It's too damned bad that this young man's life has taken such a terrible turn, but I must admit that it is very refreshing to see the Ohio judge order him to spend essentially the rest of his life in prison for driving drunk and killing damned near an entire family as a result.
Sorry, but I have absolutely no tolerance at all for drunk or stoned drivers, and I really hate it when those who are caught driving while under the influence try to excuse their behavior by blaming their egregious actions on their alleged "addiction."
Now I'll be the first to tell you that I have no room to talk and I'm certainly not above reproach here. I've driven plenty of times under the influence (although I've only driven drunk once in my entire life-back when I was 17) and I thank the Gods I didn't kill or maim anyone myself while driving that two ton weapon. But I tell you now, had I been caught, I should have gone to prison for it and I wouldn't think twice about sending someone to the pen for it today.
Being stoned or addicted is not a mitigating factor when you've caused an accident. I'm generally against sending peeps to the pen for drug-related crimes, unless their action(s) while under the influence has caused harm to anyone else.
When this is the case, I'm a firm believer that sending a person to prison for long stretches of time accomplishes a couple of things. First, it removes a potentially dangerous person from society; if you can't act responsibly, you don't deserve to participate without supervision. Second, it sends a message to those who might be considering taking the risk of acting irresponsibly while under the influence.
A person considering tossing down 10 beers while at the local bar will almost certainly reconsider if they believe they may spend a good portion of the rest of their lives in prison should they be caught, rather than merely having to pay a few fines and higher insurance premiums. The "deterrent effect" doesn't always work on all aspects of crime, but in this case, it may exert some good, strong influence. Finally, highly publicizing cases like this one - especially considering the man in question was just 24 when he was sentenced to 40+ years - will send a very powerful message to those who think they can blame poor judgment on their abuse and/or addiction.
Chances are pretty good that it will provide considerable incentive to think long and hard about driving drunk long before they get too drunk to think about it in any meaningful way.
AP Photo/J.D. Pooley
Michael Gagnon of Adrian, Mich., had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit and marijuana in his system, authorities said.
Lucas County Judge Linda Jennings called Gagnon a dangerous person. "You have a drinking problem and you don't even know it," she said.
Gagnon,24, had pleaded no contest to five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of aggravated vehicular assault.
"In my mind and spirit, I will be serving a life sentence for the pain I've caused," Gagnon said Friday, reading from a handwritten statement in court. He won't be eligible for release until he reaches his mid-60s.
Gagnon was drinking with family at a bar on Dec. 30 to celebrate the New Year when he went out for fast food and took a wrong turn onto Interstate 280 in Toledo, investigators said. He drove about four miles in the wrong direction and just missed several other cars before his truck hit the minivan filled with six children and a husband and wife who had spent Christmas with family in Michigan,authorities said.
The minivan was rounding a curve when the truck came directly at the family. Both drivers tried to avoid each other, but the crash ripped open one side of the van,hurtling some of the victims into the road and scattering toys, stuffed animals and bits of gift wrap.
Bethany Griffin, 36, of Parkville, Md., and three of her daughters - Vadi Griffin, 2 months; Lacie Burkman, 7; and Haley Burkman, 10 - died in the crash along with Jordan Griffin, 10, the daughter of Bethany Griffin's husband, Danny Griffin Jr., 36.
Danny Griffin, who was driving the van, was injured. Griffin told the court that his life will never be the same and that he no longer comes home to a house filled with children and a smiling wife. He said he misses helping the kids with their homework and tucking them into bed at night.
"I know my life isn't over, but a large part is missing," he said.
Sorry, but I have absolutely no tolerance at all for drunk or stoned drivers, and I really hate it when those who are caught driving while under the influence try to excuse their behavior by blaming their egregious actions on their alleged "addiction."
Now I'll be the first to tell you that I have no room to talk and I'm certainly not above reproach here. I've driven plenty of times under the influence (although I've only driven drunk once in my entire life-back when I was 17) and I thank the Gods I didn't kill or maim anyone myself while driving that two ton weapon. But I tell you now, had I been caught, I should have gone to prison for it and I wouldn't think twice about sending someone to the pen for it today.
Being stoned or addicted is not a mitigating factor when you've caused an accident. I'm generally against sending peeps to the pen for drug-related crimes, unless their action(s) while under the influence has caused harm to anyone else.
When this is the case, I'm a firm believer that sending a person to prison for long stretches of time accomplishes a couple of things. First, it removes a potentially dangerous person from society; if you can't act responsibly, you don't deserve to participate without supervision. Second, it sends a message to those who might be considering taking the risk of acting irresponsibly while under the influence.
A person considering tossing down 10 beers while at the local bar will almost certainly reconsider if they believe they may spend a good portion of the rest of their lives in prison should they be caught, rather than merely having to pay a few fines and higher insurance premiums. The "deterrent effect" doesn't always work on all aspects of crime, but in this case, it may exert some good, strong influence. Finally, highly publicizing cases like this one - especially considering the man in question was just 24 when he was sentenced to 40+ years - will send a very powerful message to those who think they can blame poor judgment on their abuse and/or addiction.
Chances are pretty good that it will provide considerable incentive to think long and hard about driving drunk long before they get too drunk to think about it in any meaningful way.
Drunken driver gets 43 years for killing mom, kids
AP Photo/J.D. Pooley
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP)-- A Michigan man was sentenced to 43 years in prison Friday for driving the wrong way on an interstate and slamming his pickup truck into a minivan, killing a Maryland mother and four children who were returning home from a Christmas trip.
Michael Gagnon of Adrian, Mich., had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit and marijuana in his system, authorities said.
Lucas County Judge Linda Jennings called Gagnon a dangerous person. "You have a drinking problem and you don't even know it," she said.
Gagnon,24, had pleaded no contest to five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of aggravated vehicular assault.
"In my mind and spirit, I will be serving a life sentence for the pain I've caused," Gagnon said Friday, reading from a handwritten statement in court. He won't be eligible for release until he reaches his mid-60s.
Gagnon was drinking with family at a bar on Dec. 30 to celebrate the New Year when he went out for fast food and took a wrong turn onto Interstate 280 in Toledo, investigators said. He drove about four miles in the wrong direction and just missed several other cars before his truck hit the minivan filled with six children and a husband and wife who had spent Christmas with family in Michigan,authorities said.
The minivan was rounding a curve when the truck came directly at the family. Both drivers tried to avoid each other, but the crash ripped open one side of the van,hurtling some of the victims into the road and scattering toys, stuffed animals and bits of gift wrap.
Bethany Griffin, 36, of Parkville, Md., and three of her daughters - Vadi Griffin, 2 months; Lacie Burkman, 7; and Haley Burkman, 10 - died in the crash along with Jordan Griffin, 10, the daughter of Bethany Griffin's husband, Danny Griffin Jr., 36.
Danny Griffin, who was driving the van, was injured. Griffin told the court that his life will never be the same and that he no longer comes home to a house filled with children and a smiling wife. He said he misses helping the kids with their homework and tucking them into bed at night.
"I know my life isn't over, but a large part is missing," he said.
Posts
Stumble
0 YakBaks:
Post a Comment