5 killed on Macleod trail crash - Update: GUILTY!

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

They do, call 911. There are probably signs around town asking people to call 911 to report a drunk.

Someone reported an impaired driver last night in Vancouver..police responded and found the man at a gas station, approached him, he pulled a gun ... shots were fired ... and the suspected drunk driver is now dead.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

I do drive a truck for a living, and I worry about many of the people I work with. Myself and others have expressed our concerns to our boss about a certain person's driving habits, but nothing is done about it. I know for a *fact* that alcohol has been consumed by people while driving these trucks. I know for a *fact* that drugs have and continue to be consumed by people at work. But nothing gets done about it. I have no proof, so nobody will listen.

Just wait for something like this to happen in Edmonton, and refer back to my post.

Try again with your manager, and if that doesn't work go over your manager and talk to the owner, and document everything. If they don't listen or you get fired, take it to Occupational Health and Safety and/or the Better Business Bureau.

EDIT: Hmmm.. I didn't see that you work for the city. Maybe you should just get evidence and then go to OH&S about it.

My dad had many a DUI in his time while working for the city (waterworks division). The courts finally revoked his license when he was in year 19 of work with them - less than one year away from getting his pension secured. I kind of wish that they did it sooner and maybe he could have turned parts of his life around. I am just happy that he never ended up hurting anyone.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

Someone reported an impaired driver last night in Vancouver..police responded and found the man at a gas station, approached him, he pulled a gun ... shots were fired ... and the suspected drunk driver is now dead.

I said good originally.

I mean it isn't good that someone is dead, but better him than some innocent victim on the road.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I haven't seen anything telling me to call 911 to report an impaired driver. (Maybe I missed it or something.) I would be a little bit afraid to call 911 and tie up a line while another person who is in more immediate danger (like a break in happening or something) isn't able to get through.

You won't tie up a line. The 911 operator will forward you straight to the police, freeing that line up.

A friend and I followed a drunk driver from the theatre in Sunridge to Bow Bottom trail once. We called 911 when he got onto Deerfoot, and relayed his directions to the cops until they picked him up just off of Canyon Meadows Drive.

In this case, better to use an emergency line to prevent an emergency, imo.

[Cowboy89]

Similar story as some of the above regarding calling 911 to pre-empt some drunk driving related carnage except with a little abduction twist. It all started sometime last winter, my buddies and I went to Shanks North to watch a Flames game on a Saturday night. We had been drinking so we called my generous sober brother to give us a lift home from the bar. While waiting out front for him at about 2AM we noticed this red Escort parked in one of the front parking spaces making unnecessary reving and tire burn-outs. We looked at the driver from about 20 feet away and saw his head bobbing up and down while parked and his eyes glazed over. This was certainly someone who as responsible citizens we needed to get off of the road pronto. Realizing that we might have issues with the cops getting there in time before he sped off with some passengers he was about to pick up, my friend went over to the car to talk to the driver . . .


To our horror my buddy was stupid enough to open the passenger door and get into the front seat to talk to the guy. Almost immediately when he got into the car, the driver sped off into the parking lot, glancing against some parked cars in the process. We immediately called 911 and waited hopelessly praying that this would turn out alright. All of a sudden we could hear revving and screeching of tires from the other side of the parking lot (Hidden by the theatre from our view). By this time my brother had pulled up and we drove to the corner of the theatre to see the red Escort beached on top of one of those 10 foot snow mountains created by the parking lot plows, my friend standing safe and sound, and this idiot driver frantically pushing his car hoping to pry it loose from the snow mountain (Three jeers for the naive bystandards that initially tried to help the guy push). Apparently my buddy said the driver purposely tried to 'Jump the snow bank' 'Dukes of Hazzard style' while he pleaded for him to stop. Soon after the cops arrived and cuffed him.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by PowerPlayoffs06

Well of course, you had already been hit, so it was an emergency. If you'd just seen the guy swerving in and out of his lane and driving like he was drunk before he'd actually hit anybody, it wouldn't have been.

I just brought it up as an example where I thought a non-emergency response would have been more appropriate. No one was seriously injured, minor vehicle damage and only my amateur alcohol detection involved. Instead, we got six vehicles with lights and sirens blaring. Guess I was a little confused as to what constituted an emergency worthy of 911.

[urban1]

The cement truck driver is charged with failing to provide a proper breath sample (or something along those lines). Sounds like he agreed to take the test and blew into it but didnt do it properly. Ive seen the machines at a demo event before and its pretty straight forward... contsant breath for a certain amount of time. But i could see someone having asthma or some sort of other ailment not being able to register a reading.

Anyone know if theres any precedents with this law? has anyone argued this charge in court and gotten off?

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

I work for the city, and we often have private truck drivers working for us or with us, or whatever. I have been told, that when they come into our yard, they sometimes have a designated "backer". The driver gets out, and this person will get in to back the rigs up because these people simple cannot do it. Most of the drivers are East Indian, and again, I know for a *fact* that there is at least one registration company here in the city that will routinely give out Alberta Class 3 licenses to certain people. I know this, because of a guy I work with who was unable to get his license for certain, specific reasons. A friend of his was going to "hook him up" with a Class 3 license. These are the licenses required to drive a concrete truck for example.

The entire trucking industry is fata'd in the way it works.

Being able to back up is part of the driving test. For a class 1 anyway. If you can't back up with a trailer on. You fail. If a professional driver can't back up. The cops should be called and they should check to see if he has a real class 1 or 3 license. Or one made by a guy in a back alley.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

Someone reported an impaired driver last night in Vancouver..police responded and found the man at a gas station, approached him, he pulled a gun ... shots were fired ... and the suspected drunk driver is now dead.

Thank goodness they didn't taser him.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Being able to back up is part of the driving test. For a class 1 anyway. If you can't back up with a trailer on. You fail. If a professional driver can't back up. The cops should be called and they should check to see if he has a real class 1 or 3 license. Or one made by a guy in a back alley.

I am sure they give out Class 1 licenses as well. It's a scary thought, that the people driving the biggest and heaviest vehicles on the road, may not be properly licensed/tested at all.

[jar_e]

I feel almost obligated to respond to this thread again since the talk of 911 comes up...for those that aren't aware, I work for Calgary Fire and EMS as an emergency communications operator and dispatcher...pretty much if you phone 911 you'll talk to me. I obviously can't speak on behalf of the city, but if there is anything that is in progress (ie. drunk driving, vandalism, etc.), 911 should be the number you phone. In regards to the poster who dialed the non emerg number and got fire/police/ems...when you mention that your concerened about the well-being of your daughter, that would qualify as a possible injury, thus making it a high priority for CPS and getting EMS/Fire.

In regards to tying up a line...that is a valid concern, again, I can't speak for the city, but I personally have no problem with someone who phones 911 who isn't sure about a certain issue or event. If its in progress, than yes, you should phone 911. Our centre has been trying to do a lot to "educate" the public regarding the use of 911 and how it works but its tough to get that message out to everybody.

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by urban1

The cement truck driver is charged with failing to provide a proper breath sample (or something along those lines). Sounds like he agreed to take the test and blew into it but didnt do it properly. Ive seen the machines at a demo event before and its pretty straight forward... contsant breath for a certain amount of time. But i could see someone having asthma or some sort of other ailment not being able to register a reading.

Anyone know if theres any precedents with this law? has anyone argued this charge in court and gotten off?

Although it is possible that someone with asthma might not be able to blow, there are other tests and what not. He could have said "I can't physically do the test" and there is no legal ramifications. To me, it doesn't matter about that charge. The only thing that matters is that for whatever reason, 5 people are dead. Whoever is responsible needs to be held accountable.

[4X4]

About 5 years ago I was driving down center street in the south (parallel to mcleod). A guy pulled out of the speakeasy parking lot in front of me and was swerving like crazy. I called 911 and gave them the location, description and plate number. They told me not to follow him. I told them I was going to follow him until they pulled him over.
He ended up driving all the way to tropicana in marda loop with me behind him. He never noticed me.
I called the cops again and this time they told me that they can't do anything at that point because the guy was already parked.
Just as that happened, a cop pulled into the parking lot. I told him everything and he reiterated that they couldn't do anything. Lame-o.

[urban1]

The cement truck driver has Balfour Der as his lawyer. Mr. Der is indicating alcohol was not involved in this accident. The driver gets his next bail hearing on Dec. 19.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by urban1

The cement truck driver has Balfour Der as his lawyer. Mr. Der is indicating alcohol was not involved in this accident. The driver gets his next bail hearing on Dec. 19.

Were you in court today to watch?

[ken0042]

Saw something a little disturbing on Global last night. They were saying that the penalty for refusing to provide a breath sample doesn't tie into the vehicular homicide; so if he was indeed drunk he was better off to not provide a breath sample. Something like max of 14 years in jail with failing to provide and killing somebody; as opposed to 25 years if he blew over.

Hopefully that law gets changed; because otherwise why would anybody give a breath sample unless they were sober?

[CaptainCrunch]

It will be interesting to see what happens at the court appearance today. Hopefully he doesn't get bail and he has to sit in a jail cell and eat congealed turkey and ice cold peas on Christmas day.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

It will be interesting to see what happens at the court appearance today. Hopefully he doesn't get bail and he has to sit in a jail cell and eat congealed turkey and ice cold peas on Christmas day.

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/RTGAMA...calgary.ctv.ca

Didn't show up in court today. Apparently there was a problem with prison transportation (not surprising if you've ever been to the new CCC). Next date for bail review is set for December 19. Thus, he could be eating congealed turkey and ice cold peas in his own home.

[urban1]

He did NOT refuse to provide a breath sample.

He failed to successfully provide a breath sample.

Legally they are different. He blew into the breathalyzer but it couldnt register. The guy likely intentionaly didnt blow hard enough. But now he can argue that he has a medical condition or was scared and short of breath or something similar.

Originally Posted by ken0042

Saw something a little disturbing on Global last night. They were saying that the penalty for refusing to provide a breath sample doesn't tie into the vehicular homicide; so if he was indeed drunk he was better off to not provide a breath sample. Something like max of 14 years in jail with failing to provide and killing somebody; as opposed to 25 years if he blew over.

Hopefully that law gets changed; because otherwise why would anybody give a breath sample unless they were sober?

[SteveToms]

I went to school with Balfour Der's son, at my graduation Balfour was talking, and my dad leans over to me and says "I know that guy, he is such a tool, he son must be too right?" My response, yeah totally a tool.

True story