'Street racer' jailed because somebody else crashed.
Discussion
thelawnet said:
Another man, Jak Parker, of Crimdon Terrace, Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, has pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The jury was told that the 23-year-old was behind the wheel of a high-powered MG XR which was seen to be racing the silver van shortly after midnight.
dear Lord - calling yourself Jak? That in itself is a red flag The jury was told that the 23-year-old was behind the wheel of a high-powered MG XR which was seen to be racing the silver van shortly after midnight.
Curious that an MG XR is viewed as 'high powered' (I'm assuming at this point the mean a ZR?).otolith said:
I think someone driving reasonably safely (albeit speeding) in a very capable car could be in trouble if a kid in a hot hatch on ditchfinders binned it while trying to keep up, especially given a few witnesses who feel that being overtaken is de facto proof of dangerous driving.
given the general public's view seems to be edging on toward the viewpoint that any overtake is dangerous and only done by 'racers' this is a worrying thought vis-a-vis 'witnesses'Bradley1500 said:
My first thought was that the sentence was harsh but having read the article and views of others I now completely agree with the sentence.
If this was a first offence things would be completely different but this w
ker has been involved in three separate incidences where three different people have lost their lives! Three people’s families have been destroyed because of him.
If he had learned his lesson the first time his ttish driving had ended in tragedy this accident involving the girls wouldn’t have happened and the three people who died would still be here today.
The cock deserves everything he gets.
And finally this ^^^ my initial thought was 'harsh', but reading more about said cocksocket it seems as if it's a fine sentence.If this was a first offence things would be completely different but this w
ker has been involved in three separate incidences where three different people have lost their lives! Three people’s families have been destroyed because of him.If he had learned his lesson the first time his t
tish driving had ended in tragedy this accident involving the girls wouldn’t have happened and the three people who died would still be here today.The cock deserves everything he gets.
Edited by Bradley1500 on Thursday 2nd October 11:34
Guy was/is a knob, but I don't agree with the sentence. Have to wonder had the driver of the Fiat survived, would she be behind bars as well, given that she had a car which could drive at 30mph, but regardless of anyone elses actions around the car, chose to drive it at 77mph in a 30 zone? Food for thought really.
vtecyo said:
Unfortunately I think stories like this will make people less inclined to stop. The lorry driver who (according to the police report) caused the death of a very good friend of mine back in 2009 never did and he's still out there somewhere.
irocfan said:
given the general public's view seems to be edging on toward the viewpoint that any overtake is dangerous and only done by 'racers' this is a worrying thought vis-a-vis 'witnesses'
These are VERY valid points, I was involved in an accident that I detailed on here some time ago and I don't wish to go into details, but in brief, I had a car that lost control and killed a passenger when trying to overtake me, I stopped and rang 999, tried to help, another car came and watched me, police came and took statements, I was arrested and they tried to prosecute me with death by dangerous driving as I had overtaken the other witnesses car about 30 seconds before the other car and she told the police that we were racing, thankfully the charges were dropped, but I do see why people would not stop at a crash as it seems a possibility of a prison sentance is there if they do.Just to add, I did not know the other driver, I was not racing, I went out for food, fastest speed i probably hit was 65 overtaking the 'witness', she was doing 45mph in a very open 60 zone.
KingNothing said:
Guy was/is a knob, but I don't agree with the sentence. Have to wonder had the driver of the Fiat survived, would she be behind bars as well, given that she had a car which could drive at 30mph, but regardless of anyone elses actions around the car, chose to drive it at 77mph in a 30 zone? Food for thought really.
Yes of course she would. But she can't be, because she's dead!Marc p said:
vtecyo said:
Unfortunately I think stories like this will make people less inclined to stop. The lorry driver who (according to the police report) caused the death of a very good friend of mine back in 2009 never did and he's still out there somewhere.
irocfan said:
given the general public's view seems to be edging on toward the viewpoint that any overtake is dangerous and only done by 'racers' this is a worrying thought vis-a-vis 'witnesses'
These are VERY valid points, I was involved in an accident that I detailed on here some time ago and I don't wish to go into details, but in brief, I had a car that lost control and killed a passenger when trying to overtake me, I stopped and rang 999, tried to help, another car came and watched me, police came and took statements, I was arrested and they tried to prosecute me with death by dangerous driving as I had overtaken the other witnesses car about 30 seconds before the other car and she told the police that we were racing, thankfully the charges were dropped, but I do see why people would not stop at a crash as it seems a possibility of a prison sentance is there if they do.Just to add, I did not know the other driver, I was not racing, I went out for food, fastest speed i probably hit was 65 overtaking the 'witness', she was doing 45mph in a very open 60 zone.
The "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear argument", so beloved of the 1984 crowd.
This is merely the start, the BMW I8 transmits live data back on a whole host of parameters within the car, wait till we get to the point where fines are levied automatically when you exceed the speed limit.
Am i missing something here?
I’ve read the BBA post and most of the thread and lots of people are saying the sentence is well deserved as he was "inciting" the race and "goading" her to race him.
I cant see this.....at all.
Lets say im driving down a lovely country road at 2.00am, can see as far as the eye can see, straight road, nobody about and a 40mph zone. I overtake a little fiat doing 40 mph at about 70 mph.
The fiat decides to floor it to catch up/race and bins it into another car as their talent ran out.
Ive broken the law, doing 70 in a 40 and should face the consequences for that, how is me overtaking a car having anything to do with their decisions and ultimate demise?
For what its worth, the story is incredibility sad and by the sounds of it he should be off the road and i feel safer knowing he is, but the questions still stands.
I’ve read the BBA post and most of the thread and lots of people are saying the sentence is well deserved as he was "inciting" the race and "goading" her to race him.
I cant see this.....at all.
Lets say im driving down a lovely country road at 2.00am, can see as far as the eye can see, straight road, nobody about and a 40mph zone. I overtake a little fiat doing 40 mph at about 70 mph.
The fiat decides to floor it to catch up/race and bins it into another car as their talent ran out.
Ive broken the law, doing 70 in a 40 and should face the consequences for that, how is me overtaking a car having anything to do with their decisions and ultimate demise?
For what its worth, the story is incredibility sad and by the sounds of it he should be off the road and i feel safer knowing he is, but the questions still stands.
Based on the facts of the case presented in the BBC article, I don't think he would have actually been found guilty of death by dangerous driving had the case gone to trial. I mean, that's a pretty damn high burden of proof, demonstrating that his actions definitively caused the deaths of those three women and that they wouldn't have been involved in the same accident had he not overtaken them.
However, I'm extremely glad that he plead guilty to it, because at least that way he's off the road for a decade.
However, I'm extremely glad that he plead guilty to it, because at least that way he's off the road for a decade.
Drive Blind said:
the one that sticks in my mind was the one from a few years back where the driver of a track prepared Pug 306 (stripped out and cage) overtook another driver who then tried to keep up with him and binned it, killing himself.
Pug 306 driver found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
Makes you think twice when somebody latches onto your bumper when pressing on.
I have slowed down & backed off when people have clearly been trying to 'race' me, the chance of them getting it wrong & me ending up in bother for it makes it not worth the risk.Pug 306 driver found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
Makes you think twice when somebody latches onto your bumper when pressing on.
There are some unverifiable comments here from people in the area:
http://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/lad-admits-gu...
"He had taken over the young lasses car first trying to get her to race then she went to overtake him but he wouldn't let her get back in hence the head on crash, he's an absolute wker"
"Hope he gets life (which he probably won't ) cos he's a fkin knob, even after the accident he was flying round wingate overtaking cars in 30 mph roads thinking he's clever, "
"parker was racing a round in another car like a mad man a week later after the accident."
"He's a wker cos after the accident he was still driving like an absolute bell end and still to this day has no regard for other road users"
Also previous charge:
https://twitter.com/PeterleePolice/status/29619661...
"Jack Parker from Market Crescent, Wingate charged with damage to motor vehicle #result #6750"
http://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/lad-admits-gu...
"He had taken over the young lasses car first trying to get her to race then she went to overtake him but he wouldn't let her get back in hence the head on crash, he's an absolute w
ker""Hope he gets life (which he probably won't ) cos he's a f
kin knob, even after the accident he was flying round wingate overtaking cars in 30 mph roads thinking he's clever, ""parker was racing a round in another car like a mad man a week later after the accident."
"He's a w
ker cos after the accident he was still driving like an absolute bell end and still to this day has no regard for other road users"Also previous charge:
https://twitter.com/PeterleePolice/status/29619661...
"Jack Parker from Market Crescent, Wingate charged with damage to motor vehicle #result #6750"
Whether he was driving like a nob end is largely immaterial, surely he should simply be charged with whatever offence he actually committed, which in this case could be anything from excessive speed all the way up to dangerous driving. He is an obvious tool that deserves to be locked up and have his licence removed.
However, I fail to see how overtaking somebody is inciting somebody to race you, if the overtakee decides they want to "race" you and then bins it due to lack of talent thats their look out not the overtaking vehicles driver. There must be far more to this than has been reported.
However, I fail to see how overtaking somebody is inciting somebody to race you, if the overtakee decides they want to "race" you and then bins it due to lack of talent thats their look out not the overtaking vehicles driver. There must be far more to this than has been reported.
northandy said:
Snollygoster said:
Absolutely ridiculous sentence.
The only way this would be appropriate would be if here blocked her off when racing and forced her into another car.
He should have just had standard street racing charges against, not causing death by dangerous driving.
But the fact is those other innocent people ended up dead, if the guy hadn't been inciting the race and driving like a clown they would still be getting on with their lives.The only way this would be appropriate would be if here blocked her off when racing and forced her into another car.
He should have just had standard street racing charges against, not causing death by dangerous driving.
I have issue where people refuse responsibility in these incidents for the chain of events that they started.
If XXXXXXX* hadn't YYYYYYYYY* they would still be getting on with their lives.
(* insert your own words here. There are thousands of possible combinations)
e.g. If the girl hadn't forgotten to lock her front door before setting off, the cars would never have come across one another each other and would never have raced and they would still be getting on with their lives.
sidekickdmr said:
Lets say im driving down a lovely country road at 2.00am, can see as far as the eye can see, straight road, nobody about and a 40mph zone. I overtake a little fiat doing 40 mph at about 70 mph.
Let's say you're driving down a country road and you come across two young lads in a Fiesta ST, and you flash your lights, and you pull alongside, and you shout out of the window, 'st car mate, bet you can't catch me', give them some gestures, and then you cut them up and shoot off into the distance. Any different now?ManOpener said:
Based on the facts of the case presented in the BBC article, I don't think he would have actually been found guilty of death by dangerous driving had the case gone to trial. I mean, that's a pretty damn high burden of proof, demonstrating that his actions definitively caused the deaths of those three women and that they wouldn't have been involved in the same accident had he not overtaken them.
However, I'm extremely glad that he plead guilty to it, because at least that way he's off the road for a decade.
Having been part of a jury before, I think he might well have been done. As stated earlier, there are a couple of major points to proving death by dangerous driving and a jury could very easily (and subjectively) decide that his actions qualified for a guilty verdict on that sentence.However, I'm extremely glad that he plead guilty to it, because at least that way he's off the road for a decade.
trashbat said:
sidekickdmr said:
Lets say im driving down a lovely country road at 2.00am, can see as far as the eye can see, straight road, nobody about and a 40mph zone. I overtake a little fiat doing 40 mph at about 70 mph.
Let's say you're driving down a country road and you come across two young lads in a Fiesta ST, and you flash your lights, and you pull alongside, and you shout out of the window, 'st car mate, bet you can't catch me', give them some gestures, and then you cut them up and shoot off into the distance. Any different now?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff