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Street Racing (pg. 12)
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| dEsidEL |
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Drivers in fatal crash spared jail
`Our hearts go out to Katie,' judge says of Richmond Hill girl, 8, who lost her parents in tragedy
October 04, 2007
Peter Edwards
STAFF REPORTER
Two drivers have been spared jail time for aggressive, high-speed driving that killed the parents of an 8-year-old Richmond Hill girl.
Rob and Lisa Manchester, aged 46 and 43, died when one of two Hondas roaring north on Yonge St. slammed broadside into their vehicle as it turned onto Stouffville Rd., ripping both vehicles apart.
The Hondas had been modified with larger tires and exhausts, lowered suspensions, and air intakes that allow the use of high-octane fuel, police said after the crash.
Yesterday, Justice William Gorewich said he did not believe the drivers Ruben Rodrigues, 22, of Maple, and Marco Gasparro, 19, of Richmond Hill were racing when Rodrigues's Honda slammed into the Manchesters' vehicle.
Rodrigues was travelling 20 to 32 kilometres an hour over the speed limit when he hit the Manchesters. He was followed by Gasparro, who witnesses said was also speeding.
Police were frustrated by yesterday's sentencing, saying they believe the pair would have been convicted of street racing under a new law that came into effect on Sunday.
"I'm disappointed," said Sgt. Dave Mitchell of York Regional Police. He said the two drivers had been driving faster than the other cars on the road, and weaving in and out of traffic, for several kilometres.
The Crown had been seeking a two-year sentence for Rodrigues, and six months for Gasparro.
The sentencing in Newmarket court came six weeks after the Manchester's only child, Katie, fought back tears as she told a packed courtroom that she's "mad at the guys who killed my parents."
"She explained her parents were kind and good to her," the judge said yesterday. "... Our hearts go out to Katie ..."
The Manchesters had been out celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary at the time of the accident. The judge noted that Rob Manchester's blood alcohol level was well above the legal limit at the time of the accident.
Manchester was a letter carrier who was battling cystic fibrosis, a disease that kills many sufferers in childhood, and told friends he was considering taking a medical leave of absence. His wife, Lisa, was an executive with the Toronto Construction Association in Richmond Hill.
Yesterday, Rodrigues who pleaded guilty on May 2 to two counts of dangerous driving causing death was given a conditional sentence of two years less a day.
The sentence is to be served at his home, when he's not working or attending school.
He's also banned from driving for five years and must perform 150 hours of community service. He must complete three years of probation and perform an additional 50 hours of community service once his sentence is completed.
Gasparro, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, was given two years probation, fined $2,000 and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. He was also banned from driving for 18 months.
Mitchell noted there was no clear definition of street racing in Ontario until last Sunday. The new legislation defines it as driving 50 km/h or more above the speed limit but even drivers beneath that threshold can be charged if police believe they were driving in a risky manner, which can include such behaviour as weaving in and out of traffic, obvious competition between drivers, or making unsafe lane changes.
On Sunday, 28 drivers in Ontario were charged under the new law; police immediately impounded their vehicles and suspended their licences for seven days.
The law was changed after several deadly accidents, including a January 2006 collision that killed taxi driver Tahir Khan, a 46-year-old Pakistani immigrant who was just days away from obtaining his Canadian citizenship.
Two Toronto men, Wang-Piao Dumani Ross and Alexander Ryazanov, both 20, were sentenced to house arrest and probation for their roles in the collision. The Crown has appealed their sentence.
In yesterday's case, Rodrigues and Gasparro, both dressed in black suits, stared straight ahead as the judge described "the absolute agony" and "unspeakable pain" that resulted from their driving.
In a soft voice, the judge told court that he has never handled a tougher case. "This was the most difficult case in (my) almost 40 years in this business as a lawyer and a judge," he said.
Even life sentences against the two young drivers would not be enough to ease the pain of surviving members of the Manchester family, Gorewich said. "The actions of these young men have altered the lives of so many ... Both men will live with this for the rest of their lives."
The judge said a "dangerous confluence of circumstances" contributed to the crash that made Katie an orphan, and noted that Rob Manchester's blood alcohol level was over the legal limit.
Neither Rodrigues nor Gasparro had a previous criminal record; neither tested positive for drugs or alcohol after the crash, the judge said.
The judge praised Katie who was not in court yesterday for the victim impact statement she read out in court in August as she hugged a stuffed baby seal.
In a soft, timid voice, she told the court her memories of sledding down a hill of snow her dad had shovelled and playing catch with her parents. Katie also spoke about her new life with her aunt and uncle, Cathy and Jeff Gray, whom her parents had named as her godparents eight years ago.
She told court of the painful adjustment to a new home, a new school and new friends. "I still wish I had my mom and dad," Katie said. "Even though my Aunt Cathy and Uncle Jeff are just like having parents, it's still not the same.''
Her aunt and uncle were in the courtroom yesterday, while Katie attended school. "She's got to get on with her life and she enjoys school," her aunt said in an interview outside court after the sentencing.
Cathy Gray said there has to be a greater public awareness of the horrific consequences of reckless driving, and that she would have welcomed jail sentences as a deterrent to other drivers.
Asked what she will tell Katie about the sentence, she replied, "I don't know, I don't know ... She's very bright. I think she'll handle it."
Mitchell, who has handled the case since the crash, said he worries that people are becoming desensitized to the horrors of traffic accidents. "Our thoughts and our prayers go with Katie," he said.
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source:
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/263510
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| dEsidEL |
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Speed blamed in fatal crash
Two brothers in custody after two women die in five-vehicle collision
October 07, 2007
Tamsyn Burgmann
staff reporter
Just one week after Ontario's tough new street racing laws came into effect, Peel police have charged two brothers in a Brampton five-vehicle crash that killed two women.
Speeding is likely to blame, police said.
Witnesses told police two men each driving a different car were speeding in excess of 140 km/h just after noon yesterday when one lost control, setting off a chain reaction that sent three other cars careering across the road. The posted speed limit in the area is 80 km/h.
The women, believed to be in their late 30s or early 40s, from nearby Palgrave, were driving together in a burgundy Grand Am. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
The brothers each face two counts of criminal negligence causing death, but street racing charges may soon follow.
"There was obviously evidence to suggest people were responsible," said Const. Adam Minnion of Peel Region police. "We can't confirm this is a racing incident just yet."
Investigators worked for more than nine hours, some of it during lightning and torrential rain, piecing together what happened from nearly 150 metres of wreckage.
Who hit whom is still unclear, Minnion said, but the road was dry at the time of the crash.
"It is such a destructive mess-up, they're still figuring out what happened," he said, describing it as the worst accident he's seen in nearly a decade of policing.
"There's literally cars everywhere."
Before the crash, two cars were travelling south along Highway 50, toward Mayfield Rd., north of Major MacKenzie Dr., police said.
Early evidence suggests one, believed to be a black or dark blue Audi, lost control first. The second car was a grey BMW.
"We don't know if they rear-ended (the Grand Am) at such a high speed to push them, or if they crossed over a lane and hit it," Minnion said.
"(But) the Audi lost control somehow it almost sounds like one car was in front of the other."
When it was all over, the Audi its front smashed into a guardrail rested against a tractor-trailer stopped on the northbound shoulder of Highway 50.
The rig's driver was unhurt, having pulled over with moments to spare after hearing a general alert over his CB radio about the accident as it was happening.
Drivers and passengers of the other cars were treated for minor injuries on the scene. Both brothers were unhurt.
"There's no way to go to that scene and tell who was going which way," Minnion said. "The (cars) are everywhere."
Highway 50 from Mayfield Rd. to Castlemore Rd. was closed until around 10 p.m.
Charged are Steven Machado, 22, and Brian Machado, 27, of Mississauga.
They were taken into custody. A bail hearing is set for today.
Police seized their cars under new provincial legislation that stipulates the vehicle of any driver speeding more than 50 km/h over the limit will be impounded for seven days, and the driver's licence suspended, also for seven days. There is a minimum $2,000 fine on conviction.
At least 225 cars have been impounded since the law took effect last Sunday.
Yesterday's crash was the second fatal collision in the area in 24 hours.
A young woman was killed Friday when the car in which she was a passenger collided with another at the intersection of Finch and Steeles Aves. just before 7:45 p.m.
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source:
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/264421
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| Cosmic Fur |
oooh, 225 cars now. Noice. People seem to still be speeding though. I suggest they revamp the street racing law to the following:
You can break the speed limit by up 20km/h with no consequences, but if you speed by more than 20, your car gets crushed. |
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| Euphorica |
yup, its absolutely retarded..
btw, howmany "racer" type cars you think were among the 300+ they have knabbed? probably next to none.
but that doesnt stop people from high beaming me when i make a safe lane change in front of them cause i fit the stereotype. |
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| ChemEnhanced |
| quote: | Originally posted by Euphorica
yup, its absolutely retarded..
btw, howmany "racer" type cars you think were among the 300+ they have knabbed? probably next to none.
but that doesnt stop people from high beaming me when i make a safe lane change in front of them cause i fit the stereotype. |
what this does show me is how many absolute retards are out there driving too fast....the punishment still isn't harsh enough. |
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| zoogla |
Further to my last post, just to provide you all an update, I never knew I'd be getting better mileage in my 3.2L 6-cyl. engine vs. my 2.2L 4-cyl. engine!!! :D
8L/100km!!!!!! :toocool: :toocool: :toocool: :toocool: That's what I get for following posted speed limits on normal streets and 120 km/h on 400-series and 105 km/h on DVP! ;) |
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| Orko |
| quote: | More than 1,000 motorists caught in Ontario's speeding net
TORONTO More than 1,000 motorists have been caught during the past month speeding 50 km/h or more over the limit and provincial police Commissioner Julian Fantino said Monday that he now regrets not making Ontario's new street racing law even tougher.
It was on Sept. 30 that police started a crackdown on excessive speeders by targeting the worst offenders and hitting them hard with several harsh penalties, including a minimum fine of $2,000, and a week without a valid licence or access to their vehicle.
To the shock of Commissioner Fantino and other officials, 1,057 drivers had been caught as of Sunday and the average of about 38 daily busts stayed steady throughout the month.
I didn't think we'd get this many to begin with, I really thought people would heed the warning, Commissioner Fantino said, adding that he now wishes the law was even tougher.
The only regret I have now in hindsight is that I didn't go after 30 over as opposed to 50 over.
Commissioner Fantino said he himself has nabbed a few drivers, and made a bust on Sunday when he clocked a driver going 55 km/h over the limit on Highway 401 near Belleville.
Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield said she has been thrilled with the success of the law so far but is concerned that young male drivers in particular haven't got the message.
We need to get the message out to young people that there are alternatives, there are programs where you can choose to race, there are race tracks, there are car clubs, there are safer places to do this.
Ms. Cansfield said more than 80 per cent of those busted have been male, and about 50 per cent were under the age of 27. |
| quote: | | The only regret I have now in hindsight is that I didn't go after 30 over as opposed to 50 over. |
What an idiot. If the law didn't work at 50KM over, why the hell would it work at 30KM over? The principle is the same, obviously people just do not care. |
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| geroin |
| quote: | Originally posted by Orko
What an idiot. If the law didn't work at 50KM over, why the hell would it work at 30KM over? The principle is the same, obviously people just do not care. |
ing idiots, them
money hungry ******s, OMG 50 OVER IS DANGER DANGER DANGER!!
i hope they get drowned in all that paper work that they have to do now |
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| Zentac_75 |
I just did the math. 1000 drivers charged. Minimum $ 2,000 dollar fine.
That's a cool 2 million in the first month. WOW.
Now to start investigating where this newly found stream of revenue is flowing.
I do think this law will work eventually. People (i don't know why) were complaining back when wearing a seatbelt became mandatory. And it took a few years, but after enough tickets are handed out people will begin to accept their fate and comply with the new law. |
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| exstasie |
I love this new law.
I can go 49km/h over the speed limit and not have a care in the world!
I love have a digital speedometer so i know how fast i am going! woohoo. |
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| Zentac_75 |
| quote: | Originally posted by exstasie
I love this new law.
I can go 49km/h over the speed limit and not have a care in the world!
I love have a digital speedometer so i know how fast i am going! woohoo. |
EXACTLY!!!! the pigs save themselves for the $2000 minimum!!!!
Why can't others see the beauty of this new law.
SILVER LINING PEOPLE!!!! |
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| exstasie |
| quote: | Originally posted by Zentac_75
EXACTLY!!!! the pigs save themselves for the $2000 minimum!!!!
Why can't others see the beauty of this new law.
SILVER LINING PEOPLE!!!! |
but honestly...
When I leave people's houses, i get parents telling me all time to stay under 50km/h. No mention of driving the speed limit. |
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