Fatality on I-435 before Chiefs Game

[DJ's left nut]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/kc...ice/ar-BBPv62x

Speed blamed but 50-70 isn't a speed problem; it's an attention to the road problem. Driver of the van didn't get a statement (something tells me the police on the scene didn't press for one).

No evidence of alcohol - frankly that doesn't surprise me. I was never of the mind that the guy was out there driving hammered in a police van for an off-duty gig. It doesn't take much to presume that he was smarter than that.

But I'd damn sure like to know what he was doing. He clearly wasn't paying attention and the key question is why?

[sedated]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

But I'd damn sure like to know what he was doing. He clearly wasn't paying attention and the key question is why?

Maybe I'm becoming cynical in my old(er) age, but drivers are paying less and less attention and I blame cell phones.

I try to never use mine while driving but rarely ride with anyone who isn't playing a song, looking at GPS, or texting/talking. Meanwhile every time I'm on the highway it feels like I spend the whole time avoiding people who are going dangerously slow, swerving into occupied lanes, or just acting like someone who has no clue what is going on around them. There is an accident EVERY DAY during my commute, and 5+ years ago that seemed to be limited to once or twice a week.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by sedated

Maybe I'm becoming cynical in my old(er) age, but drivers are paying less and less attention and I blame cell phones.

I try to never use mine while driving but rarely ride with anyone who isn't playing a song, looking at GPS, or texting/talking. Meanwhile every time I'm on the highway it feels like I spend the whole time avoiding people who are going dangerously slow, swerving into occupied lanes, or just acting like someone who has no clue what is going on around them. There is an accident EVERY DAY during my commute, and 5+ years ago that seemed to be limited to once or twice a week.

It's not you being cynical, it's the truth. It never fails, if I'm behind someone swerving, not maintaining speed, randomly braking for no apparent reason, they are ALWAYS ****ing with their phones. And besides the obvious danger involved, it plain makes me nervous following them because I know they're not paying attention.

And they're getting less selective about when and where they do it, rush hour on the freeway? Gotta get this text out! Pouring rain? Doesn't matter, this call is important! Hell we were following a semi truck on I-80 in western NE last weekend that kept creeping off the side of the road. When we finally passed him I looked up in his window and sure enough, he was looking down to his side. ARE YOU ****ING KIDDING ME, YOU'RE IN A ****ING 18 WHEELER. I should have had my phone ready and snapped a pic and sent it to the trucking company.

Shit is completely out of control.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by baitism

Yeah, I had another student from that year that emailed me about it Sunday Night. It was tough. I had talked to him at Roe Park about a month before.

My condolences, I know it isn't family, but still a loss.

Originally Posted by sedated

Maybe I'm becoming cynical in my old(er) age, but drivers are paying less and less attention and I blame cell phones.

I try to never use mine while driving but rarely ride with anyone who isn't playing a song, looking at GPS, or texting/talking. Meanwhile every time I'm on the highway it feels like I spend the whole time avoiding people who are going dangerously slow, swerving into occupied lanes, or just acting like someone who has no clue what is going on around them. There is an accident EVERY DAY during my commute, and 5+ years ago that seemed to be limited to once or twice a week.

True. I had a young lady making a left turn while texting yesterday pull right in front of me. Glad I was paying attention, it was unbelievable.

[bowener]

Originally Posted by sedated

Maybe I'm becoming cynical in my old(er) age, but drivers are paying less and less attention and I blame cell phones.

I try to never use mine while driving but rarely ride with anyone who isn't playing a song, looking at GPS, or texting/talking. Meanwhile every time I'm on the highway it feels like I spend the whole time avoiding people who are going dangerously slow, swerving into occupied lanes, or just acting like someone who has no clue what is going on around them. There is an accident EVERY DAY during my commute, and 5+ years ago that seemed to be limited to once or twice a week.

With cops, it's not just their cell phones either. They are constantly on their laptops. I get that it might be pertinent to their job, but it doesn't make it any more responsible. Hell, the other day I watched a cop driving down a busy city street with a cell phone up to his ear with his left hand, and his right hand was typing away on his laptop. Use speakerphone, dick head.

[cooper barrett]

Originally Posted by bowener

With cops, it's not just their cell phones either. They are constantly on their laptops. I get that it might be pertinent to their job, but it doesn't make it any more responsible. Hell, the other day I watched a cop driving down a busy city street with a cell phone up to his ear with his left hand, and his right hand was typing away on his laptop. Use speakerphone, dick head.

They are highly trained professionals who... **** it, they are idiots when it comes to anything but the power of their jobs.

If you saw an Comcast driver doing the same thing you would be making calls and screaming bloody hell.

See the cop burn up his chase car in the "fails" thread? Idiots

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by sedated

Maybe I'm becoming cynical in my old(er) age, but drivers are paying less and less attention and I blame cell phones.

I try to never use mine while driving but rarely ride with anyone who isn't playing a song, looking at GPS, or texting/talking. Meanwhile every time I'm on the highway it feels like I spend the whole time avoiding people who are going dangerously slow, swerving into occupied lanes, or just acting like someone who has no clue what is going on around them. There is an accident EVERY DAY during my commute, and 5+ years ago that seemed to be limited to once or twice a week.

It’s not you man. This whole goddamn society has become super ADD and can’t focus on anything at all. The last 10-15 years have really catered to providing information quickly and easily, not just cell phones - but they’re the main driver. Phones have gotten so good at easily accessing information, along with Facebook twitter and wherever else that anytime we lose focus for just a second we can go off and get sidetracked.

And since we are stupid non-self aware children, we just allow ourselves to get consumed and get nothing done.

I’m not immune to it. But I’m self aware enough to know that it can become a problem and address it.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/kc...ice/ar-BBPv62x

Speed blamed but 50-70 isn't a speed problem; it's an attention to the road problem. Driver of the van didn't get a statement (something tells me the police on the scene didn't press for one).

No evidence of alcohol - frankly that doesn't surprise me. I was never of the mind that the guy was out there driving hammered in a police van for an off-duty gig. It doesn't take much to presume that he was smarter than that.

But I'd damn sure like to know what he was doing. He clearly wasn't paying attention and the key question is why?

One thing I haven't seen addressed is whether they checked his phone or phone records. Seems to me that should be the first thing they looked at. Not that we could count on them being honest about it.

Someone mentioned you being a lawyer, so perhaps you would know if it's possible for the family's lawyer or anyone else to subpoena his phone and records?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

One thing I haven't seen addressed is whether they checked his phone or phone records. Seems to me that should be the first thing they looked at. Not that we could count on them being honest about it.

Someone mentioned you being a lawyer, so perhaps you would know if it's possible for the family's lawyer or anyone else to subpoena his phone and records?

Generally yes, those would be absolutely discoverable. There are always complications suing the police due to some immunity issues, but I don't see those being insurmountable.

If he was on his phone, it'll get out.