Posted on 08/15/2022 5:58:52 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
A pair of Florida teens has been charged in the drag-racing death of one of their young passengers, according to reports.
Austin Lewis, 17, and Kristopher Trenker, 19, began racing each other at speeds of up to 120 mph July 24, Tampa police said.
Payton Fordyce, 16, was in the backseat of Lewis’ vehicle when Lewis suddenly swerved to avoid an oncoming car and smashed into a cement culvert.
The vehicle flipped several times and partially ejected Fordyce, killing him.
Responding police said Lewis was drunk at the time, with a 0.08 blood-alcohol level. In Florida, impairment is .08 or higher.
Tampa police arrested both Lewis and Trenker on Wednesday after an investigation.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
There has been a recent surge in street racing due to glamorization of it in social media and TV/movies.
Yes, the Fast & Furious movie genre has infected the drivers in the under 30 crowds.
Just yesterday, we saw a nutcase driving an orange loud mufflered foreign sedan with a spoiler on it, weaving in and out of traffic like he was going to a fire...................
Point is not that some have not experienced this tragedy, but that the odds aren’t that big as stated “all”. I live and grew up in a pretty high density area with many reprobates around yet I never heard of a single person in my school who had this happen. Much less close to me.
I am a gear head. In fact my love of cars is why I became an engineer. And I indulged in some overacceleration but never did I use a main highway or road to get together with a lot of non-dweebs to match-up drag race. My main interest was just the freedom, not so much proving speed.
“Teens”
We know what that means.
I am glad that you have never lost a child, nephew or a niece to either a DUI or reckless driving.
I just lost a niece last August. 15 y.o., starting high school, in the back seat. Have lost other friends at high school and at college.
Lacy’s death was totally preventable. The driver of the car will go to prison (white in St Louis) and their family will lose their son, at least as they knew him, before he gets out.
The girls in the car were drinking, but the driver was not ...
One stupid death will affect multiple families, as you know.
It wasn’t meant to be insensitive.
It was reacting to the hyperbolic statement of “EVERY” person has lost a FRIEND due to THIS KIND OF ILLEGAL RACING.
It was not meant to hurt anyone, and had nothing to do with the loss of someone even in that kind of incident who is close.
I’m just tired of people saying everyone has this or that experience. We don’t. Not even 3rd-hand. Not everyone has the experience of watching her sister literally die with rolling eyes and head after fighting rare type of breast cancer, either. I did, but I don’t deign to say everyone has it happen.
I am very sorry for your terrible loss, truly, due to careless driving - though not racing, to which I was replying.
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