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Authorities Search Driver's Home In Fatal Farmers' Market Crash
KNBC Chanel 4 Website ^ | 9:29 a.m. PDT July 17, 2003 | KNBC Chanel 4

Posted on 07/17/2003 10:10:14 AM PDT by Smogger

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Authorities in Santa Monica searched the home of 86-year-old Russell Weller Thursday. Police say the elderly driver plowed through an open-air market Wednesday, leaving nine people dead and more than 40 hurt.

Santa Monica Police Chief James Butts said evidence shows Weller recently struck the back of his garage at least twice with his car.

Authorities are investigating why Weller's car plowed through the crowded farmers market, killing nine and injuring up to 45 others -- and whether the driver was competent to be behind the wheel in the first place.

Police said Russell Weller told them he may have hit the gas pedal instead of the brake Wednesday, hurling victims into the air as his car careened down a street closed to traffic.

"Mr. Weller and his family want to express their deepest sympathies to the victims and their families of the tragic accident earlier today," Weller family attorney Jim Bianco said in a statement Wednesday. "This was an unintentional and unfortunate accident."

Eight victims were pronounced dead at the scene and a ninth, a 50-year-old man, died later at a St. John's Hospital, spokeswoman Barbara Bishop said. Fourteen others were critically injured.

Weller was not arrested, but authorities were considering whether the case was "manslaughter of some type" and investigating whether he was qualified to drive, said Police Chief James T. Butts Jr.

"There may be some negligence as to his capacity to drive safely," Butts said, although he added that Weller, of Santa Monica, has a valid driver's license.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbc4.tv ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: farmersmarket; murderer; santamonica
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To: IYAS9YAS
*fotfl* This is true, especially in California.
121 posted on 07/17/2003 11:40:30 AM PDT by LisaAnne
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To: Capt.YankeeMike
Equating a drunk trying to get home with a person hunting down an enemy and shooting them does no one any good.

Um. That wasn't me.

122 posted on 07/17/2003 11:40:51 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW ("I'm gonna need a hacksaw" Jack Bauer)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
Therefore, the freedom of movement as guaranteed by the 9th and 10th Amendments apply to the states also.

The 9th and 10th Amendments do NOT guarantee freedom of movement. And the 10th Amendment says that if it's not a power expressly granted to the federal government (regulation of movement within a state is not a power granted to the feds) OR expressly forbidden to the states, it's left to the people OR the states. If a state opts to outlaw the use of motor vehicles, that's their 10th Amendment right.

123 posted on 07/17/2003 11:41:08 AM PDT by Poohbah (Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women.)
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To: DJ MacWoW
When you can't get around in your community, you move to a place you can take care of those little things.

There has never been a right to keep a house forever once you become a burden on everybody else - and grandma's white picket fence has come at one helluva price in social security and medicare.

As far as I'm concerned, they need to pay their own freight, pry open those dusty wallets, and quit being the leeches they are.

124 posted on 07/17/2003 11:41:18 AM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine (and thats the rest of the story.....)
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To: January24th
But while we're at it, let's RAISE the age threshold for young drivers to 18.

I agree with that.

125 posted on 07/17/2003 11:41:45 AM PDT by beaversmom (Celebrating May 5th and all days with an American Flag)
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To: Sabertooth
Golly, I'm sorry you missed the point.
126 posted on 07/17/2003 11:41:58 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW ("I'm gonna need a hacksaw" Jack Bauer)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
Today, an automobile and the ability to drive is a necessity in most of the country.

We can thank the city and social planners of the early 20th century for that. There are other ways to build physical communities that don't tie up half our wealth in that ton of rusting iron in the driveway and the rest in millions of miles of free-for-all roadways.

127 posted on 07/17/2003 11:42:35 AM PDT by RightWhale (Destroy the dark; restore the light)
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To: Smogger
One guy 84 yrs old failed. How many million elderly are driving? This is nonsense. But it takes the news off of the fiscal problems, etc.
128 posted on 07/17/2003 11:42:42 AM PDT by Digger
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To: Marysecretary
"Now they go in every week and take them where they need to go. It's an imposition on their time but they're willing to do it in order to keep him off the roads."

Interesting way to put it. I'm sure it's an imposition for adult children of oldsters to help them out. I'm equally sure that they imposed on their parents for 18 years or so. I'd never, ever, complain about helping my parents with anything they might need. I owe them my life.
129 posted on 07/17/2003 11:43:09 AM PDT by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: Pern
OK, question: Why was Mr. Weller's home searched in the first place? The crime/accident was comitted in town, on a public street. What basis of 'probable cause' do the cops have to conduct a search?

Wow! Just, wow.

130 posted on 07/17/2003 11:43:48 AM PDT by Moonman62
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To: Marysecretary
Most of these people haven't seen what we have. I don't understand their blood-thirsty pursuit of this elderly man. This is a tragedy for ALL involved.
131 posted on 07/17/2003 11:44:00 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW ("I'm gonna need a hacksaw" Jack Bauer)
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To: Chancellor Palpatine
I'm certainly not ready to move in with my adult children. What an absurd thing to say. Most of us at 65 or thereabouts still have our wits about us and can still drive pretty well. Most adult children have enough to worry about just raising their own kids. They should be involved with their parents, but not have them living in the house unless it's absolutely necessary.
132 posted on 07/17/2003 11:44:29 AM PDT by Marysecretary (GOD is still in control!)
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To: RightWhale
"There are other ways to build physical communities that don't tie up half our wealth in that ton of rusting iron in the driveway and the rest in millions of miles of free-for-all roadways."

But none that allow the Freedom to travel with anywhere near the efficiency that individual vehicles provide.

133 posted on 07/17/2003 11:45:24 AM PDT by spunkets
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To: Poohbah
Perhaps it would be better stated that responsibility is associated with the execise of rights.
134 posted on 07/17/2003 11:45:54 AM PDT by KEVLAR
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To: Smogger
When my daughter was in high school, her best friend was hit from behind while riding with a bike club, single file in the bike lane. The old man who hit her was simply too old to drive and the family of the girl who was in a coma for four days, begged the family to take his driver's license away. They refused.
135 posted on 07/17/2003 11:46:46 AM PDT by Eva
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To: Joe Hadenuf
"I had another neighbor stike the back of her garage with the front of her car, she had only been driving a few weeks, she was 17. Accidents happen to all of us, and all ages."

True. One of my classmates in high school drove her car through the front of a drug store after putting it in drive instead of reverse. Then when she realized what was happening she panicked and jammed her foot on the gas instead of the brake. Fortunately, nobody hurt.
136 posted on 07/17/2003 11:47:26 AM PDT by kegler4
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To: MineralMan
They don't mind doing it either. They always pay a lot of attention to their parents and do whatever they can to help out. I wish my folks were around so I could help them out. They're both dead.
137 posted on 07/17/2003 11:47:38 AM PDT by Marysecretary (GOD is still in control!)
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To: Chancellor Palpatine
Your post just drips with respect for the elderly. I'm overwhelmed by your compassion. (NOT)

How do you know it's not the "kids" who are being selfish? Reading your post I'm inclined to think you intensly dislike the elderly.

138 posted on 07/17/2003 11:48:11 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW ("I'm gonna need a hacksaw" Jack Bauer)
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To: Chancellor Palpatine
"This illusory notion of "independence", where geezers go selfishly through life and selfishly through old age while society or their adult children are stuck maintaining them in their "independent" homes (which have to be visited daily) is crap."

Interesting. If those "geezers" have families, then they spent some 18 years or so per child raising them. Many old-timers can live quite fine independently, with just a little assistance, and more power to them.

You don't lose your rights with age in this country.

139 posted on 07/17/2003 11:48:33 AM PDT by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: DJ MacWoW
Yes, it is. I wonder how they would feel if it was THEIR dad who was involved. I'm sure they'd be much more merciful. It's a tragedy all the way around.
140 posted on 07/17/2003 11:48:50 AM PDT by Marysecretary (GOD is still in control!)
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