[Bullitt_5135]

Woman, passenger killed in car crash; hit by drag-racing son

The Associated Press
This story was in the Orlando Sentinel this morning.....I think it speaks for itself.

DONA VISTA -- A man drag racing down a rural central Florida highway at speeds well over 100 mph hit a car driven by his mother, killing her and another passenger.

Diane Samples, 45, had been driving around her 72-year-old friend, Vivian Green, to look at Christmas lights when the accident occurred Wednesday night.

After the accident, witnesses said Dwight Samples went to the other car and realized one of the victims was his mother. He asked emergency workers to help her instead of him.

"It's bizarre. His mom was doing an act of kindness taking this lady around to see Christmas lights," said Lt. Chuck Williams, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol. "You think the probabilities for a phenomenon like this are, wow."

Samples, 21, was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center with head wounds. His head went through the Mustang's windshield and the steering wheel was crushed into the dashboard.

A decision on whether to charge Samples won't be made until after the crash investigation is completed in a few days, Williams said. A toxicology test was given to Samples, but there is no indication that he was under the influence.

Kinda puts things in perspective.
It gave me chills when I read it....

 

[DHG #1302]

Very sad.

 

[Nasty Bob]

This is the very reason I won't street race! I'll race anyone at the track, but on the street, never!!!

 

[DantheMan]

Same here Nasty!

 

[01GTB]

I hadn't heard anything about this. I don't live but maybe 6 miles from there. My buddy that lives in Dona Vista went to the track with us last night. Very sketchy, must have happened last night. I sure didn't see it in the paper though.

 

[FASTBULLITT]

I heard a little about this on the radio. It said he was driving his Ford Mustang 5.0 @ 120 MPH. 120 MPH on residential streets, at night? It will be interesting to find out his age.

 

[retromuscle]

They did give his age. 21 years old. Does anyone know what year the Mustang was? I'm amazed that he walked away from a 100+ mph wreck. I was under the impression that the Fox bodies were really unsafe in a crash. I could be wrong though...

 

[FASTBULLITT]

Oops, they sure did. Yes, it is amazing that he walked away after his head went through the Mustang's windshield and I would guess that his chest had to be crushed by the steering wheel.

 

[Dona]

Uh huh! THIS is exactly what I'm talking about when I put a reply in another post yesterday about speeding/tickets, etc. I WON'T do it...think of how this son feels now....and forever. I don't want that, it's just not worth it.

 

[FASTBULLITT]

This made the TODAY SHOW on NBC this morning. They are looking for the other driver now.

 

[gbranton]

It probably helped that the dash in our fox bodied cars are flimsy, plastic crap. But seriously, there are some places you just can't race. I am guilty of a little street racing, but it's on the interstate, or we shut down around 60mph. If I can't see for a good distance, no corners, no side streets, then have a good day, maybe next time. I was foolhardy when I was young and it gives me chills to think of how close I might have come and to realize and how bad it could have been.

 

[Badkharma]

I have raced a few times on streets, I'll admit, but I ALWAYS shut it down after second (unless it's the interstate, then 10-15 over limit). Now with this story, I doubt I'll race at all on the streets. Just not worth it. I'll probably start saving on gas too. :razz:

 

[FASTBULLITT]

The news story can be found here.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/orl-lklcrash21122101dec21.story?coll=orl%2Dnews%2Dheadlines%2Dlocal

 

[Bullitt 289]

Nasty: I agree, street racing is dangerous. I live in the Orlando area and see too many kids in Mustangs, Ricer's and the like just looking for a race. Won't lower myself to their level, mostly because they are not experienced drivers and the roads are too crowded.

Let them call me chicken, but at least I'll not have the same nightmares that kid will have the rest of his life for killing his mother.

 

[Nasty Bob]

You're right, Bullitt 289. There are entirely too many variables. In my day, if the track was unavailable, we went waaaay out in the country and had people set up to watch for any possible traffic(and cops) :wink: but never considered racing in a busy area or residential zone.

Too much can go wrong and when it does, your life is ruined.

I don't know if it's still done, but Salt Lake City, Utah Police used to sponser drag races at the track on Friday nights to keep kids off the streets! They even had a couple kick ass cars to pit against them, too! :smile:

This kid paid a price that he'll never be able to redeem all because of a testoserone rush. :sad: :sad: :sad:

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 1NastyFordGT on 2001-12-22 23:42 ]</font>

 

[Badkharma]

Here in the lower mainland in BC, I believe the cops have a special program for racing on Friday and Saturday nights. You can win money too. Every now and then, the cops will show up with their Camaro SS highway patrol units and race. (yes they use them, efficiently I might add).

 

[mr.pj]

Yes Dona speed played a part in this tragedy but was not the leading cause. Poor judgement was the leading cause. For myself I don't race and when I do speed I use common sense. This kid is screwed and if they find the other driver he/she is screwed to.

 

[01GTB]

I am pretty sure they have found the other driver. I am not sure they have released that info though.