Man flees DUI checkpoint; passenger dies

I watched a young man flee a DUI checkpoint on the Country Club Plaza about 1:15 a.m. today and crash into another car and a lightpole. His passenger died.
I watched rescuers pull the still-living driver from the Pontiac G6 that had been travelling an estimated 70 mph when the collisions occurred.
The car they'd bounced off of, a red Saturn, sat a couple hundred feet away with a badly crumpled driver's side. I saw at least two ambulances on the scene; officers said later the Saturn driver was taken to the hospital too.
I saw these things while observing the DUI checkpoint at 46th Terrace and J.C. Nichols Parkway, a joint operation of KC police and the Missouri Highway Patrol, with a motorcycle assist from the county sheriff's office.
I was standing across the street from the checkpoint about 1:15 a.m., listening to Sgt. Roger Hill talk to complaining passengers who'd been left standing in the 38-degree cold while their drinking drivers were being checked for sobriety.
Suddenly I heard tires squealing and turned. I saw an officer start to take off after the Pontiac, which was disappearing over the hill. Then there was the loud crunch of crumpling metal. I heard an officer say, "He's involved."
I spoke with two officers the driver had narrowly missed when he turned around after already entering the checkpoint. As we spoke, an observer from the county prosecutor's office rode up and jumped out of a fire batt chief's car.
"A prosecutor shouldn't have to see sh*t like that!" he said excitedly. "They're splattered all over."
It's 3 a.m. Saturday. Updates to come.

Star story Saturday

Saturday, March 18, 2006:
Update 10:30 a.m. - It was the passenger, not driver, who died, police said this morning.
Update 11:15 a.m. - Jackson County multi-agency DUI results
Update 5:49 p.m. - Car was a Pontiac G6; fatally injured passenger was 18 years old

Sunday, March 19, 2006
Driver's decision to flee is deadly (Star story)

Monday, March 20, 2006:
It'll be a while before we get driver BAC: Update
St. Pat's organizer: What more can we do?

Comments

[Beth]

If sitting at a checkpoint bothers you then stay home. I have lost family members and friends to drunk driving. Not once have we blamed the POLICE for not stopping them before this happened. When you get behind the wheel when you have been drinking, it is the same as going out with a loaded gun. The Police would rather inconvenience you for a few minutes and if necessary take you off the streets than to work an accident you have caused and have to clean up your remains or the remains of innocent people, because they hadn't stopped you.

The person who posted the first comment, hope you die soon and get killed by a drunk better yet you sound like a drunk go kill yourself!

You people are stupid stupid stupid.

The kid made a horrible decision that cost a quality young man his life. It is not the cops fault; everyone knew there were going to be check points, especially in that location.

It would have been much better for the kid driving to have taken the DUI, and we wouldn’t have lost a good young man over such a stupid thing.

Hopefully they charge the driver with Vehicular Manslaughter and avaiding police and Drunk Driving then maybe he won’t make the same stupid decision that endangers all of our lives, his own life and his friends..

[openmind]

Greg, do you have any updates regarding this story? Do we know for sure that the driver was drunk? I am not really doubting this, but he could have also ran b/c he had warrants or for some other reason.
I am the first person to defend against violations of civil liberties, but I think that these check points, if done correctly, are a good thing. If the scope is limited to just sobriety (and from the arrests it appears it is not) then I think these are a great way to save lives. I don’t exactly know how these things work (I haven’t had the pleasure of driving through one) but I do not think that the officers should be able to search the cars, or run warrant checks on the drivers. FYI, it has been upheld in several state supreme courts that police cannot ask for identification from passengers for any purpose other than as a witness for a crime, no warrant checks. That is not to say that they don’t get away with this if you don’t stand up for your rights.
Anyway, I have no problem submitting to sobriety checks, as long as the courts do not let them become fishing expeditions that police use to check warrants and search cars. This is beyond the intended scope of the stop, and I think a warrant should be required to do anything other than a random sobriety check. Once again, I am the first person to stand up for civil liberties, however I think that, as long as the scope is limited, the benefits of these checkpoints greatly outweigh the potential harm.
A couple of other things, “slippery slope” does exist with regard to legal precedent. Once that initial precedent is set, it is much easier to gradually erode rights. Also, W! are you a police officer? If you are thank you for your service. There are jerk cops out there, but there are also great ones that truly want to help people. Again, this is coming from one of the most liberal people you will meet.

[Jake]

Consuming alcohol is the problem here. If you have to drink to have fun, relax, etc., then there is something wrong with you - every one of you - period. Alcohol was accidently invented by men, who then proceded to continue making and drinking it to GET DRUNK. Alcohol is THE reason the police have checkpoints. They're not stopping you to see if you had an adequate meal, enjoyed yourself at the movies, etc. They're seeing if you voluntarily drank alcohol and are impaired - TO KEEP YOU FROM KILLING YOURSELF OR OTHERS!
You want to drink alcoholand get drunk? Do it in the privacy of your own home and STAY THERE - and don't risk MY or MY FAMILY'S, or MY FRIEND'S LIVES! ANYONE who condones the use of alcohol in ANY other manner is an IDIOT!

[Steve]

OK, the truth. If the city was really interested in stopping drunk driving they would check people leaving the bar, before they got into a car. Sounds logical right, but there is no money in that solution. Let's wait till they get behind the wheel of a car and then ruin years of their life, charge them high court fees, help the lawyers out and don't forget the class fee and the, which class should I be in, fee. Then lets tack on a SR-22 for 2 years. Now, we know we can't put a cop in every bar, but we can make the bar place a bouncer, (HMM, already there) checking people at the door who had to tell who was driving when they came in. And they can't leave till a cab, or proof of a sober driver. Ok, what about people walking bar to bar. Since this is very few of the total people, have a wrist band, stamp, or something proving they live within walking distance, maybe something you could pick up at the DMV, HMMM, this could make some money! I don't agree drunk people should be driving, but having a couple of drinks with dinner and risk going to jail is a group of people paying the bill for a overly strict policy. Notice, the drunk alcohol level has been forced down due to the money it generates. You don't see cops watching or following rapists, or killers, No, but they will sit outside a bar a wait for people to leave knowing they have a better than 70% chance of a bust. I'm all for cleaning up the streets but if you are really concerned, stop it at the door, not after it will make the city money!

[Harry Paratestes]

Police stopped 996 southbound vehicles at 46th Terrace and J.C. Nichols Parkway and determined the 28 drivers were intoxicated. Police also arrested four persons for outstanding warrants.

Again numbers do not lie. Good old police work is still more effective. The checkpoints are for grand standing.

[CRYSTAL]

I read a comment on everyone was having fun until the black people showed up. Shame on you. And my next comment if for the family of the deceased if you ever happen to read this, young people make a lot of bad decisions, and I'm sorry that this decision caused someone to loss their life. Sometimes going out having a good time can be tragic no matter if your black or white. We all should know by now. Some people need to be a little more sensitive. Especially now that this young man's family have to arrange for his burial.

[Crime Scene KC]

Hi openmind,

I'm trying to gather police reports and follow up. See my update

Thanks,
Greg Reeves

[Brittany]

I was surprised that only 28 people were determined intoxicated. I thought it would be higher. I think that checkpoints are a good thing. I am sure there are other ways of determining who is drunk but right now this seems to be the most realistic or feasible solution. It is sad that a driver decided to do a Uturn instead of going through the checkpoint. Regardless of the reason a young person lost their life because of that split decision. I think that W made quite a few valid points in her/his postings.

[SS]

When are people going to take responsibility for their own actions? The man driving the car made decisions based on choices, albeit not the best choices to drink, to drive while intoxicated, and to run from the check point. I doubt he was forced to do any of these things, he just made bad decisions.

His life, the family of his passenger and the family of the car he hit will be impacted for the rest of their natural lives all because of dumb decisions.

Sure, it is a pain to be involved in a check point, but as previously noted, the people that gripe and complain about a check point are the ones that will bitch even louder if something happens to a loved one or friend of theirs. Then you will hear, "Where were the police when this happened? Why wasn't this stopped?" You all know the scenario.

If you are concerned about driving while intoxicated, purchase one of those portable breathalyzers. (I learned this from one of my daughters when she was in college ). Take a big hit on it before you enter your car. If it registers get a cab. If the fare is going to be large, consider the alternative (e.g., this accident) and I bet you are worth far more then what the cab fare will be.

I feel for all of the families because nothing will be the same because of stupid mistakes and bad decisions.

[kcshocker]

jvinkc, this is the dumbest comment I've read here. "I think that drunk drivers should be stopped and ticketed but only if they are doing something wrong."

DRUNK DRIVERS ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG!!! THEY ARE DRUNK, AND THEY ARE DRIVING!!! GET A CLUE!!!

[duh]

"Police stopped 996 southbound vehicles at 46th Terrace and J.C. Nichols Parkway and determined the 28 drivers were intoxicated."

A 3% catch rate is pretty good. It's more than they get at the airport security checkpoints, and those take alot longer to get through.

Good job guys, the VAST majority of the population supports what you are doing.

Two things (maybe three):

One - it cracks me up that so many people have such strong opinions about certain topics, yet they appear stupid due to constant spelling errors and poor grammar. If you want people to take your opinions serious, please refer to a dictionary when necessary and proof read your posts before actually submitting them. Otherwise, if you don't take the topic of conversation serious enough to value the impact that your words will have on other people's beliefs (which will be "no impact" if you sound like a dunce), please don't waste our time with your post.

Two - I know that everyone is entitled to their opinions in this country, but it's simply ignorant to bring hatred and racism into this particular storyline. There was no talk of police abuse, black vs. white, etc. Save your hatred for when it is justified and stop looking for excuses to bring up these topics.

Three - For those of you who weren't paying attention to the story when you read it, the driver did not die. Only his passenger died. I noticed numerous posts that refer to a dead driver, but that wasn't the case.

I understand that posting is good because it is evidence that we are all allowed to have our own opinion, but please be mature, informed, and intelligent in doing so.

You know what who cares if someone misspells something. Some people have more important things to think about then spelling. GET OVER YOURSELF!!!

[duh]

The original story posted by the Star was that the driver died. The Star corrected their (or would you prefer they're, there, thar) error after this blog began.

I do not take you “serious” because of grammatical errors. You should have used “seriously” because it is an adverb describing “how you are taking” a person's opinion.

I do agree that they’re r alot of misspellings on this here site tho. It’s a sham that noone every tooken a grammer class. I still get what people are saying through. I do agree wit what your saying b/c it is hard too understand wat ignerant peoples who cant spell or use grammer are saying.

Sorry too be an arse, I love ironey tho.

Yew our knot may king two mush cents.

I guess that means you as well? Then vs. than? Well, if you take the entire content of my post into consideration instead of the little part that aggravated you so much, you will notice that my point was to make intelligent comments in your posts and think about what is being discussed. Spelling was the minor point of my post. But, good job in proving my point.

The story was about an unfortunate event where a person made a poor choice and killed their passenger and injured others by doing so. People enjoy trying to make this into a political platform, when all it really is is a statement of a St. Patrick's Day accident due to a drunk driver. Let's feel for the family that lost someone, let's care about the innocent people injured in the Saturn, and let's be thankful that there are officers that there are officers willing to do what they do. In all truth, we all know what this place would be like without law enforcement.

I would think that if people have better things to do than be educated and know how to spell the words they are attempting to use, they probably have better things to do than write posts turning a situation into something that it isn't. I am "over myself" and I won't apologize for expecting my peers to take some pride in themselves and what they have to say. After all, someone lost their life and there is a family who probably would not appreciate reading that people are more concerned about getting by checkpoints than what happened to the deceased last weekend.

Why don't y'all take this to a dipsh*t blog site and leave the rest of us to our thoughts? BTW, the "anal spelling" poster has a point - you don't have time to spell your words right, but you'll take the time to spell all of your words wrong?

[Rosepins]

i am truly disgusted by anyone who defends the rights of drunk drivers.

no one is talking about what happened to the driver of the second car. i was home (yes, kc is my home and i love it forever) last week and met him only the day before.

the second driver's life will forever be changed because some brat kid decided to go out and party without thinking about the consequences.

i have lost friends in drunk driving incidents (not accidents) who were the cause, and i have no sympathy for someone who believes they are more entitled to life than someone else.

Steve,
Did you eat a bowl of stupid for breakfast?
Why would the cops follow around rapists or murderers instead of drunks? I think they'd probably arrest a murderer or rapist. Besides, do you really think the police are going to stop more murderers or rapists before they kill or rape than the number of drunk people they are going to stop before they hurt or kill someone else?
And as for bouncers not letting drunk people leave - come on now. That would be a feasible option if you are willing to pay double what you pay now for a meal/drink out at a restaurant or bar so the bars could increase their staffs for that. And besides, a bouncer holding someone at a bar and not allowing them to leave is otherwise known as entrapment, which is illegal.

[diana]

I just want to thank the one person who wrote in with their facts straight. The person who died was guilty of NO crime!! They were riding with someone who may or may not have been drinking. I couldn't agree with you more when you say that we need to show some humanity and sympathy for the family of the young man who lost his life. Most of the comments on this subject sound like they were written by people who dodged(BECAUSE THEY WERE DRUNK!!!!) a couple check points themselves!!! I bet most of you are trying to find fault and point your finger or CAST THE FIRST STONE, when you have no right. We all have done stupid things especially when we were TEENAGERS!!!!! This kid did not set out to kill his friend!!!! How about a little compassion???

To the English teacher bitching about grammar and spelling. Go read a book in the corner of the library where you belong. You don't belong in the real world. People like you are book worms with no common sense. IDIOT!

[kumcdoctor]

Love this great country!
Only in America that people have time
to argue among each other and wasting
time. Go grab a book, read and learn
something. Become a nurse, a doctor
so that you may someday help people that got
hurt in a senseless accidents cause by
poor judgement. Accidents will always
happen no matter what. Oh one last thing..
could someone check my spelling and grammar?
after all I am a doctor! lol

[Mike]

To whoever wrote back to Steve. The bowl of cereal is on you. He was making silly suggestions, not serious solutions. The POINT he was making is if the city truely wanted to stop drinking and driving it could be stopped at the bar, by whatever means, instead of letting people leave drunk, and drive, like the whole friends don't let friends drive drunk thing. We are talking about SAVING lives not letting drunk people decide. SO, IF THE CITY IS TRING TO SAVE LIVES WHY DO THEY WAIT TILL YOUR DRIVING (FROM AN OBVIOUS DRINKING SITUATION)JUST TO ARREST YOU AND COST YOU ALOT OF MONEY, MAYBE JAIL TIME AND A COUPLE YEARS OF YOUR LIFE, AND TELL YOU-"WELL YOU COULD OF HURT SOMEONE." Seems to me there could be another less costly solution like checking the driver before he-she drives. That would save lives wouldn't it, maybe take the keys and make them pick them up in the morning, they can have them if they leave in a cab, whatever. I would bet you, that would just cost to much money, eaiser to wait till they are driving, that makes money.

Love this great country!
Only in America that people have time
to argue among each other and wasting
time. Go grab a book, read and learn
something. Become a nurse, a doctor
so that you may someday help people that got
hurt in a senseless accidents cause by
poor judgement. Accidents will always
happen no matter what. Oh one last thing..
could someone check my spelling and grammar?
after all I am a doctor! lol

To the dumbass Doctor. You spelled judgment wrong and you should have capatilized After to being the sentence. Go back to Doctor School. Go help someone you geek!

[Richard]

THIS IS WHAT I WENT THROUGH ON ST. PATRICKS' NIGHT IN WESTPORT, TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, WAITED 20 MINUTES FOR A CAB THEN WHEN I FINALLY GOT A CAB, HE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE TAKING ME WHERE I WANTED TO GO (HOME), SO HE DENIED ME A RIDE, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT ARISES FROM CABS, WHEN THEY THINK YOUR REALLY OUT OF IT, NOT ALL, BUT FOR ME IT'S THE MAJORITY OF THEM I GET , THEY TRY TO RUN YOU UP, WHEN YOU CALL THEM ON IT, THEY PLAY THE MIND GAME, DON'T TELL ME HOW TO DRIVE. SO WITH THIS IN MIND, WHAT MESSAGE IS THIS SENDING US? WHAT WOULD M.A.D.D. THINK? I HAVE PATIENCE, HEAVEN HELP THE DRIVER WHO DOESN'T AND WHOEVER HE/SHE MAY HURT.

[Tom]

I like the blog about a better solution. How about a city run bus system for Friday and Sat. night. It will cost so much for how ever far you are going. Oh, but wait, that would save lives, get most of the over .08 people off the road, but, it doesn't make as much money as waiting till they drive themselves and get busted. I doubt the city will go for that!

[thinking]

KUMCDoctor wrote, "to me there could be another less costly solution like checking the driver before he-she drives."

I agree. In fact, I think we should post cardiac surgeons at every McDonalds to stop people from eating fries and Big Macs. That would prevent all the heart issues.

Oh wait, we can't afford cardiac surgeons at every McDonalds. Hmm. Maybe we can't afford to place police at every place a person can get drunk (bars, homes, halls, etc.).

Check points serve a useful purpose:
- They check areas and times that are more likely to have drunks with the intention of catching them near the source
- They remind people that drunk driving is illegal

[sup]

Richard, when you sober up, don't forget to turn your caps lock off.

Buses won't solve the problem. Drunks won't admit they can't drive as long as they can still walk. Besides, it's obvious nobody in this town has an appetite for mass transportation. People want to drive (I think that's in the Constitution somewhere).

[Friend of the driver]

Well i am here to say for one he wasn't drunk and for two the should have let him go about his business. and he only went 70 caue the police came after him and those of you who are going off the police then you need to snap back to reality and they lie to get by....so fuck um. Love you baby!!!! He is doing well.

[Richard]

SUP, IT GOT UR ATTENTION, now I will.

[milwolf]

Monday.

Thanks for your mindless rhetoric. You would make a great member of the Gestapo.

The Supreme Court is nothing more than a collection lawyers with agendas. This same body of lawyers also ruled that Slavery was legal -Dred Scott , outlawed school prayer , and that segregation was ok -Plessy v Ferguson.

Perhaps you have forgotten the first three words to the Constitution " WE the People" or the Missouri State motto " Let the People (not MADD or lazy traffic cops ) Reign Supreme.

Sobriety checkpoints are unconstitutional and a violation of our 4th Amendment rights.
Where is your warrant and probable cause?

By the way, my late dad was KCMOPD and I am proud of it.He was not a "gun and Badge "
freak like you !!!