannon Fox, 24, of East Palo Alto, and police are still trying to locate him.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
20 comments:
Terribly unfortunate.
I don't understand why cars are even capable of speeds greater than 75 mph. It's not like anyone would ever need to go at or even above that speed. It's definately a mixture of thrill and pride misplaced that caused this unnecessary casualty. To the drivers, it's all fun and games until somebody is hurt (or dead).
Exercise even greater caution when around the roads at early in the morning or late at night.
This is such a sad news. I really wish the best for the family of the girl that passed away. I also feel it was wrong for the suspect to drive away and not take responsibility for the accident.
"I also feel it was wrong for the suspect to drive away and not take responsibility for the accident."
Well its understandable that the suspect drove away. The suspect ran a red light and killed people. I suppose it means at least thirty years in prison. (I'm not sure)But yeah I wish people would take more responsibility for their actions.
"Well its understandable that the suspect drove away. The suspect ran a red light and killed people. I suppose it means at least thirty years in prison."
The guy that ran away, Shannon Fox, is probably going to be tried for involuntary manslaughter (i think that's the term) in the case of the little girl, but I'm not sure if his sentence will change if the mother survives.
These guys race for the thrill of it; it's like that urge to go on a roller coaster, but about 20 times stronger.
http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/pdf/t560.pdf
Here's a chart that I thought might be helpful in figuring out how long this jerk might go away for.
Do you guys think that the suspect deserves more than just 30 years in prison for killing a little girl?
Don't think about the implications stemming from the question.
Well, Kevin, what are the other options? Do I think the suspect should be let off free? No, do I think the suspect deserves a death penalty? Not sure yet, etc..
Also, Kevin, cars are able to go faster than 75mph because the engine is more powerful. Here's a bit of engineering for you. An engine is more efficient at about 60% of its full power output. Also, it's more stable and gives a smoother feel if it's being used at 60$ up to 80% power. It would rattle a lot and feel as if it's trying too hard if pushed to its limits. That's engineers set, say, 60MPH as its 50% power rating.. Now, the more powerful the car, say sports cars, have stronger engines so they can go faster while still maintaining that smooth ride. That's why cars can go faster, because they have the capacity to..
And greater caution is what we would call defensive driving. =] YAY FOR DRIVER'S ED!
So if I understand what you're saying, Franklin, why can't that 60% to 80% engine usage range be set to around 65 mph? If 80% engine usage equals 65 mph, then the maximum speed attainable would be around 81.25 mph - that's a big reduction from over 100 mph.
I personally think that the suspect should be sentenced to life without parole for the reckless killing of the girl.
Let's just say this is a step in a different direction. All of your suggestions and criticism have not been ignored; keep 'em coming.
I guess I should have made myself more clear. People want more power in their engines to go faster while still maintaining the smooth ride. You will feel a huge difference when driving a Toyota at 80MPH versus a Ferrari going the same rate. The Ferrari, you'll feel like you aren't going all that fast yet in the Toyota, you'll feel the car pulling itself. Its consumer want for power.
I'm not an engineer, so point conceded.
Is there any way to cap the speed without reducing smoothness?
Yeah, you can. But what's the point? It's like jailbreaking an iPhone, people can put in safety precautions but most people will have them to be removed anyway... And talk about a hit to the automotive industry. New regulations for something the consumer will hate. (I won't go into the mechanisms that can control it, I doubt many would understand anyway, no offense.)
Personally I dont think the suspect deserves more than thirty years for killing the little girl. Not to take away from the tragity and the horrific carelessness of the driver to even partake in something as stupid as a car race, but it was an accident. It is inexcusable that the suspect just drove away, but I would like to assume it was more out of fear than just being an inhumane prick (for lack of a better word)
Ok, Franklin, so it is pointless adding caps to cars, so how about more speed bumps? Maybe that will deter street racing.
Again, Kevin, political suicide for politicians who advocate/vote for these kinds of things. Speed bumps require you drop down to about 5MPH to pass.. least, that's their intent. Can you imagine slowing down that much every mile on the highway? Every mile on the streets? imagine the hell it would be through rush hour. There isn't much we can do, least nothing coming up to mind at the moment, but with technology comes a price.. That will never change..
Speed bumps would waste gas and would make driving that much more inefficient. I don't think adding speed bumps everywhere or capping a cars speed limit is reasonable.
I agree with most people here that 30 years jail time is enough. Death penalty is a little harsh considering it would group this crime into the same group as crimes such as much more extreme crimes such as murder which are planned killings that deserve a much harsher sentence. I would agree will Sally and also like to think that the driver drove away because they panicked and feared the immediate consequences without thinking about what would happen if he got caught.
I agree with Mei Mei. Having more speed bumps will just make it more inconvenient for people to travel around. It is also a waste of time and money.
Thirty years is also enough time. The driver may have been racing, but it was an accident. He probably ran off because he panicked and didn't know how to handle the situation at the time.
You're all right; I'm utterly wrong. Life in prison sounds too harsh for a person who just accidentally crushed a six year old girl by recklessly driving.
Hopefully, people don't make the mistake of accusing me of being angry - and certainly not towards Talia.
I completely agree with you Talia, this is just too sad. Street races are so unnecessary.. they don't have any good purposes whatsoever. Unfortunately I think it's almost impossible for a law to enforce all behaviors of a driver.
Katrina, that could be said of almost, if not, everything. Why do people drink alcohol? There's no "good purpose" to it, using, what I hope I assumed correctly, your reasoning.
Post a Comment