I heard that the driver of the stolen car can be held responsible for the 2 helicopters crashing. How? I think it is very sad that the helicopters crashed, but I don't see how it's the drivers fault...it's not his fault that the two pilots got too close.
2007-07-27 13:26:49 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
If you commit a crime, and an accidental death results, you are responsible. In this case it was probably pilot error, but they are charging this guy with everything they can, so they can plea bargain with him later.
2007-07-27 13:31:01 · answer #1 · answered by Beau R 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Next time you rear end someone, blame it on the attractive girl that was on the sidewalk. It was her fault that your eyes weren't on the road. Yeah, this is absurd. I feel the only reason that they are trying to blame him is because all 4 men have an amazing reputation within our community, with the police, and with the local government. These pilots help the cops in many situations where the cops need help keeping track of a suspect or notifying the police of accidents that they see. It's almost like the local law enforcement is doing this as a favor to the media. Trying to take the blame away from the negligence. I do blame this guy for me sitting in traffic for two hours while all the streets were closed off as a result of the crash. I think he has enough to worry about with assulting a police officer, two vehicle thefts, refusing to come out of a house for 4 hours. Now they want to tack on murder charges when he wasn't even in the sky where it happened.
2007-07-27 23:53:07 · answer #2 · answered by Tonya L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assumption of risk wouldn't apply in this case because a death occured during the commision of a felony. If you rob a grocery store and a 90 yr old woman witnesses it all, and then has a heart attack at the scene...then you're guilty of a crime, whether you intended harm to the woman or not. The only time Assumption of Risk protects anyone is in a civil suit...then they would apply a percentage of responsibility and fault against all parties involved.
When you go on a high speed chase in a stolen car, you know that you could potentially put the lives of other people in danger...and that includes news crews...whether they're in a helicopter, car, van, or on foot.
2007-07-27 21:02:54 · answer #3 · answered by Madre 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think they can...the only possible theory would be based on a negligence claim, but the pilots assumed the risk. There's something called the Firefighters Rule that says firefighters and police cannot sue someone if they're injured as a natural consequence of the rescue. If, they can't sue, then I'm sure that a private citizen who voluntarily gets into a helicopter to film a car chase cannot.
2007-07-27 20:33:00 · answer #4 · answered by theWord 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The driver of the car would be charged under the Felony Murder Rule. In most basic form, any death caused during the comission of a felony (there actually are specific felonies that it applies too) is considered murder. Any parties participating in the comission of the crime could be charged with 1st degree murder under the Felony Murder Rule.
The American Law Institute's Model Penal Code lists robbery, rape or forcible deviant sexual intercourse, arson, burglary, kidnapping, and felonious escape. Federal law specifies additional crimes, including terrorism and carjacking.
Therefore the driver of the car would be charged w/ Felony Murder based on his "Felonious Escape".
2007-07-27 21:46:45 · answer #5 · answered by dta_stonecold_dta 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he wouldn't have stolen the car in the first place the news stations wouldn't have sent out the helicopters and cameramen to capture the pursuit for the publics enjoyment of crazyness!
2007-07-27 20:30:50 · answer #6 · answered by jacicat 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Had the driver stopped then the police and helicopters would not have beenb there his actios dirrectly affected all those involved
2007-07-28 04:43:41 · answer #7 · answered by the b-i-s-h 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
News stations are so quick to be the first to get the story that they put themselves at risk.
The news stations and the pilots are to blame for this.
2007-07-27 20:43:19 · answer #8 · answered by just old 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It wouldn't have happened except for the stolen car being chased correct?
2007-07-27 20:29:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
is like saying....
u were driving and u see a hot girl and you looked at her and u run over a guy... lets blame the girl cause if it was not for the girl being there non of theses would happened...
u get my point
2007-07-28 21:45:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋