Driver who killed 13 Senior citizens was texting.

[MicaelS]

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/news/2017/03/31/driver-hit-church-bus-wreck-13-fatalities-texting-witness-said

Thirteen New Braunfels church members were killed in a crash this week, and a witness said it's because their bus was struck by a man who was texting and driving.

Jack Dillon Young, 20, smashed head-on Wednesday into a bus full of 14 senior citizens returning from a choir retreat.

Jody Kuchler, a witness to the horrific crash, told the San Antonio Express-News that he spoke with Young while he was still pinned in his Dodge pickup after the crash.

'He said: 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was texting on my phone,'" said Kuchler. "I told him, 'Son, do you know what you just did?' He just kept saying, 'I'm sorry.'"

Stupid fucking bastard was speeding, swerving and texting. So he killed 13 old people. And everyone was wearing a seatbelt in the church bus.

And he is expected to survive his injuries. His life is over, though. He will spend the rest of his life in Texas Department of Corrections.

[malaise]

1. Maybe or maybe not

Is he rich - his lawyer can scream affluenza.
This is murder most foul

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

55. If he's 20 years old and driving a senior citizen bus,

I doubt he's rich.

[Shrike47]

58. He was in another vehicle. He hit the senior citizen bus.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

61. I just double checked and realized I had it wrong.

I was going to delete my post, but won't because of your response.

In any case, I rather doubt he's that rich. I certainly could be wrong about that, also.

[Cal Carpenter]

2. I don't even know what to say

What could possibly be so fucking important that you risk not only your life but everybody else's? NOTHING!!!

Arghhhhhh

[R B Garr]

3. That is horrible, but unfortunately it's getting worse.

There was study just out that pedestrians being struck in intersections is going up considerably. The blame was mostly on cell phones.

Almost 100% of the cars I see acting strange on the road are because of drivers on the phone, texting or looking down at their phones. Yesterday I had some long trips and of the three cars I saw with surging/slowing speeds, leaving unusually large gaps in stop and go, etc were all actively on their phones. One woman was slowing so much it was getting unsafe. I went around to pass her in the right hand lane and to see what she was doing. Her head was completely focused on her phone. She had no orientation to the cars around her.

It's really starting to make me rethink some of my driving habits.

[TransitJohn]

11. Bring on the fucking driverless cars already!

This is why I feel this way. For the asshats who will cry, "Tyranny!", you can still drive yourself, if you can afford the insurance rates.

[R B Garr]

16. It does make you wonder if that could really

be any worse.

I can't even tell you how many times I've been politely waiting behind a driver making a right turn, but they don't move. And they don't move. Then I start noticing they aren't waiting for cars to pass because there were no cars. They are on their phone just sitting at the intersection.

The other day I was leaving the bank and this happened. Someone stopping before making a right turn while I wait behind her to get my car on the road. Finally I honked, and she barely moved -- I could see her head down and the phone. So I finally backed up and pulled alongside her (large enough driveway or I wouldn't have done it). Then she acts like she's going to pull out at the same time. Driverless would have been better at that point.

[workinclasszero]

43. I agree

[napi21]

56. I haven't really thought of it till now, but self driving cars just may be the answer. Yes, there

be the occasional accident, but, sorry to have to say, the computer is more capable than humans. According to the National Safety Council Estimates, as many as 40,000 people died in motor vehicles crashes last year, a 6% rise from 2015. If those numbers bear out, it would be a 14% increase in deaths since 2014, the biggest two-year jump in more than five decades. That's deaths. I haven't found "number of accidents". Maybe they can't count that high.!!! I suspect, even with the faults that are being eliminated during testing, the cars wouldn't have that many. Automation doesn't text, get distracted, fall asleep, get road hypnosis, or road rage.

http://fortune.com/2017/02/15/traffic-deadliest-year/

I'm 73 so I probably won't see the boom of robo cars, but the rest of you probably will, and I believe, regardless of some accidents will occur because there wasn't "a specific situation" wasn't programmed into the car, you will still see a BIG reduction in traffic accidents/death. I'll have to remember your argument the next time I hear some anti-self driving car argument.

[Drahthaardogs]

20. See it every day on my commute

Young people seem to be the worst but i see lots of people old enough to know better as welp

[BeekeeperInVermont]

34. I heard that story on NPR this afternoon.

Part of this are pedestrians looking at their own phones.
I cannot count the number of times I've seen somebody walk out of a store right into traffic with their eyes glued to their stupid phone. Route 100 through the charming village of Weston is an obstacle course during tourist season with people walking backwards into the road to get a good picture with their phones. Good thing I don't have a cell phone so I can pay attention for both of us.
This is not to absolve drivers careless and stupid enough to text and drive, but just because you don't have wheels doesn't mean you can stop paying attention to what's going on around you.

[R B Garr]

46. Yes! Great points. I was listening in the car and

channel flipped, so I can't remember whether it was NPR or the traffic stations. I was going to dig up a link, but I'm typing on an iPhone and can't link anyway.

That's very true about pedestrians not paying attention, and there was some crosstalk in the report about people walking with headphones on and not hearing traffic, etc.

Lately in the L.A./greater L.A., Orange County area there has been a spate of pedestrian crosswalk killings, at least a couple hit and runs, so I was thinking of the driver's end, but walking while watching your phone was considered a huge reason, too.

[catbyte]

77. I see this a lot. I always make sure I put my phone down & raise my head as I approach a crosswalk.

It's just common sense. Texting is causing more fatalities than DUIs now. It's insane.

[MicaelS]

50. Saw that on NBC Evening News.

Number of pedestrians being killed is rising 10% per year. Pity the poor bastards who kill them.

[Skittles]

4. people, please, don't text while driving and DON'T TEXT WITH PEOPLE YOU KNOW ARE DRIVING

*NOTHING* you text is worth this kind of senseless tragedy

[IronLionZion]

26. Yes, so much this. People have been prosecuted for texting a driver

when a deadly accident happens, they check the phones and text/call logs from the phone companies. And the person texting the driver was found guilty of something because the driver died

[metalbot]

74. Link?

I don't see any stories relating to people being prosecuted for texting a driver. Primary news links relate to a 2013 ruling in New Jersey that people who knowingly text someone who is driving may be liable in civil court (which seems reasonable), but I don't see any prosecutions.

[IronLionZion]

75. She was sued and taken to court but cleared

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/29/tech/mobile/texting-driving-jersey-explainer/index.html

http://abcnews.go.com/US/nj-judge-woman-texted-boyfriend-liable-car-accident/story?id=16429647

[LOL Lib]

5. The GOP will give him a medal for killing old people.

[sheshe2]

6. No words. Tears.

[lpbk2713]

7. I hope they all went as quickly as possible.

And I hope the driver gets to live with what he did for a long long time.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. CBS News tonight spoke to a driver who followed this shitbird for 20 miles, asking the cops to . . .

. . . . stop him. He had video of the guy (taken by his wife) swerving from shoulder to shoulder of the two lane roadway. The guy was pleading with the cops, saying the kid would either kill himself or others.

I absolutely believe the cops blow off calls about aggressive driving. I have made such calls half a dozen times over the years I've driven with a cell phone and never saw the bozo pulled over as I went up the highway.

[Lucinda]

17. OMG. That makes this horrible tragedy even worse.

[Warren DeMontague]

18. Just tell them you think you saw the kid holding a bag of weed

you'll get an entire SWAT team level response.

[raccoon]

67. Da winnah! nt

[DashOneBravo]

78. Nice

[hamsterjill]

53. Local news coverage

The story is at this link:

http://www.ksat.com/news/man-who-saw-deadly-church-bus-crash-unfold-describes-scene

[Stinky The Clown]

72. Thanks, I just watched it again. That was more than was shown on CBS Evening News

That is both heartbreaking and angering.

[hamsterjill]

76. It's so tragic.

I felt like the witness was implying there was more going on than just texting. Regardless, all of the senseless loss is devastating.

[Luz]

80. I kinda agree. It went on like that for 30 min or more,

I guess it'll all come out eventually. Wouldn't surprise me if something else is involved.

It's heartbreaking for all involved.

[lunasun]

9. My state has a no txt /or hand phone while driving law. Appears not so in TX?

[MicaelS]

10. Not yet, but I bet we will soon.

This is exactly the type of thing that will trigger one.

[LeftInTX]

24. A bill passed the House 2 weeks ago. We'll see what the Senate does

Maybe this tragedy will effect the outcome.

The House has passed texting bans in the past, but the Senate never has enough votes to reach the floor.

[tblue37]

64. Rick Perry vetoed a statewide ban as government overreach & micromanaging. nt

[MedusaX]

13. So far only municipal laws (in Tx) banning texting while driving

It will need to be a state wide ban in order to be effective.

[tblue37]

15. Texas did at one time pass a statewide ban--but Rick Perry vetoed it as government micromanaging

and overreach!

F***ing Rick Perry!

[exboyfil]

52. Need to go on social media and remind everyone about Perry

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Perry-vetoes-texting-while-driving-legislation-2080758.php

[kwassa]

23. So does mine, but the law stops nothing.

[BeekeeperInVermont]

35. Vermont is really strict, too.

[unblock]

39. you don't need a specific texting while driving law to prosecute this case.

he certainly seems to have been driving in a criminally negligent fashion and 13 people died as a result.

legally, it's no different than if he had simply decided to stare at his navel instead of the road for i'm guessing at least 3 solid seconds.

you drive, you have a responsibility to pay attention.

[lunasun]

44. True, but it has cut down here on the idiots staring at their phones instead of the road, I will

say that. You can't even hold a cell phone talking while driving here and prior to the law, often even those types were "lost in conversation" enough to be traffic hazards

Researchers found that car-crash hospitalizations dipped with strict bans on texting and driving in a ten yr study and it is very strict here.

Others will say we have given away a freedom and personal responsibility is the answer but there are so many stupid drivers and I am glad it's the law. One less way to crash
Am I irked when I have to pull over to answer a call or check a text? Used to it , so it just doesn't feel that restrictive since we have had it for so long.
Sort of like seat belts are the law here and I don't think it's a hassle I have done it for so many years, I guess would be a similiar enforcement . Do people still get hurt with seat belts on yes but less severe in comparison

[unblock]

45. i agree such laws are a good idea. the lives saved more than makes up for the minor inconvenience

especially given that it's a minor inconvenience on the part of someone who would otherwise be driving negligently.

my point is that when the damage done is as great as this, certainly even just one death, never mind 13, there are other laws that cover this even in a state with no specific anti-texting law.

my understanding of anti-texting laws in general is that they simply make it a ticket-able offense even if there's no damage done. that hardly seems sufficient when there in fact is great damage done, so even if texas had such a law they might not bother with it.

i mean, if they can get him on something like 2-20 years in prison plus up to $10,000, would they really bother with an additional fine of, say, $500 for texting while driving?

[lunasun]

48. That's true in this case I agree. Just that $500 stops a lot of folks from doing it and may be

a way to educate it's unsafe I guess was my original thought after reading the driver's statement
But even with DUI Laws , education and the threat of taking away driving privileges is not always a deterrent
it still doesn't stop some people from driving drunk and killing .

[unblock]

49. in a strange way i almost find drunk driving more understandable.

i absolutely loathe drunk driving and think our country is way, way too lax in dui enforcement.

that said, i find it more understandable because alcohol impairs judgement, so it's somewhat understandable that if someone gets drunk they might then do something stupid like try to drive.

you can't say the same for texting and driving, there's really just no excuse.

that's not to excuse drunk driving either, you're supposed to know that if you're liable to do something like that, you have to take steps when sober to prevent that, like arrange a ride home ahead of time, give someone else your keys, or heaven forbid stay sober for once.

just saying that someone who texts and drives can't even say that....

[TexasBushwhacker]

51. Vehicular Manslaughter gets you 2-20 in Texas

It seems to me that one way to get around the lack of a law is if insurance companies refused to cover you if you have an accident while texting.

[LeftInTX]

68. Texting bans are about prevention

My daughter used to talk on her phone while driving. She did it all the time.
My husband would answer his phone and drive. (He gets alot of calls)

A few years ago our city banned cell phones while driving.

Transguide has signs on our local highways. The ban has worked. My daughter rarely talks and drives. My husband uses bluetooth.

[spiderpig]

12. Words can't express the fury I feel over this massacre

And massacre is what it is. This truck driver was so self-absorbed and stupid/criminal or both, that he didn't think 80mph and not looking at the road might equal death to others? Well he took out 13 seniors. Of course, he's one of the few that survives.

He's sorry? SORRY? Cry me a river from the cell where you're going to spend the next 60+ years of your life, if there's any justice in this world.

People can't walk and text without running into walls, falling off curbs, and drifting into traffic. As stated by a previous poster, roads have become dodgems, and evasive driving is the name of the game for responsible motor vehicle operators. The Indy 500 is safer.

I just can't get my head around all those innocent victims. Over a stupid phone.

[tblue37]

14. Clip from the video the witnesses took of his erratic driving. The full 15-minute

video will be available eventually, but not yet. The pickup driver is really all over the road. It is a light traffic road, so obviously the young idiot figured it didn't matter if he had trouble staying in his own lane.

http://www.lmtonline.com/news/local/article/Witness-video-shows-moments-church-bus-crash-11042124.php

[JI7]

59. it's actually worse when there are fewer cars out

the least dangerous time would be when there is a lot of traffice and cars are moving too slow to cause harm.

[dalton99a]

19. The LOLs were more important

What an asshole

[Initech]

21. If you're driving, don't fucking text!

[HopeAgain]

22. Awful...

For everyone involved. Sometimes young people make mistakes like this and some people on here demonizing this young man may themselves have children who have driven and texted. I pray he doesn't end up in jail...just because he made a mistake millions of kids are making every day.

I'm not defending texting and driving, but geez, this kids going to have to live with this for the rest of his life.

[retrowire]

25. I agree with you

This man is an idiot, not a cold hearted murderer.

He shouldn't be vilified. But he should be made an example of.

That is wayyy too many lives lost because of idiocy.

[Glitterati]

28. And so are the families of the 13 people he killed

Yes, he should go to jail.

[Lisa0825]

31. I agree. It is sad that his stupidity not only took 13 lives, but also the rest of his own.

[spiderpig]

33. Tell the families of the dead 13 victims it was a mistake.

This guy was recorded driving all over the road for 15 minutes by alarmed motorists behind him.

Texting and driving result in more damage than drinking and driving. And no one has sympathy for drunk drivers.

[unblock]

38. zero jail time????

the "hey a lot of people do it" defense doesn't carry much weight in court.

the kid deserves his day in court, but it certainly seems based on the limited information that he clearly committed some form of involuntary vehicular manslaughter.

the particular method of his own distraction doesn't necessarily much matter. texting is common, yes, but unless texas has a specific law against texting, he still would have committed involuntary vehicular manslaughter had he been distracted by, say, reaching down for a dropped snack or trying to pick out the next tune on his ipod.

again, he deserves his day in court, but if it's determined that a dozen or so innocent lives could have been saved merely by this kid exercising the normal, expected level of diligence when driving, then he most certainly deserves a few years in the slammer.

not an expert, but a quick google suggests that he might be facing 2-20 years (plus $10,000). i'd imagine that's potentially per victim, though the sentences could be served concurrently.


i'd be very surprised if he didn't get at least 5 years.



frankly i'm astounded at the level of sympathy for someone who killed 13 people. someone recklessly kills a bunch of innocent people and you seriously think he should walk? not spend a single day in jail?

[MarcA]

57. Agreed about the sympathy nonsense. This was not a mistake

it is negligent homicide, 13 counts. Making an example of him would be
the best message and the best way he could repay society.

[JI7]

60. every fucking person who does it deserves to be demonized. and you are making excuses just because

"everyone does it" . fuck that.

[nini]

63. What the holy fuck?????

Are you serious? That guy was driving like a maniac for at least 20 minutes before this. This wasnt one little look down at his phone at the wrong second. As someone who was disabled by a drunk driver at 27 i cannot believe anyone could think this is just a kids being kids thing and smack him on his hand.

[democrank]

27. Horrible

[Posting Anonymously]

29. Couple Things

If you listen to the U.S. government, the only way an American could die stateside is in a "terrorist" attack. The reality is the U.S. government(s) (state, local, Federal) kills more Americans by default, that is by failing to even minimally enforce traffic laws than all the World's terrorists combined could kill if they were at it 24 hours a day. Anyway, what difference does it make? To be perfectly ACCURATE and faithful to the utter mindlessness of the religious believer, the crash was simply all part of God's Plan (ever hear that nonsense?). Or, put another way, if religious people, or any people, had half a brain and were actually SINCERELY interested in the preservation of life something definitive and draconian would have been done long ago about operators who use these stupid devices while driving. But, because religious people are so god damned stupid, all they will get out of this is "let's pray" until the next crash and then they'l pray some more. Unfortunately, the bottom line is you can't help stupid people and the planet is filled with stupid people.

[cwydro]

66. Sooo...it's the victims' fault they were killed?

Because they were religious?

Wow.

[Posting Anonymously]

81. Religious People

the religious mindset is utterly irrational. people who believe in these mindless religions have more than a few loose screws. i wasn't addressing in detail the particular crash (it was caused by a driver texting) rather I was just observing that based on what these people "think" CLEARLY the deaths are all part of god's plan. following up THEIR contorted logic that these "believers" routinely evidence, where's the tragedy? at any rate, evidently my post flew over your head...no news there.

[cwydro]

82. Enjoy your stay here.

[former9thward]

83. Your post did not fly over anyone's head.

It is what is "utterly irrational."

[JI7]

84. your post is so fucked up. you don't know what they believed

And none of it has anything to do with the person who actually killed them.

[elfin]

30. Age 20. Says a lot to me

Other ages are also negligent with this behavior, but I suspect it is more prevalent in younger drivers.

They are attached to their phones with an umbilical cord as far as I can tell. I was rear ended by a 17 year old, who was checking her phone. Slow motion, with the most damage to my car and not to me, but that is where I made the above opinion.

She was distraught and her parents' insurance company did right by me and my car, but she was so lucky her life (and mine) were not completely ruined by the incident.

I have my phone completely OFF while I drive. I don't even want to be tempted to answer a text or call.

[tblue37]

65. A texting college student rear ended me as I pulled into my driveway on a residential street. My

blinker was on, but he wasn't looking.

[LeftInTX]

69. My phone is in my back seat

I don't get alot of calls and if it rings, I just ignore it.

[Lisa0825]

32. I feel pity for him.

I admit to occasionally -- when no other cars are near me -- checking my phone. But I never spend the amount of time it takes to compose a message. However, had this technology been available to me when I was a teenager or 20 year old, I can't guarantee I would not have been stupid enough to do it myself. I drove drunk back then, and thankfully never suffered the consequences.

I think this young man deserves some mercy for his terrible mistake.

[juxtaposed]

37. I agree he did expect this could never happen to him. But he did screw up.

[juxtaposed]

36. I spend a lot of my work week on the road going from job to job, on any given day

I hit the horn a few times b/c someone in front of me is stopped at a green light texting or talking.

[Mariana]

42. At least they ARE stopped.

At least they wait until the car isn't moving to fool with the phone. Far better to do that than zipping down the road like this asshole was doing.

My SIL ran into a telephone pole in an area with busy sidewalks while texting and driving. She could very easily have killed people. She was 50 some years old when she did that.

[Dawson Leery]

40. At 20, I knew better than do distract myself while driving.

Let him die in jail. He deserves no freedom.

[Liberal In Texas]

41. Worse than DWI. n/t

[DFW]

47. Here in Germany (and Switzerland) it is serious offense to use a cell phone while driving.

If it's a first offense and you harm no one, probably the best you can hope for is a three figure fine, and surrendering your license for one or two months. The cops here do look out for this, and will chase you as far as necessary to catch you if they see you on a cell phone while behind the wheel. I think it's the same over in Holland, and it's probably the case in other countries, too.

[MarcA]

54. But in 'murica we got freedumbs.

[DFW]

71. And 'murica is always right

Dead right, in this case.

[moondust]

62. Driving a 2000-pound missile

is serious business. Maybe too many people are taking the responsibility too casually these days.

"Hey, driving is a snap! I can do it in my sleep! Let me just check Twitter. BOOM!!!"

[LeftInTX]

70. Those dually trucks are road hogs.

I keep my distance from them.

I don't know what it is, but it seems their drivers have a sense of entitlement.

[Fla Dem]

73. Just in the past 2 weeks I have encountered 2 SENIOR women texting while driving.

I am a senior as well, so this is not a slam on Seniors. Just to point out that it's not just young people doing it.

This happened unbelievably on the same stretch of A1A south near my home.

I knew even before I pulled along side them they were texting. Each one was in the pass lane, weaving slightly, speeding up then slowing down. Sure enough as I pulled abreast of them they were texting. Both hands on phone, resting on top of steering wheel. In both instances I gave a slight tap on my horn and neither was even fazed. Accidents waiting to happen.

[Nac Mac Feegle]

79. I do a LOT of driving in my job

Cell phones are one of the worst things out there.

I see so many people driving poorly because they've got a phone up to their ear, it's amazing.

I even had one this week that was a "first"

I'm driving in the left lane on the interstate, and come up behind some idiot that's got a rolling roadblock going; he's doing the same speed as the car in the next lane, and he's weaving all over the lane. I flash my lights to get his attention a couple of times. He opens up his sun roof and flips me off after the second time, but he does stop the weaving. I wait until I can pass him and the car he was 'locked' on to. He comes up beside me after I've settled back into the left lane, and he's waving a gun around.

It MUST have been a REALLY important call that I so rudely disturbed.

I just stomped on the gas and hauled off, I wanted the utility body of my truck between me and him if he started shooting. I didn't have a real good description of the car or a license number, or I would have called the police, as if that would have done any good. The windows were so dark tinted that I could only see the muzzle of the gun.

Arizona in the Trumpocalypse.