Fort Drum Soldier Dies In Bizarre Route 11 Crash

[LosinIt]

http://www.wwnytv.net/72k/full-story.asp?uid=7035&area=home+page

The man who died Monday night after crashing into a line of cars in the lot at Fuccillo Import Center was a Fort Drum soldier. Officials identified the victim as 31 year old Staff Sergeant David Rutledge, Jr. of Ohio. Rutledge died after a series of bizarre events that started shortly after 9 p.m.

(snip)
The article doesn't say whether this is a soldier who has been in Iraq or not, but his behavior was extremely bizarre. He entered a convenience store without wearing a shirt in freezing temps and became irate, jumping on the counter, when the machine didn't work. Jumped in his SUV and sped away on city streets at speeds approaching 100MPH. A sheriff saw him and turned around and started his lights, the car then crashed into 7 cars at a dealership, the soldier was ejected and killed.


Whether this is battle related or not, the poor guy obviously was troubled about something. So sad.

[liberalmuse]

1. I'm guessing he had been in Iraq...

and that we will see many more bizarre incidents like this in the coming years.

[A Simple Game]

2. According to the wwny 6:00 news,

he had recently returned from Afghanistan.

His girlfriend said he was taking drug because of his aggressive behavior.

They never said so but it sounded like his behavior was related to the war.

[rooboy]

3. Eerily similar to those soldiers who went nuts at Fort Hood. n/t

[shadowknows69]

4. This is in my hometown

very tragic. I fear that we're going to see a lot of this kind of thing.

[LosinIt]

5. and poor Billy Fucillo

this loss was huuuuu---ggggee. Sorry, but the guy that owns the car dealership does crazy ads, you know the type.

[saigon68]

6. PTSD

Pure and simple

[LosinIt]

7. I live with PTSD on a daily basis

with my husband, but luckily (for his family anyway) his does not manifest in violence. He just shuts down and can't handle any stress, therefore unable to hold a job. We are in the process of the disability dance with the VA. They have given him 30% disability and we are appealing due to unemployability.

[saigon68]

8. Good luck in your fight

At the VA they have the unwritten 4 inch rule. That is, when your file is four inches thick, they finally sit up and take notice.

There are many types of PTSD and it affects each person differently. Most sufferers are self destructive consumed by depression. Others will get very angry and go into an uncontrollable murderous rage, and take said rage out on people and things.

This Vet obviously is a variant of the second group. The type of combat stressors apparently have nothing to do with the type of stress disorder, it appears that one's personality controls the severity and type of disorder.

The best to your husband in his fight and thank him for his service.

[LosinIt]

9. He was in the Navy during Vietnam

firing the big guns during the 'harassment' of villages. While he never 'saw' combat, he is consumed by the guilt of knowing what his actions did. It really a sad thing that he is so depressed, because he is brilliant and can't keep a job. That makes him even more ashamed and depressed and the circle continues. He can't even manage to keep the house clean which was part of the bargain when I started this job working nights. I try to understand, but it is really difficult. Our house is the worst looking place on the street and he is home all of the time. Luckily most of our neighbors are seasonal and the year-round ones have a good sense of humor.