Truck Driver Charged With Criminally Negligent Homicide

One thing I remember my instructor telling me while training for my CDL was that I could be cited for entering an intersection while the light was yellow. Even if it changed to yellow 15' prior to the truck entering the intersection, I was apparently supposed to find a way to stop. I thought he was being a hard### about it. I guess it wasn't all entirely BS after all.

 

I've seen so many 4-wheelers blow through red lights it's not even funny. I've never seen a truck do it.

If he's getting charged with negligent homicide, you can bet either the DA is making a political move and is hoping for a plea-bargain or there is more to the story and they have the guy dead-to-rights.

Proving criminal negligence is a HARD case to prove in most states. If he's going to trial, my bet is that there is more to this story than meets the eye. I'm pretty good friends with a deputy DA. You wouldn't believe the crap they let slide because the case is only a 60-40% chance of a conviction. If they're going to trial on this, the DA probably thinks he has a 90% chance of a conviction, which means the driver must have done something pretty heinous.

The alternative is that it's a big local story and the DA doesn't care if he convicts. He's prosecuting for the political play. (Sad, but it happens). That they driver is sitting STILL in county jail on a measly $15k bail ($1500 cash) also speaks volumes.

 

In Cuba,as backwards of a Society that they are, they have countdown clocks showing when the light is going to turn yellow, red or green.

Soo simple

 

Ya, i've seen those a couple of places here in the states, but Good lord, they would be a help more places.

I ran a red-light in Memphis a while back because I couldn't see the light over the top of the truck in front of me. Granted, I was turning and starting from a stop, so I could have jammed on the brakes and stopped on a dime. But still...

 

tommymonza is on the money. I can remember reading about test traffic lights where the yellow is a countdown number while the green is still on before it goes to solid yellow. Where did I read this information? In a 1965 Popular Mechanics, when I was 13 years old.
It was expensive technology then, analog and all. But with computers and led's it is a cinch. Except for the fact that the state and local higway departments would be in for a lot of money to replace the existing lights.
But the fact that it could potentially save literally 1000's of lives per year is not part of the monetary equation. They would rather let a private company foot the bill for cameras at the intersection which do not enhance safety at all and just collect a check each month for bureaucrats to spend.
Safety is never the real issue.

 

Falsefying log books,driving under the influence,driving out of service or unsafe equipment,driving in restricted roads all are legal reasons to charge a driver with criminaly negligent homocide

 

50%-60% of the intersections where I live have that countdown clock. Problem with that is now all the clowns in a hurry will floor it to beat the light, then slam on the brakes before entering the intersection to avoid a photo radar ticket.

 

I read another article on the indictment. According to it the truck had an issues with the brakes and the driver had knowledge of it.

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2016/10/truck_driver_indicted_in_crash.html

"According to the indictment, Garner-James was "operating a semi-truck with a defective brake system which was known to the defendant." No additional information was available."

 

That it's brilliant.