just the facts.....

The victims attempted to turn left out of their street on a green light and it might have been THEIR fault??  They should have waited for those cars to run that red light before they entered the intersection?  You have a funny set of driving rules.

The above states "A couple of beers."  What was his BAC?  Don't make me give you guys my usual spiel about how even one drink goes straight to the part of the brain that affects your ability to make a rational decision.

The guy was drinking, driving, racing, speeding, ran a red light, and it might be the victims fault.  Geeeeezzz..now that's some convoluted thinking for ya.

"Now I've heard it all" comes to mind. 

Well Nancy....don't you usually drive with your crystal ball in the passenger seat?  I guess the next thing to be said is that the Blairs should have waited through their green light (backing up traffic and ticking people off)  until the race continued through and they got the "All Clear" from the drivers as they ran the red light?!?!  Now, I have heard it all!!  The last time I read the DMV handbook (and used my common sense) when your light turns green....you go!  When your light turns red (or stale yellow)...you stop!  Since WHEN is it your fault when you enter the intersection when your light is green????? 

I am happy to see that our California Governor is actually taking the steps to make it mandatory for those renewing, or getting their drivers license for the first time, to read and sign the statement that if they are convicted of a DUI that kills someone, they can be charged with voluntary manslaughter....it's about time!!

This drunk driving thing has been going on far too long and, like you Mom, I'm glad they have to sign an acknowledgement that they can be convicted of murder.  Recently a man blew through a stop sign in the Shafter area and killed a 12 year old boy and these types of diasters happen all the time.  To later say he didn't mean to or it was an accident...horse pucky.   The minute he drank and got in that vehicle he was driving a loaded weapon and killed that woman just as surely as if he'd shot her in the head.

HE made that choice.  I guess I'm a funny duck when it comes to tolerance for this sort of thing.  I've never had a moments sympathy for anyone with a hangover (including myself) since it's a self inflicted illness that a person CHOOSES to have.  I have not a single ounce of sympathy for the ones who drink and drive and maim or kill.  I have sympathy for their families but you know what?  They can still speak to their loved one and touch them.  Ask Mr. Blair and their family if they can still touch, hold or speak to their wife or mom.

In the way distant past I was guilty of driving after drinking and it was only by the grace of God that I was never involved in an accident.  "Everyone did it" is hardly an excuse and I finally had enough sense to give all that up when I finally grew up and realized the damage I could do.  I'm no saint that's for sure, but I took all the education and experience to heart...lets hope others will learn from this tragic event.

Doesn't asking for forgiveness imply a confession.

If he was really contrite he would have entered a guilty plea in court. 

Funny how he seemed to have an answer for everything.  He blamed the booze, even though he said he only had two beers.  His girlfirend for not doing the "errands" herself.   The child for wanting to go to the park, where he spent his time drinking.  The victims for being in his way.  The other driver who "tried to keep up"  (not race) with him.

If anyone deserves to go to prison for killing someone while under the influence, it's this man.

myxknt..with that explanation I think I know what you meant.  I rarely go through a light or go on a green until I have checked the intersection for cars that look like they aren't through yet.

While it's true that Mr Blair could have looked carefully before entering that intersection, I'm given to believe that the cars were traveling at a high rate of speed and it's not always possible to judge that speed.  Especially near a light .  I doubt you really meant the Blairs were at fault, just that we should all drive defensively because of the careless, thoughtless, drinking, racing, road rage, inconsiderate drivers out there.

Today turning left on Kimberlina from 99, as I went up on the overpass, a pickup waited until I was almost to him then tore out in front of me..turning left.  I was watching him carefully and when I got close I could see him start to move.  I hit the brakes and the horn about the same time.  If I was a Catholic I would have needed to say a dozen Hail Marys for my language.

Defensive driving and checking intersections is a habit that I got into long ago - when I took a defensive driving course as a requirement when I got hired on my first job after college.  I spent many hours in the car driving all over Kern County, and it did help me avoid more than one accident!  Honestly, those red light cameras (as offensive as they are) have helped to cut down people running red lights!  Looking both ways can help you to avoid SOME accidents....but, that is if the timing is right and the person running the light is close enough to you.  It sounds like this accident was caused by two guys going 45 (at least....)  at that speed, you'd need turbo blasters, Superman, x-ray vision (or the crystal ball) to get out of their way!

I have also become more cautious as I became a parent.  It shocks me to see how people drive like they are the only ones on the road!  I can't tell you how many near misses I have had recently with those racing on Hwy. 99 in the morning, weaving in an out of traffic like they are on the NASCAR circuit!  Simply driving my oldest to kindergarten and my youngest to preschool can be an experience to make me never want to drive again, or at least sell my sedan and get an armored vehicle!  

There are really no answers to this dilemma, except that the longer we make excuses and accept them from those who drink and drive, or drive under the influence of ANY substance, the longer we will all be at risk of being the next victim of a drunk and impaired driver.