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Jan 20, 2006 12:57:44 GMT
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Funny what catches your eye isn't it? I was screwing up an old East Anglian Daily Times newspaper from 2003 to light the fire and noticed this story, which I'll give the basics of here.
Guy buys a BX for something like £30, and bets with his mate that it'll do 140mph. I can only assume it was a 16v, though given his level of intelligence who knows? Regrettably he tries this with his pregnant fiancee and 3yr old daughter on board. And car is uninsured and has no MoT. And he's had 6pts of Stella, after having already been disqualified twice.
Inevitable happens, given the above scenario - car goes out of control at high speed (think it was on a motorway or something near Leicester) and crashes badly, killing his fiancee and daughter (if you were cruel you'd ask why not him?). 'Luckily', he didn't hit anyone else.
The sad irony is that his daughter was called Stella....
This was reported in a fairly sensible paper, and it chills me thinking there are such fools out there (especially now I have kids, who obviously get transported around). You can drive defensively, but how can you possibly allow for something so ludicrously awful?
Don't want to come over all holier than thou - I've driven/continue to drive my share of rubbish cars, and MoT etc may not always have been in place for purposes of getting something home - but it makes you think doesn't it?
Anyone else hear of this, and did I get it right if so?
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том
Posted a lot
"If in doubt, flat out!"
Posts: 2,707
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Jan 20, 2006 12:59:53 GMT
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sends a chill down ya spine doesn't it
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1988 V8 Rangey Bobtail :: 1968 Volvo Amazon 133 Ratrod :: 1977 Land Rover 88 :: 1985 Opel Monza GSE :: 1983 MKII Fiesta
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Jan 20, 2006 13:07:50 GMT
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That's really tragic. That's a really hard lesson to learn, he'll have to live with that for the rest of his life.
I don't think many cars (let alone occupants) would be able to withstand a 100mph + crash......
I like to think the majority of people don't need to experience drink driving to understand it's wrong. I personally have lost friends through drink driving, yet when I was younger I cannot claim to have been 100% sober behind the wheel on some occasions.
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Last Edit: Jan 20, 2006 13:08:13 GMT by reallyloud
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Jan 20, 2006 13:08:28 GMT
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We are all very priveleged to be allowed to drive these things. Some people take it for granted and put the rest of us at risk.
Always drive as safely as you can. If in doubt, don't. Easy really.
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Peugeot 307sw - Suzuki SV650S - MX5.
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Jan 20, 2006 13:13:29 GMT
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And the mother of the child was happy for her & her offspring to be propelled about in a car with no MoT by an uninsured, banned drunk driver?
Harsh, maybe, but BOTH of them had a level of responsibility in this instance. Tragic that a young child died, but sympathy level of zero.
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Jan 20, 2006 14:40:28 GMT
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It is harsh but I have to agree with NickB - i doubt she was forced into the car for a high-speed jaunt, so to willingly do so knowing how much the car cost (and thus how roadworthy it's likely to be) and knowing her bloke was pished...... the only one i can truly feel sorry for is the kid. it IS lucky they didn't hit anyone else, i'd say ban the guy for life from driving but i doubt it'd help.
the faster some people realise it's a privilage to be able to drive and not a right, the better. privilages can be taken away.
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Never trust a man Who names himself Trevor. Or one day you might find He's not a real drug dealer.
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street
Posted a lot
6.2 ft/lbs of talk
Posts: 4,662
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Jan 20, 2006 16:39:08 GMT
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I'm sure i read that too back then....... it has to be the same story.
I remember reading that the BX had no MOT, but worse still only had a handbrake as a means of stopping......
It happened very near to where i used to live, that was Nottingham, and the story was in the local rag.
Very bad stuff, you wouldnt wish it on anyone would you.
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street
Posted a lot
6.2 ft/lbs of talk
Posts: 4,662
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Jan 20, 2006 16:52:17 GMT
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Feel compelled to tell you guys what happened on my way to visit the parents at christmas now.
Travelling down a duel carriage-way, on the other side of the barrier there was two cars that had hit each other head on.
It had only happened the second before i went past as there were people just pulling over and getting out of their cars to help.
I was going to pull over myself, but as there were 4 cars pulling over i thaught i would be just in the way really, and besides it didnt look all that bad.......
I didnt realize it at the time but 5 out of the 6 passengers from both cars were dead or to die later in hospital.
Turns out that a family of 4 foreign tourists had got lost and pulled into the petrol station on the duel carriage way. Then, for one reason or another, pulled out of the petrol station the wrong way, and continued the wrong way down the fast lane for a short distance before they collided with an oncoming car.
Really nasty stuff. Really makes you stop and think.
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Jan 20, 2006 17:20:43 GMT
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The thing is people make mistakes.
You shouldn't be able to drive out of a duel carridge way petrol station the wrong way.
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Jan 20, 2006 17:27:39 GMT
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August 2003 I think. IIRC it was a court report type thing, so might say what hapened to the guy.
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Jan 20, 2006 17:43:10 GMT
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very scary some people, nearly o/t but i went to a red bull cart race and saw a 'family' with a push chair w baby outside the event they were pushing down a grassed steep hill (was in leeds) and let go of the pram, it then went into a spin i couldnt believe my eyes, i only hope the kid was ok and it knocked sense to diviorse their family ASAP. sadly the kids in spottedlaurels story didn't get a choice
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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Jan 20, 2006 17:54:15 GMT
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remember reading something about that in the Leicester Mercury I think...
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The lurker formerly known as Cappuccinocruiser.. or wedgedout..
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Jan 20, 2006 19:14:02 GMT
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I'm pretty sure that was local to me. (Nottingham) I may be being a bit harsh but I call this sort of thing cleansing the gene pool. According to my dusty memory, the BX had only a hand brake, no foot brakes, bald tyres and a few other noteworthy defects. The guy driving had been banned a fair few times for drink driving. IIRC may have done time for a bunch of other crimes as well. The girlfriend was "educationally subnormal" which is politically correct speak for "not all there". Sad the little kid died but what kind of a life would it have had growing up with those parents? Glad no innocent bystanders got wiped out.
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Last Edit: Jan 20, 2006 19:14:23 GMT by akku
1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Jan 20, 2006 19:21:25 GMT
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Nathan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,649
Club RR Member Number: 1
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Citroen BX - Sad StoryNathan
@bgtmidget7476
Club Retro Rides Member 1
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Jan 20, 2006 19:46:13 GMT
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yer it was in the leicester merc and the nottingham post.
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GrumpyOldMan
Part of things
Addicted to unreliable cars ?!
Posts: 182
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Jan 20, 2006 20:02:12 GMT
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Surely a sad event... The parents were both responsible IMHO, pity for the child. And it's not the car's fault. That particular driver would cause a lethal accident regardless of the car he was driving... I remember reading that the BX had no MOT, but worse still only had a handbrake as a means of stopping...... That would mean that the car also had no suspension and no steering (since all these components use the same hydraulic system), and was therefore unable to move. So not likely. The car in the BBC News picture is certainly not a 'fast' BX (Sport or GTi 8v/16v). It is the naturally aspirated diesel version (60-70HP), a very slow car with foolproof handling.
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Jan 20, 2006 20:09:50 GMT
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Anyone know what was his sentence was?
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,945
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Citroen BX - Sad Storybstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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Jan 20, 2006 20:40:17 GMT
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Anyone know what was his sentence was? I'm sure he was banned for another year fined £50 to be paid over 20 years at 1p per week and told to do 400 hrs community service (of which he probably did just 15mins) Not that I'm cynical you understand
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filmidget
East Midlands
Mostly Lurking
Posts: 1,652
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Jan 20, 2006 21:49:29 GMT
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I distinctly remember that only the handbrake worked.
Could happen that the system was presurised, but that the valve for the brakes was knackered... or calipers seized etc.
Would like to know what sentence he received.
If I killed my wife and kids by a stupid mistake, I am not sure life would be worth living. The way he did it I am not sure he should be given the choice.
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'79 MG Midget 1500 - Still patiently awaiting attention '02 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Elegance(!) - Better than you might think '03 Mazda MX5 - All new and shiny looking (thanks to Antony at Rust Republic) '09 Renault Clio - Needs to go.
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