I have a friend who is 17 yrs old and a senior in a private highschool. He is a very normal friendly person. He gets good grades and has already been accepted to a bunch of universities. He has an even nicer family care about about him and love him. About a month ago he was involved in a car accident while going to school in which in struck a senior man riding on road. I guess he was very scared so he kept driving to school. When i saw him at school before class started i noticed that he was very upset about something. At that point he was scared about what his parents were going to say about the damaged so he made a false police report saying that someone hit him in the parking lot. When he drove home a policeman pulled him over, and arrested him for hit-and-run. As he was putting the handcuffs on him the cop told him the guy he hit died immediatly. My friend is now charged with 2 felonies. I cant even explain in words how guilty he feels of what just happend.
2006-10-30 15:47:23 · 13 answers · asked by dmb_fan11 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I know he wasn't under the influence of anything becuase i saw him before school, and i know he wouldn't because he takes school very serious. Hes a good kid believe me. he would never intentionally hurt let alone kill anyone. He has his entire future ahead of him. He has ambitions of becoming someone and contributing to society. Anyway back to the legal stuff. Like i said hes charges with 2 felonies. Do you think he will have to go to prison and become a felon for. the rest of his life which will ultimatley ruin all his dreams and hard work. I know what he did was serious, but accidents always happen and people always make mistakes, and i dont think his entire entire life should be ruined because of this. The widow of the deceased man is very religious and she is actually sad for my friend because she like myself dont want this accident to ruin his life. shes doesnt even have a grudge against him and is not pressing charges which i think helps.
2006-10-30 15:55:56 · update #1
im sure he feels bad. but you are responsible when you are behind the wheel of the car. they teach you that in drivers ed. he was wrong for leaving. now instead of one family mourning for a family member there are 2 families that are torn up. i'm sorry for the loss of the senior that died and i'm also sorry for the loss that your friends family is going through. be a friend and be there for him and his family
2006-10-30 15:53:19 · answer #1 · answered by becca j 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Your friend doesn't have much integrity. How could you be more worried about what your parents think than if an old man you hit is dead or alive? He is very immature. Then he lied to the police about what happened.
It isn't up to the dead man's wife to press charges. It is up to the prosecuting attorney's office to make that decision based on what laws were broke and how much evidence there is against your friend.
He should feel guilty. He did a lot of horrendous things in a very short time period. He certainly is not the type to spend jail time. It is up to the courts to decide that too, since he is only 17 years old. He could get time in a juvenile detention center instead of real prison time.
The bottom line is he broke many laws. If he is old enough to drive a car, he is old enough to accept the responsibility that goes along with it. It is time for him to pay up and take whatever punishment he is given. Hopefully he will learn something from this.
2006-10-30 16:11:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If he was the last car, then he will "likely" be considered "at fault" and will have to pay for his own damage caused. This is because the law requires a reasonable amount of distance to be spaced when following another car to allow for braking in an emergency. However, its usually not feasible to do with traffic these days especially in places like L.A. Oh also, don't be too worried about court. It is not as scary as it sounds and most people have been there for one reason or another. I would just find out why you need to appear, and if you arrive and feel uncomfortable with what is going on - request a "continuance" (an extension of time) to locate a lawyer.
2016-05-22 14:25:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a lesson for all. One must always be careful when driving. Now, when he got his drivers lic he was told if he ever has a serious accident he must call the police and make a report. He knew that so now he must pay because he didn't follow the law. Read and heed. Most likely he will spend a few years in prison.
2006-10-30 15:51:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't see a question.
This was really poor judgement. It's no consolation that the man died instantly. Your friend didn't check to see if he might have needed immediate care. What was he scared of? His victim got about as bad as life has to offer, sudden meaningless death at the hands of a stranger, and left on the side of a road like trash.
He can put on a suit and tie when he goes to court, probably get probation, go on to college, and eventually become a senator from Massachussetts.
He sure showed a serious lack of courage and integrity, and a complete absence of compassion for another human being.
My sympathy is for the victim. Your friend deserves none.
2006-10-30 15:55:53 · answer #5 · answered by open4one 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's called "Vehicular Homicide", or "Death By Automobile". Leaving the scene of an accident is no help either. Your friend wil most probably do some jail time for his negligence and ignorance of the law. Remember this, even if your friend does a stretch of 20 years (or more), he will eventually get out of jail. The guy he hit is dead PERMANENTLY.
Sorry for the curtness of my statement, but taking a life is not a lightweight offense.
2006-10-30 16:36:08 · answer #6 · answered by Len_NJ 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That's a sad story, but what's the question?
Your friend made a mistake, then he made a bigger mistake by trying to cover it up instead of owning up to his actions.
Now he's going to have to face the consequences of what he did. How guilty or not guilty he feels about the situation is irrelevant, although it's good to know that he's at least sorry he took the guy's life.
What's the question?
2006-10-30 16:02:56 · answer #7 · answered by Answer 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What's real interesting is that you said he was worried about what his parents were going to say?!?! Such immature people should not be on the road! If you can't take responsibility for your actions then don't drive. I hope they raise the age to drive. There's no reason why if you are still a CHILD going to SCHOOL and worried about what your mommy and daddy think about you hitting a person (KILLING them) and then thinking about that person only when you are pulled over...that you should be allowed to drive!!! No pity. Find a new friend.
2006-10-30 15:56:31 · answer #8 · answered by sweetie 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
i feel sorry for him but u gotta pay for what u did we all do somthing stupid now and then but we learn from them he will learn from this and not do something like this agin, driving is no joke people die everyday to driving (cause of drunks and wreckless people) so when he gets out of prison or jail tell him to be extra careful on the road and drive safe and tell him not to make false police reports either that makes it worse than it will be just tell the truth it is better than lying.
2006-10-30 16:04:16 · answer #9 · answered by Caboose 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I hope having a felony doesn't affect your eligibility for admissions. With any luck, your friend's insurance policy will make sure that poor man's grandchildren are provided for.
2006-10-30 15:58:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋