Driver charged in hit-and-run death (miracle baby survives being dragged 1 mile)

The Detroit Free Press ^ | 02-05-04 | NANCY A. YOUSSEF AND DAN SHINE

[jaykay]

Ronald Young Jr., 20, was struck and killed while walking with his family Tuesday night. Sherita Wilson, 19, and her and Young's daughter, Deborah Young, 16 months, were injured.

Robert Gallas told authorities he thought he'd just hit a branch with his Jeep Liberty -- so he kept driving, unaware he had dragged a baby in a stroller for a mile after killing her father in a collision on an unlit road.

[jaykay]

This is a tragedy for sure, the young father's life wasted by a drunk driver, but the baby surviving a mile-long dragging has to be some kind of miracle.

[clee1]

Praise God for sparing that child!

And the sentence for that POS drunk driver would be death in clee's court.

[eastforker]

This guy will probably beat the drunk driving charge. It was over three hours when he was arrested. Unless he admits he was drunk when driving, all he has to say is that he got drunk after he got home. Yes this is terrible, no doubt, but I have almost hit people walking on narrow two lane roads at night, the victims where not to bright walking with their backs to oncoming traffic.

[DB]

He'll admit he was drunk, it is his only "defense".

It provides him with an excuse for killing someone...

[milemark]

Well, the cops can find out where he got drunk. If it was at a bar or restaurant they can place him drinking before the accident.

Leaving the scene of a fatal accident is also a crime. I don't buy the tree branch story for a second.

If that stroller had been jarred free while the vehicle was traveling, it would have flipped or crashed into something. I think the driver stopped, got out of his car and removed the stroller from his grill and then went home.

[eastforker]

No attorney worth his salt would allow a breathalyzer test three hours after the fact stand up in court. That test has no relevance to the condition of the driver at the time of the accident. Having said that, the article also says he was on anti-depresants, that may hang him on the impaired driving charge.

[eastforker]

Hey, I am not defending this guy, but a good lawyer could get this guy aquitted. Contrary to how one "feels" certain "facts" have to be proven. First they have to prove they knew he hit someone, then they have to prove he was drunk at the time. It will be much easier for the DA to prove he was on continued medication. For the defense to defend that accusation the defendent would have to take the stand and be subject to cross examination. That is where a good prosecuter can trip him up on testimony.But, if his attorney moves for suppresion of evidence for the medication use, he still has a good chance of beating it.

[netmilsmom]

People drive like maniacs here.
God Bless this baby and her family.

[milemark]

Well, his vehicle should have relevant marks linking him to the accident. The fact that he was on his way home means he was probably out drinking. Place him drinking before the accident, show damage on the car that matches damage on the dead body and the stroller, they could have a strong case. If they found parts of the vehicle or paint on the body and/or stroller, he's nailed for sure.

[Wumpus Hunter]

Stop the presses! Headline should read "SUV drags toddler for mile after killing father.

The fact that there was a drunk behind the wheel is irrelevent.

[night reader]

Robert Gallas told authorities he thought he'd just hit a branch with his Jeep Liberty -- so he kept driving, unaware he had dragged a baby in a stroller for a mile

In what brand stroller was the baby riding? I want a stroller like that for my grandkids!

[raybbr]

How do you hit two adults and a baby stroller and think it's all a tree branch? Absolute baloney. If he wasn't drunk when he did it he has less of an excuse. If he was drunk then he is damned.

This guy is on a par with the nurse in Texas who let the guy die in her garage stuck in her windshield.

[mbynack]

They don't need a Breathalyzer to prove that you're impaired. If they can find witnesses that saw him drinking or driving erratically, or if he makes a statement saying he was impaired it can all be used against him. The fact that he hit and injured or killed three people without realizing it is probably enough evidence to prove that he was impaired.

[jaykay]

In what brand stroller was the baby riding? I want a stroller like that for my grandkids!

I just caught a breif glimpe of the stroller on a tv news report. It looked like an old one. The couple was from Hamtramck, which is a pretty poor community virtually surrounded by the city of Detroit. I'll bet they got it at a Salvation Army or Goodwill store or it was given by a relative or friend. A newer stroller made of plastic and light metal would have never held up. I remember seeing the stroller my parents had used for me before it was passed along to a neighbor who was expecting. It had a steel frame!