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Speed, alcohol thought to be factors in fatal Merrillville crash (illegal kills three)
Post Tribune ^ | May 1, 2008 | Andy Grimm

Posted on 05/05/2008 1:49:19 AM PDT by ruination

MERRILLVILLE — Friends and family mourned the death of a prominent attorney, a young couple soon to be married and a Mexican immigrant who had long struggled with a drinking problem — all four of them killed in three-car collision Wednesday near the border of Merrillville and Winfield.

Only a day after ending a high-profile dogfighting trial, Garry Weiss was driving south on Randolph Street toward his home in Lakes of the Four Seasons after league night at Stardust Bowl in Merrillville. Heading north on Randolph were Steve Hough, 26, and his girlfriend, Amy Bartelmey, 25, who made their home in Hobart.

As Hough and Weiss pulled into the intersection of Randolph and 101st Avenue, Mario Cadena sped west, past a stop sign and into Hough’s Ford Explorer, driving the truck into Weiss’ Mustang. No one emerged alive from the twisted wreckage.

Merrillville police declined comment on the crash but said high speed was a factor. The Lake County coroner will not have results of blood toxicology reports for several days. Police sources say they believe Cadena had been drinking, and a beer bottle was on the front seat of his ruined Jeep Cherokee at the police impound yard.

Hough was due to graduate from Purdue University Calumet in two weeks with a degree in public relations, and had picked out an engagement ring for Bartelmey, his girlfriend of more than a year. Bartelmey, who had a 2-year-old son from a previous relationship, was a hair stylist and hoped to work at a high-end salon.

“(Hough) could have done anything he wanted, he was that kind of guy,” said Jessica DeKruiff, a classmate. “I know he was really ready to get a job, so he and Amy could get a place of their own and get a wedding ring.”

Weiss, 53, is survived by two high school-age children and his wife, who attended several days of his most recent trial in Lake County, in which Weiss defended Gary firefighter Carlton Davis Jr. against charges he operated a dogfighting kennel. Davis was found guilty on 23 of the 26 counts against him, but Weiss had said he would appeal the verdict.

“He was just the nicest, funniest guy,” said Jennifer Campbell, a lawyer at Weiss’ firm. “He was everything a lawyer, and a person, should try to be. He just believed lawyers should help people.”

“Honestly, if he heard about (Cadena) or someone like him, and the thought he could help him, he might have done it.” Cadena, 30, had lived in the U.S. for 12 years and had no driver’s license.

His work visa had long ago expired, but he continued to live and work in and around Crown Point, often holding down several jobs at once so he could send money to his family in Mexico, said Kim Rodriguez, who had dated Cadena for several years.

Cadena had struggled with alcoholism, and he and Rodriguez remained close even after breaking off their relationship two years ago. Cadena was a father figure for Rodriguez’s son, and was planning to move in with Rodriguez’s mother in hopes of kicking his drinking habit.

Rodriguez said she last spoke to Cadena on Monday, and had no idea if he had been drinking the night of the crash.

“I know people are going to say he was illegal and he was drunk,” Rodriguez said. “He was battling (alcoholism) as hard as he could. He was still reading his Bible every day, and he had things he wanted to do.”


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; US: Indiana
KEYWORDS: aliens; crimaliens; illegals; immigrantlist; immigration; indiana
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Summary: alcoholic illegal alien who self-extended his temporary visa and who had planned on moving in with his former girlfriend's mother ends the life of a popular attorney and two good kids, leaving at least three American families decimated.
1 posted on 05/05/2008 1:49:20 AM PDT by ruination
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To: ruination

Your summary leaves out an important point; that the story makes everyone sound like an equal victim in the “accident”. And note the “struggling with alcoholism”. Yeah, right. I don’t think trouble opening your next bottle while your already drunk qualifies as “struggling with alcoholism”. The “journalist” who wrote this piece should be keel-hauled.


2 posted on 05/05/2008 1:57:59 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: samtheman

I thought the same thing. The author must have started to feel a bit of liberal guilt as he was finishing the piece and so added the paragraph at the end.


3 posted on 05/05/2008 2:05:27 AM PDT by ruination
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To: ruination
A sad story, but for relevance, the state's name should appear in the summary. There are nine states with a "Winfield", but only one "Merrillville". (Indiana)
4 posted on 05/05/2008 2:10:24 AM PDT by Does so (...against all enemies, DOMESTIC and foreign...)
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To: Liz; Calpernia; calcowgirl; indylindy; AuntB; Tennessee Nana

Another the-wages-of-shamnesty-are-death Ping.


5 posted on 05/05/2008 2:13:09 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle (If McCain really CAN "win without conservatives," then why do you care if I vote for him or not?)
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To: ruination
Very sad. Prayers for the families.

I know Merrillville from my Purdue days. It was a landmark point between school and Chicago during weekend roadtrips. There used to be a good Mexican restaurant right off the highway if I recall that served some great Margaritas. We used to stay in the Knights Inn nearby now and then. They were pretty happy when we left...

6 posted on 05/05/2008 2:21:56 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: samtheman; ruination
Your summary leaves out an important point; that the story makes everyone sound like an equal victim in the “accident”. And note the “struggling with alcoholism”. Yeah, right. I don’t think trouble opening your next bottle while your already drunk qualifies as “struggling with alcoholism”. The “journalist” who wrote this piece should be keel-hauled.

I had the same thoughts as you guys...

...but for better or worse, this also popped in to my poor old addled mind:

Mother, Jugs & Speed

7 posted on 05/05/2008 2:25:32 AM PDT by backhoe (Just a Merry-Hearted Keyboard PirateBoy, plunderinÂ’ his way across the WWWÂ…)
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To: samtheman
How about this one:

Mario Cadena sped west, past a stop sign and into Hough’s Ford Explorer, driving the truck into Weiss’ Mustang. No one emerged alive from the twisted wreckage.

Well we all drive *past* stop signs. Could it be that THROUGH is the correct word choice here? Geez.

8 posted on 05/05/2008 2:25:47 AM PDT by Ezekiel
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To: KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle

I read this crap all the time, yet......every stinking one of these doofus candidates for POTUS pretend this isn’t even an issue yet......they get away with ignoring US citizens in favor of Mexicans.

They are going to keep getting away with it because We The People have let them.

Anyone ever notice how the illegal lawbreakers keep protesting and get heard, but We The People do not demand to be heard on this issue?

Oh, and John McCain is as bad, or worse than, the two idiotic worthless Democrats.


9 posted on 05/05/2008 2:26:38 AM PDT by dforest (I have almost forgotten that McCain is the nominee.)
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To: ruination

Appalling. RIP for the victims of the criminal.


10 posted on 05/05/2008 2:27:11 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: ruination
“....Mexican immigrant who had long struggled with a drinking problem ...”

Are there any other kind???

The “homicide car crasher” gets equal billing with the innocent victims. Sickening journalist piece of scum.

11 posted on 05/05/2008 3:26:27 AM PDT by CapnJack
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To: ruination

And where is the outrage? Illegals killing more and more US Citizens. Through rape and murder, through drunk driving, through various other means...

We need to hold our public officials responsible for their duty to protect the US from this illegal invasion.

I say every one of these criminal illegals needs to be loaded into a C-130. Deport them by flying at about 500 feet above their respective home country’s capitol and shove them out of the plane. Parachute is optional.


12 posted on 05/05/2008 4:47:27 AM PDT by TheBattman (LORD God, please give us a Christian Patriot with a backbone for President in 08, Amen.)
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To: ruination

“I know people are going to say he was illegal and he was drunk,” Rodriguez said.

But only because he was illegal and he was drunk.


13 posted on 05/05/2008 4:54:18 AM PDT by ProfessorGage
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To: ruination
“I know people are going to say he was illegal and he was drunk,... and he had things he wanted to do.”

To bad returning home wasn't one of them 

14 posted on 05/05/2008 5:00:53 AM PDT by grjr21
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To: KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle

Oh, please-—another suckup media sob story? When will they report these illegals despise America and Americans. They invade our country, not to live the American dream, but to give Americans a nightmare.

The escalating number of Americans killed by illegals in autos makes one suspect these invaders are being tasked as kamikaze drivers by their handlers.

Are they on the hunt for Americans to kill? As one FReeper posted-— “puttng one over on Americanos” is considered a great feat of latino machismo.

Must be a laugh riot in Mehico over tequilas about how the Mehicans duped Bush.


15 posted on 05/05/2008 5:05:15 AM PDT by Liz (Without the brave, there'd be no land of the free. Senator Fred Thompson)
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To: ruination
'Drunk Illegal Kills Three'


Sen McCain, please pick up the White Courtesy Phone.
16 posted on 05/05/2008 5:09:45 AM PDT by Condor51 (I have guns in my nightstand because a Cop won't fit)
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To: ruination
Yet another Friend of Bush just doing the DUI that Americans won't do.

Also proof of why the "we must document them so we know who they are" people are deluding themselves:

His work visa had long ago expired...

"We" knew who this turd was and "we" did nothing about it.

17 posted on 05/05/2008 5:12:50 AM PDT by whd23
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To: ruination

Where’s the obligatory BARF ALERT ????????????


18 posted on 05/05/2008 5:13:44 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: ruination

What state is this ????????


19 posted on 05/05/2008 5:14:11 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: Tennessee Nana

Indiana


20 posted on 05/05/2008 5:16:17 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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