SEVEN TEENAGERS KILLED IN N. C.

[boothead]

Seven teenagers ranging from 13 to 18 were killed this A.M. about 12:30 after being chased by the Troutman Police. The driver was seen driving in an erratic way and a chase was started. The car ran off the roadway to the left and went into a slid ending up in a small stream-bed on it's top. All seven, 5 boys and 2 girls were killed instantly. The auto was stolen earlier in the night. Some of the victims have not been identified. The teenagers were all from the Statesville, N. C. area. Sorry but this is all I have.

[templar]

One must also bear in mind that out of the entire car full of kids, only one was driving.

And none of the others were wearing their seatbelts either. They were all engaged in illegal activites and they knew it. As tragic as losing these kids may be, perhaps it will cause other parents to take their parental responsibilities more seriously. And, of course, it should also prevent some future car thefts and other crimes.

[driftless]

I guess the solution, according to you, is to just let dangerous drivers keep on driving dangerously.... right?

[PeyersPatches]

"It looks like they were out having fun last night, just doing their Christmas holiday break."

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Sadly, it doesn't surprise me why those kids are dead with attitudes that is shown in the quote above. Was that from a family member? Stealing and running from cops isn't "having fun" on their Christmas break.

[PeyersPatches]

Maybe they were home worrying and making phone calls trying to find her.

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MY child wouldn't be out at that time of night for me to be MAKING any phone calls trying to find her. Get real.

[templar]

Physics enforces its laws every single time--on the young, on the cute, on the famous, on the Christian, on the atheist--it doesn't matter.

Physics, the great equalizer. I like the concept.

[PeyersPatches]

Many times I have wondered how I managed to survive
the stupidity of my late teens/early twenties.

---

The Lord watches out for drunks, fools and babies....which means he has watched out for me many, many, times, including bouts of "all of the above"! That I made it to adulthood is also a miracle! :)

[Alberta's Child]

I've got a compromise that might keep every one happy:

1. The police shouldn't pursue stolen vehicles at excessive speeds unless there is reason to believe that someone's life is in danger.

2. Anyone participating in the theft of an automobile does a mandatory ten year sentence without parole -- even if the perp is only 13 years old.

3. Anyone who injures an innocent bystander while stealing a car or fleeing the scene of a crime does a mandatory 25 years without parole -- even if the perp is only 13 years old.

4. Anyone who kills an innocent bystander while stealing a car or fleeing the scene of a crime gets tossed into a wood-chipper -- even if the perp is only 13 years old.

Item #4 is particularly noteworthy because it will ultimately be the most effective. After carrying out this kind of sentence just once, there will be no need for hardened hearts because we'll all be living in a world reminiscent of It's a Wonderful Life.

[sig229]

We all have choices to make in life, and you (and the auto thieves) have taken the wrong side of this. Hind sight is always 20-20!

[Triple Word Score]

On #4...sedated or not sedated, gagged or not gagged, broadcasted or not broadcasted?

Just want clarity. :-)

[PeyersPatches]

In the West at least, you chould shoot horse thieves.

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LOL, now the crusader will turn you in to PETA.....:)

[NRA2BFree]

Same here. My deceased husband was a LEO, too, and a father. Cops know what happens to innocent citizens when drunks and criminals are allowed to drive eratically on the streets, and it is their job to protect the citizens.

I'm sorry you and your children had to endure the loss of your husband. Either way, cops get blamed for doing the wrong thing. It's a thankless job. I'm saddened that these kids died. I'll be praying for their families and also for the officers involved.

[NRA2BFree]

The headline should have read, Seven Thieving Teenagers Killed during the commission of a crime...

It's sad but you're right.

[NRA2BFree]

That's the whole problem here, only one kid was driving the car, the other six were innocent passengers who were more than likely screaming for their lives and begging the driver to stop during the chase. They committed no crime. Some of them were only 13. But this is the year 2004, the age of the hardened heart.

You don't know that for a fact do you? IF so, you need to post your source of information. FYI, 13 year olds have committed horrible crimes in the past. These kids paid for it with their lives and that truly is tragic, but in no way is it the fault of the officers involved.

[garybob]

That's the whole problem here, only one kid was driving the car, the other six were innocent passengers who were more than likely screaming for their lives and begging the driver to stop during the chase. They committed no crime.

How did you draw that conclusion?

[ThePointer]

Your posts bring back some mammories, uhm, memories. My antics with motorbikes, ATV's and cars could easily had me dead many times over. Luckily, I joined the USN at 17 and it made a man out of me.

That experience made me consider that conscripts is not all that bad of an idea.

Of course I am not "completely" serious. But when Judges throw out the option of service duty for young felons...I don't have a problem with it.

[af_vet_1981]

I hope the police are happy they gave a high speed persuit of this carload of dangerous criminals.

I'm satisfied.

[af_vet_1981]

Don't steal cars and kill six friends!

That's the ticket.
The blame lies soley with the teens.
It is their fault.

[af_vet_1981]

One of the victims was identified as Quentin Maurice Reed, 18, a passenger, officials said.

One of them was a legal adult.

[af_vet_1981]

But when Judges throw out the option of service duty for young felons...I don't have a problem with it.

I have a problem with it. I don't want them in my Air Force. I want trustworthy, concientous, loyal Americans who want to serve for reasons other than to get out of jail or prison.

[af_vet_1981]

concientous conscientious