Family killed UPDATE: Driver gets 43 years

Re: A sobering thought on New Year's Eve: Update

That quote is from the idiot's brother. For reasons I can't seem to put my finger on, the latter part really pisses me off. Almost like it's selfish, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

Re: A sobering thought on New Year's Eve: Update

The drunk driver's family has lost a son/brother/relative, too.

No, not through death, but through the idiot's stupidity. Dude's brother will be locked up for a few years. They're still in shock.

 

Re: A sobering thought on New Year's Eve: Update

The family in that van was actually a blended family. Somewhere there's two people --- the man and woman who separately divorced the couple in the van --- who have lost children.

This isn't just one extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) that suffered major losses. It's three.

 

Re: A sobering thought on New Year's Eve: Update

Death wouldnt be good enough for what that fucker did.

 

Re: A sobering thought on New Year's Eve: Update

It's not so much an intent to kill people as a willingness to take a chance that he might.

 

Re: A sobering thought on New Year's Eve: Update

UPDATE:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080104/NEWS06/80104060

Cops raid Ohio bar that served driver in fatal crash
Police say they found steriods and paraphernalia
January 4, 2008

By CHRISTINA HALL

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

An Ohio bar where an Adrian man accused in the wrong-way, drunken-driving deaths of five people, including a Redford Township girl, was supposedly drinking before the crash was cited today for drug violations.

The Rodeo Bar in Oregon, Ohio, was cited with improper conduct for drug possession and improper conduct for drug paraphernalia possession by the Ohio Department of Public Safety's Investigative Unit. Authorities found a human growth hormone and paraphernalia associated with administering the drug in a filing cabinet during a search of the bar Wednesday, according to court records.

The bar's liquor permit holders could be fined or have their permit suspended or revoked if they are found in violation by the Ohio Liquor Control Commission.


$1.25-million bond set in crash deaths
Adrian man to be back in court for hearing Tuesday
January 3, 2008

BY CHRISTINA HALL

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

TOLEDO -- Michael Gagnon said little and stood with his head down during arraignment Wednesday in Toledo, where he was ordered held on $1.25-million bond in a collision that claimed the lives of a woman and four children, including a 10-year-old Redford Township girl.

The 24-year-old Adrian construction worker declined an interview from the Lucas County Jail, where he is being held on suicide watch on five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. His family declined to comment as they left Toledo Municipal Court.

Gagnon, who police say was drunk at the time of Sunday's collision, is accused in the deaths of Bethany Griffin, 36, and four other members of her blended family. Her children Vadie Griffin, 8 weeks, Haley Burkman, 10, Lacie Burkman, 7, and her stepdaughter Jordan Griffin, 10, also were killed.

Gagnon's preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday.

 

Re: Family killed update: $1.25M bond for driver; bar busted for drugs, steroids

 

Re: Family killed update: $1.25M bond for driver; bar busted for drugs, steroids

Yeah, someone else did it... fucking loser asshole drunk.


Adrian man pleads not guilty in wrong-way crash that killed five
Article published Thursday, January 17, 2008
BLADE STAFF

The Adrian man charged in the drunken driving crash that killed five members of a Maryland family pleaded not guilty this morning to seven charges in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Michael Gagnon, 24, is charged with five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of aggravated vehicular assault. He is accused of driving the wrong way down I-280 on Dec. 30 and causing the crash that killed a mother and four of her children and seriously injured two other members of the family.

Mr. Gagnon, who is accused of having a blood-alcohol level three times the legal driving limit in Ohio, faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted. Judge Linda Jennings ordered a $1.75 million bond and set a Feb. 14 hearing date.

Local attorney Rick Sanders, who had been serving as the family’s spokesman, has now been officially retained as Mr. Gagnon’s lawyer.

The fatal accident occurred just before 11 p.m. Dec. 30 on southbound I-280 near the Manhattan Boulevard overpass. Police said Mr. Gagnon’s northbound pickup truck collided nearly head-on with the van being driven south by Danny Griffin, 36.

Killed in the crash were Bethany Griffin, 36; Jordan Griffin and Haley Burkman, both 10; Lacie Burkman, 7; and Vadie Griffin, 8 weeks. Sydney Griffin, 8, and Mr. Griffin were hospitalized with injuries from the crash but have since been released.

A sixth child in the van, Beau Burkman, 8, received only minor injuries including bruising from the seat belt. His injuries did not result in any charges against Mr. Gagnon.

 

Re: Family killed update: Driver pleads not guilty

So this lawyer was serving as the spokesman for the family and now he switches sides to represent the defendant? Have I read this wrong or is that not some kind of conflict of interest?

 

Re: Family killed update: Driver pleads not guilty

That's bullshit. Anyone who drinks to the point of getting that fucking drunk knows damn well he could kill somebody. To me, that's premeditated.

This fucking bastard should die a slow, painful death.

Why the fuck do we continue to waste taxpayer dollars giving fucks like this free room and board, cable TV, weight machines and three squares?

 

Re: Family killed update: Driver pleads not guilty

He was probably the spokesman for the family of the asshole.

 

Re: Family killed update: Driver pleads not guilty

Legally I don't think they can detain him, can they?