Sunday, March 5, 2006 · Last updated 11:20 p.m. PT (#)

Four students killed in N.C. car accident

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A speeding (#) car went airborne as it crossed a highway exit bridge, crashing to the ground 58 feet below and bursting into flames late Saturday. Four high school students were killed, officials said.

The victims were seniors at Wakefield High School in Raleigh, principal Stephen G. Takacs said.

The car, a 2004 Mazda RX-8 (#), took an exit bridge over Interstate 440 and hit a concrete barrier, police said.

The car skidded along the barrier for 410 feet before rising over it, flying 224 feet forward and dropping to the ground, where it rolled and burst into flames, police said.

The victim's identities were not immediately released.

I've often thought, in retrospect, that it's a wonder any of us make it through our formative inexperienced early driving (#) years, and it's certainly a tradegy when some don't.

Many drivers young & old don't seem to realize the life and death authority they wield over all in their car and even in their immediate surroundings. So sad - so young.

I'm glad they got out of the gene pool early before they wasted even more resources or possibly reproduced.

Stories like this are why, no matter how much $$$ I have, and how responsible my kids are...they are not getting a RWD sports car at this age. PERIOD.

^^Bad logic. Plenty of kids get killed in FWD econoboxes. Many have survived quite well in RWD coupes.
It is parenting, genes and environment that make the difference.

In all, risky behaviour is what makes humans great. Those with the appropriate skill set get to go on and reproduce. Those without end up in a ball of flaming wreckage at the bottom of a drainage culvert.

Raising a responsible driver is very hard and specially when you have cars getting more HP and more HP........kids dont think in the future but only in the moment.

Our prairs and thought our with those kids families.

I wonder how fast the car was going when it crashed...and how fast it would have been going if it was a shitbox that high school students *should* be driving, instead of an RX-8. My first car couldn't get over 100mph DOWNHILL.

I hope the kids parents give themselves a pat on the back for making such a wise purchase. Poor kids.

I'm glad they got out of the gene pool early before they wasted even more resources or possibly reproduced.An insight to who you really are. What a hateful thing to say. Absolutely disgusting.

Raising a responsible driver is very hard and specially when you have cars getting more HP and more HP........kids dont think in the future but only in the moment.Complete BS.

Kids raised to see a need for immediate reward think that way. "Good little Johhny! He didn't call his mom names for the whole ride home! Lets get him some McDonalds!"

Plenty of kids survived my generation with far more HP than the current crop of cars - and don't try to tell me that because a car weighs 800 Lbs more that it is somehow safer.
We feared reprisal. We craved the respect of our parents or our role models. We pined for the future.
Furthermore, I am surrounded by people that are raising their kids well and made proper decisions (conscious or otherwise) when choosing a mate and an environment in which to immerse their family.

An insight to who you really are. Perhaps.

What a hateful thing to say. Absolutely not. Hateful would be: "TrackAddict is an incompetant parent and smells bad".

Absolutely disgusting. Moreso than bad parenting?

If parents won't do the right thing, hopefully Darwin will.

We have done so well as a society in removing the danger from life that far too many people that don't deserve it get to to enjoy it.

For some reason everytime you post MM I learn something. Thank you, I feel the same way. It seems that we have to be sympathetic towards everything now a days.

I'm with MM on this. I'm 21 with a RX-8. when I was 18 and in high school I was given a Harley sportster 1200 custom with a stage 3 motor (110+ hp), never had a ticket. My first car at 16 was a corvette. I drive with respect to others and drive like a bat out of hell on the race track......WHY B/C if I ever got a ticket or my dad cought me speeding he would kill me not put me in the corner but stab me haha. He is a great father and thats why I grew up with high HP RW sport cars and never had a problem. Cars are not toys!!!!!!!! Unless your on a track lol. And yes I do feel safer now that that RX-8 is off the road that could have been me hit by a flying 8 with dumb kids in it. Please don't think of me as a bad guy, I work as a part time fire fighter here in town, I have seen many car accidents with high school kids in it, and every time it's speeding, and get this,,, with todays development of high tech this and that to help you in a car crash the one thing these kids dont use is their darn seat belt. I was raised with a mother that would'nt start the car if i didnt have a seat belt on. Parents need to teach their children, who now a days want to all be street racer wannabees but cant drive worth sh*t. And yes MM we need to weed out the weak,before they weed us out, It sucks but that is life and life is a bi*ch

I'm glad they got out of the gene pool early before they wasted even more resources or possibly reproduced.Read my avatar. They were people who others loved. Too bad you don't know what thats like. Idiot.

You guys are being sugar coated babys. Join the real world. Dumb people die every day doing dumb things. I feel for the family and friends. It sux they died, I bet they were nice kids. But it does'nt change the fact that their idiots.What Mazda Maniac said is the truth, yes it may be hard to read and sound to the point but nothing he is saying is false. So take a shot of life and look around.

Let's not forget everyone that four kids died. KIDS!!! Sure the driver may have made a mistake in judgement, but let's not disrespect them or thier families by namecalling or insulting them. Just show your respect for a fellow RX-8 owner.

Sure, it's really sad those kids died, but call a spade a spade.. Just because they were kids with a whole life ahead of them, or that the were loved, doesn't absolve them from the responsibility they shirked when they took that car to unsafe speeds. They were a danger to themselves and to other road users, and other innocent people (who are loved too) could have died as a result of their behaviour. Don't lose sight of the real issue just because the deceased belonged to a social group we have a soft spot for. Remember: they could've taken other people with them!

But it does'nt change the fact that their idiots.

Really? ALL people make mistakes. Doesn't make them idiots. But spouting insensitive nonsense does.

Sure, it's really sad those kids died, but call a spade a spade.. Just because they were kids with a whole life ahead of them, or that the were loved, doesn't absolve them from the responsibility they shirked when they took that car to unsafe speeds. They were a danger to themselves and to other road users, and other innocent people (who are loved too) could have died as a result of their behaviour. Don't lose sight of the real issue just because the deceased belonged to a social group we have a soft spot for. Remember: they could've taken other people with them!
How's the view from that high horse?

Sure, it's really sad those kids died, but call a spade a spade.. Just because they were kids with a whole life ahead of them, or that the were loved, doesn't absolve them from the responsibility they shirked when they took that car to unsafe speeds. They were a danger to themselves and to other road users, and other innocent people (who are loved too) could have died as a result of their behaviour. Don't lose sight of the real issue just because the deceased belonged to a social group we have a soft spot for. Remember: they could've taken other people with them!


You are absolutely right. But at the same time, it could have just been the driver who was at fault. No one knows if the other kids in the car were trying to get him to stop driving like he was, and know one knows if they were contributing to the danger. All I'm saying is that no one knows for sure because none of us were there. Let's remember, there are a lot of responsible teenagers who know that driving is a privilege and not a right, and they treat it as such.

May The Almighty God Welcome Them In To His Kingdom And Bring Comfort And Peace To Their Famalies And Loved Ones.

Every One Is Entitled To Their Opinions Let Urs Be Known But With Respect!

I'm with MM on this. I'm 21 with a RX-8. when I was 18 and in high school I was given a Harley sportster 1200 custom with a stage 3 motor (110+ hp), never had a ticket. My first car at 16 was a corvette. I drive with respect to others and drive like a bat out of hell on the race track......WHY B/C if I ever got a ticket or my dad cought me speeding he would kill me not put me in the corner but stab me haha. He is a great father and thats why I grew up with high HP RW sport cars and never had a problem. Cars are not toys!!!!!!!! Unless your on a track lol. And yes I do feel safer now that that RX-8 is off the road that could have been me hit by a flying 8 with dumb kids in it. Please don't think of me as a bad guy, I work as a part time fire fighter here in town, I have seen many car accidents with high school kids in it, and every time it's speeding, and get this,,, with todays development of high tech this and that to help you in a car crash the one thing these kids dont use is their darn seat belt. I was raised with a mother that would'nt start the car if i didnt have a seat belt on. Parents need to teach their children, who now a days want to all be street racer wannabees but cant drive worth sh*t. And yes MM we need to weed out the weak,before they weed us out, It sucks but that is life and life is a bi*ch

I'm in basically the same situation and agree with you 100%. My parents trust me and my unblemished driving record, along with the knowledge that I am willing to drive hours to meet them for DE's to get the need for speed bug out of my system. I'm only blessed with my RX-8 because I saved my parents $160,000+ in college tuition and fees and because they know that I'll be safe with it, and can continue to see them through my college career when I use my car in driving events alongside them.

I'm saddened by the fact that INEXPERIENCED teenagers who probably didn't "earn" the right to drive a sports car killed themselves and innocent passengers, but I'm ELATED that they decided to do it to themselves instead of taking someone else with them.

All of you who would say that there's an age limit to drive an RX-8, understand this: Many of us 19-25 year olds have much more reason to drive an RX-8 than you do. Its kind of ironic that a 19 year old has to tell you to act your age.

My .02,
Michael

May The Almighty God Welcome Them In To His Kingdom And Bring Comfort And Peace To Their Famalies And Loved Ones.

Every One Is Entitled To Their Opinions Let Urs Be Known But With Respect!


PREACH ON, FELLOW JERSEYBOY!!!

I'm in basically the same situation and agree with you 100%. My parents trust me and my unblemished driving record, along with the knowledge that I am willing to drive hours to meet them for DE's to get the need for speed bug out of my system. I'm only blessed with my RX-8 because I saved my parents $160,000+ in college tuition and fees and because they know that I'll be safe with it, and can continue to see them through my college career when I use my car in driving events alongside them.

I'm saddened by the fact that INEXPERIENCED teenagers who probably didn't "earn" the right to drive a sports car killed themselves and innocent passengers, but I'm ELATED that they decided to do it to themselves instead of taking someone else with them.

All of you who would say that there's an age limit to drive an RX-8, understand this: Many of us 19-25 year olds have much more reason to drive an RX-8 than you do. Its kind of ironic that a 19 year old has to tell you to act your age.

My .02,
Michael


I couldn't have said that better myself. :ylsuper:

How's the view from that high horse?

Rather good.. You can see quite clearly up here. :rolleyes:

Not everyone who sounds unsympathetic, is.. if you think preaching responsibility and bearing the consequences of one's actions is unsympathetic, then i really hope you don't ever give your children the keys to any automobile.

I sincerely hope you don't lose someone you love to some crazy driving from others, that's all.

Furthermore, not all mistakes are created equal.. some are created from more hair-brained situations than others.

PS: I'm an airline pilot. I live everyday with the possibility that my mistakes could end hundreds of lives. I hope you don't expect me to take ridiculous risks, and then say 'oops, i made a mistake.. please don't blame me. Everyone makes mistakes!'

updated story with names of deceased driver and passengers:
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/415158.html

The car was traveling at an estimated 110-115 MPH on a curving elevated transition road when it went out of control.

Sorry, but doing that wasn't a "mistake". A mistake is something you didn't mean to do -- like stepping on someone's foot. We all know that the driver of this car was probably showing off to his buddies what his RX-8 could do. He was deliberately and consciously engaging in behavior that he knew at the time was illegal and highly risky, and yet he chose to do so anyway -- and as a result killed himself and all his friends.

There is no sympathy here for him. His passengers were helpless (although they probably didn't discourage him), so I do feel sympathy for them and their loved ones. The parents of the driver, IMHO, are complete idiots and ought to be prosecuted for criminal negligence if they bought him that car and allowed him to drive it.

I'm an airline pilot. I live everyday with the possibility that my mistakes could end hundreds of lives. I hope you don't expect me to take ridiculous risks, and then say 'oops, i made a mistake.. please don't blame me. Everyone makes mistakes!'

I fly cargo around China (Macau, Taipei, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzen) sometimes... I got out of the passenger flying (in the US) after five years, but don't think for a moment that we take more risks just because we fly pallets of manufactured goods instead of people. :)

Sure, it's really sad those kids died, but call a spade a spade.. Just because they were kids with a whole life ahead of them, or that the were loved, doesn't absolve them from the responsibility they shirked when they took that car to unsafe speeds. They were a danger to themselves and to other road users, and other innocent people (who are loved too) could have died as a result of their behaviour. Don't lose sight of the real issue just because the deceased belonged to a social group we have a soft spot for. Remember: they could've taken other people with them!

Yeah since all four were driving at the same time :rolleyes:

But it does'nt change the fact that their idiots.

Really? ALL people make mistakes. Doesn't make them idiots. But spouting insensitive nonsense does.
Thats true... I made a mistake once, I made cherry koolade one day and told my buddy it was strawberry. I said "my bad"..... Thats a mistake..... If i drive like an idiot* and kill three of my friends, what am I?



* Idiot= [Middle English, ignorant person, from Old French idiote, from Latin idiōta, from Greek idiōtēs, private person, layman, from idios, own, private.]

noun
1. A foolish or stupid person.
2. A person of profound mental retardation having a mental age below three years and generally being unable to learn connected speech or guard against common dangers. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.

.. but don't think for a moment that we take more risks just because we fly pallets of manufactured goods instead of people. :)

Yeah, cos there's still the two of you on board! :) Not to mention all those people down below..

Oops, mustn't hijack this thread.. hijacking is baaaaad. :hahano:

VALPAC im not being insensitive, I will pray 4 the family's tonight, but i shed no tears or thoughts 4 the driver. I feel bad 4 the 3 others in the car B/C i dont know if they wanted him to stop or to go faster so i have to feel for them. But what I do know is that the boy or girl behind the wheel was an..................................IDIOT!!!!!!!!! !

Yeah since all four were driving at the same time :rolleyes:

In a sense, they were. You don't mean to say that as a passenger in a car, you don't have any influence on the actions of the driver? The tragedy of it isn't because the driver had a lapse-of-skill mistake. The tragedy of it is that he took inordinate risks in the first place, and that reduced his margin for error. I would have liked to think that the passengers tried to stop him, but do you honestly think that was the case?

Of course, it goes without saying that the driver bears the main responsibility, and that the premature and unnecessary end of ANY life is heart-wrenching.. please don't think in any way that any of the kids should have died.

Having compassion and sympathy for those dead kids is in no way condoning the behavior. We've all done really really stupid things and have been lucky enough to survive them.

Ur right Rumboo, But at the end of the day, we don't know what happend with the 3 that were killed. WE CAN ONLY JUDGE THE DRIVER. Tonight i will open my favorite 40 and spill some for my rx-8 homies that died.

P.S bet you hate me now PALVAC haha

http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/415158.html

Gives more info, the oldest was 18. It's a shame that something like this even happened. I feel sorry for the friends and family of the victims.

Any kids (or kids at heart) reading this, please PLEASE believe me when i say:

Your skillz are not as phat as you think! All human skill has a limit and a breaking point, and you never know exactly where that is! YOU ARE NOT INVINCIBLE!

*gets off high horse*

Any kids (or kids at heart) reading this, please PLEASE believe me when i say:

Your skillz are not as phat as you think! All human skill has a limit and a breaking point, and you never know exactly where that is! YOU ARE NOT INVINCIBLE!

*gets off high horse*


:mdrmed: right on dude :mdrmed:

Any kids (or kids at heart) reading this, please PLEASE believe me when i say:

Your skillz are not as phat as you think! All human skill has a limit and a breaking point, and you never know exactly where that is! YOU ARE NOT INVINCIBLE!

*gets off high horse*

I'd agree with that statement if it wasn't a catch-all. I'd go as far to say that the vast majority of the demographic that you're generalizing (kids, perhaps younger than yourself) knows that they indeed are not invincible, and have both an appreciation for life and an appreciation for their limits, specifically driving ability.

Good day sir.
-Michael

Yeah, all I know is that I'm a generally responsible kid (24) and I probably should have died 20 times before I was the age of 6. I jumped off the house twice. Kids are stupid and take risks. It's really unfortunate. But anyone who says that they never got themselves into a stupid situation where they could have died is probably lying or atypical at best.

There are so many parents that think they've done a bang up job parenting their kids. Then something tragic happens and they realize that their kids aren't perfect. And all the looker-ins make their asinine comments about how the parents weren't doing their jobs as parents.

I'm not condoning this kid's behavior at all. But for those people who have no compassion for those involved are the people I'd like to see removed from the gene pool. I just hope nothing bad ever happens to you or anyone you care about. Think of what all the looker-ins might say.

I need to get this off my chest. Some times when I see a civic(just an ex) with a high school student in it swurving in and out of traffic nearly hitting all the mini vans with soccer moms packed with little kids in them. I think to my self, "man I wish that civic would just crash into a tree and blow up"

P.S sorry if i hurt any tree huggers out their. I have nothing but love for trees. trust me.

I'd agree with that statement if it wasn't a catch-all. I'd go as far to say that the vast majority of the demographic that you're generalizing (kids, perhaps younger than yourself) knows that they indeed are not invincible, and have both an appreciation for life and an appreciation for their limits, specifically driving ability.

When I was your age, I thought the same way about myself as you do....10 yrs on, I realise I actually wasn't as safe as I thought I was. I expect 10 yrs from now, i would again have gained a better understanding of where i am today. Of course, you're probably more mature at 19 than i was... still, that's just you. Insurance companies don't put extra loading on young drivers for nothing.

In any case, i'm terribly upset that i actually began a post with "When i was your age..." :crying:

unbelieveable. I am reading this and cant believe what some people have said. 4 young lives were lost. for Gods sake.
1st of all --does it matter how they died? To me--no it doesn't. I am so sorry for this loss. It is so tragic.
People are so quick to judge. How do we know what happened--we dont have a clue. People speaking here can only assume.
Maybe the driver had a seizure and his foot stayed on the throttle? Yes --possible. Maybe the throttle on the car stuck---yes possible-it's a machine--many things can go wrong. Who the hell knows what happened. All we know is 4 young boys are dead --- and for MM to say what he did--yea I agree with TA. That type on insensitivity reminds me of my sniper days in Nam. Took a lot of therapy to come back. MM you need help dude and anyone else that says "good ridance". Maybe one day it may be your burned up kid lying in that ditch.
To those of you that believe the lost of 4 young lives is a good thing---damn you all.
olddragger

I need to get this off my chest. Some times when I see a civic(just an ex) with a high school student in it swurving in and out of traffic nearly hitting all the mini vans with soccer moms packed with little kids in them. I think to my self, "man I wish that civic would just crash into a tree and blow up"

P.S sorry if i hurt any tree huggers out their. I have nothing but love for trees. trust me.

Be careful what you wish for bro.

Damn I can't keep up with you guys. Someone needs to merge these (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=84434) two threads.

unbelieveable. I am reading this and cant believe what some people have said. 4 young lives were lost. for Gods sake.
1st of all --does it matter how they died? To me--no it doesn't. I am so sorry for this loss. It is so tragic.
People are so quick to judge. How do we know what happened--we dont have a clue. People speaking here can only assume.
Maybe the driver had a seizure and his foot stayed on the throttle? Yes --possible. Maybe the throttle on the car stuck---yes possible-it's a machine--many things can go wrong. Who the hell knows what happened. All we know is 4 young boys are dead --- and for MM to say what he did--yea I agree with TA. That type on insensitivity reminds me of my sniper days in Nam. Took a lot of therapy to come back. MM you need help dude and anyone else that says "good ridance". Maybe one day it may be your burned up kid lying in that ditch.
To those of you that believe the lost of 4 young lives is a good thing---damn you all.
olddragger


I TOTALLY AGREE. Everyone here is just speculating. I doubt anyone on this forum was there to actually see what happened. And to all here who have children, the words you speak now may not slide out of your mouth so easily if your child ever turns up in that situation.

darn your like the tenth person who has damned me this week. Mrs. olddragger I disagree but do not get me wrong, I respect you(vet) but lets get real here. fast car+18+senior year+3 other friends in car+idiot=ball of fire.

me= as*#hole (can we curse in this forum?)

I'm so glad that erroneous behavior has been erradicated in my lifetime. It appears many here cannot relate to erring whether it be conscious or otherwise. I feel so much safer knowing none of you posters ever break the law or speed in your RX-8's.

I am also overwhelmed by the numbers of infallible humans that post on this forum. This thread is rife with so many righteous judgements that I am in awe of you all. I should just sit back, listen and learn from all you pontificators. God bless you all and God bless those that perished in that horrible accident.

I feel bad those kids lost their lives, but people lose their lives in car accidents everyday. Why make a big deal about this one? Maybe some other kids will learn something from this loss of life.

First, go back and re-read my post and understand it before you put words in my mouth. I don't mind being insulted (I crave it, in fact - it reveals your weakness), but you could at least be consistent, logical or concise about it.

All kids (and adults) take risks. Some are more calculated than others.
Some end tragically, some do not. Those that don't, often are educational.
Those of you (us - me included) that jumped off roofs, set fires, experimented with drugs, played with firearms, etc and survived did so for one reason or another. Sometimes it was because we quit early knowing our parents would disapprove. Often it was because our parents taught us how to do it right.
For some, it was just dumb luck.
Our survival is no more significant than these kids demise.
Death is not tragic - it is the inevitable consequence of life.
I certanly feel for those associated with the deceased - especially those directly related to them - but I would imagine that those kind of parents will be looking for laws and ammendments to protect or compensate them rather than accept the inevitable consequence that befell them because of their inadequacy.
The dead kids only suffered briefly for their mistake - their parents will suffer the rest of their lives. Rightly so for one reason or another depending on your personal take on "sympathy".

Though I do not have kids of my own, I love those of my friends and relatives as if they were my own.
We don't have kids because we decided not to produce any - we would not have wanted them to grow up in this society as it is and the kids we care for around us need us more than any genetic facsimile of myself and my wife would.
Fact is, very few parents enter into that responsibility for the right reasons and are often ill equipped for the task. This reality cuts cleanly across all races, economic strata and generations.

Those kids checked out early because they threw the dice and hit 7. Sometime, somewhere, some other kids will hit the point on the same roll. The appetency to walk away from the table while you are up is not to be misconstrued as weakness.
In this day, kids don't think they are indestructable - they are taught they are so by their own parents. Furthermore, they are assured that reward awaits them, even if they err and fail.
Rolling a 7 to them just means they didn't put enough behind their bet on the pass line.

Well put MM. Totally agree with "those" parent part...

Ohhhh, my heart hurts for the kids as well as the families and friends. I have skimmed through this thread and find it hard to accept some of the responses. I am a parent that has raised 2 boys, one of which is still just 20 and survived the early driving years, this is the kind of accident that causes nightmares and torn up lives.

You guys that think these kids got what they deserved are so wrong. I would agree that giving a kid a fast car is inviting trouble. My kids drove a Plymouth Reliant, an early model Altima and a toyota pickup and no matter what they wanted they didn't get anything else. Kids can die in the Reliant just as easy as the RX-8. My youngest totaled 3 cars before he was 18 and that was with taking his license away for 6 months. He could have been (according to some of you) needed to be removed from the gene pool! But he survived because we never let up on him. So many nights I worried myself sick waiting for him to come home. Those were the toughest 2 years of my life, watching him get past that stage. But he did and now at 20 is putting himself through a private college because he is working his ass off and going to college. He is a taxpaying contributor to our society and thank God, he made it.

He could have so easily have died in any of his accidents but he didn't. The parents of these 4 children will never have the chance to teach their kids again. They will never be able to direct them on how to survive the tough times or how to correct their mistakes. And I assure you that every single person that reads this post has had a bad, and probably stupid, experience that you could have died from but obviously you are lucky enough to be reading this.

Please give these kids, even the driver, a break and pray for them and their devastated families. I may be wrong but I suspect that you guys that are so down on these kids have probably never raised your own.

So sad! I shall call my son tonight just to talk and listen to his voice and be thankful I stuck with him all the way through his early years.

wow, tear. thats some deep stuff silver. u sound like a good dad.

"I certanly feel for those associated with the deceased - especially those directly related to them - but I would imagine that those kind of parents will be looking for laws and ammendments to protect or compensate them rather than accept the inevitable consequence that befell them because of their inadequacy.The dead kids only suffered briefly for their mistake - their parents will suffer the rest of their lives. Rightly so for one reason or another depending on your personal take on "sympathy"."
Now you are calling these parents inadequete when you already admit to the lack of courage and committment to bring a child into this world yourself. Using lodgic based on your observations and opinions of our society? Jesus.
The parents "rightously suffer" "they are looking for laws etc to protect or compensate them" What I think is that they just want their children back.
I need to back up here. I am sure you are more complex of a person than what can be formulated from reading your posts on this forum. But some of these words you have posted indictes a very cold hearted person. I hope that is not true. If you truely mean what you have just posted here (and I hope I have somehow taken you out of contex), I would not want you around my children.
You say you love the children of others as if they are your own. Im sorry dude--thats impossible. And their is no way anyone can explain that to you.
You dont know kids well. Kids are not taught that they are indestructable by their parents--less not the many that I know. The parents I know fear everyday something bad may happen and do everything they know to help, guide and teach their children. Are the parents of the children that you love as your own also inadequete? Are is just everyone is inadequete? Now that I will agree with. But--wait--- isnt inadequecy only defined by someone that is adequete? Now who would that be?
I have said enough here.
olddragger

Let's not forget everyone that four kids died. KIDS!!! Sure the driver may have made a mistake in judgement, but let's not disrespect them or thier families by namecalling or insulting them. Just show your respect for a fellow RX-8 owner.


That is a little funny. Three of them were 18. If they had harmed somebody else with their stupidity and lived to tell about it everyone on here would be screaming about them being adults and whatnot. Their brains appear to be about 10 but the age on three on them says they are legally adults. I assure you if they had killed others in my state (even the driver killing the passengers and him living) he would have been tried as an adult at a much younger age based on him partaking of an adult activity and he should be responsible. I can't consider them kids. The only thing that springs to mind are morons!!!

Wow, this really made me think. I guess I'll be with the few others and actually admit that I am not the safest driver in the world, and might take a few too many chances at times. This will definately slow me down. As dumb as this kid may have been, no one here knows if he was actually a bad kid or not. How any of you can be the least bit glad that this happened is beyond me. The only good I see that can come out of it is the fact that it will teach me, and hopefully a lot more people a lesson about agressive driving.

The only thing that springs to mind are morons!!!

Even so, they did what they did, and paid the ultimate price for it. I'm pretty sure that's punishment enough without comments like this.

updated story with names of deceased driver and passengers:
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/415158.html

The car was traveling at an estimated 110-115 MPH on a curving elevated transition road when it went out of control.

Sorry, but doing that wasn't a "mistake". A mistake is something you didn't mean to do -- like stepping on someone's foot. We all know that the driver of this car was probably showing off to his buddies what his RX-8 could do. He was deliberately and consciously engaging in behavior that he knew at the time was illegal and highly risky, and yet he chose to do so anyway -- and as a result killed himself and all his friends.

There is no sympathy here for him. His passengers were helpless (although they probably didn't discourage him), so I do feel sympathy for them and their loved ones. The parents of the driver, IMHO, are complete idiots and ought to be prosecuted for criminal negligence if they bought him that car and allowed him to drive it.


EXACTLY!! Don't worry. I'm sure they will be sued for wrongful death at least in civil court and they deserve to suffer those consequences. They acted irresponsibly in allowing him access to the car and obviously they didn't do a good enough job raising him that he would know to behave more responsibly. And I'm sure we will hear all the typical "He was such a good boy" BS that usually follows.

I grew up in a church. This is where I get my views from. I am not unsympathetic to the family of the deceased. However, I was taught very young that every action has a consequence. Some consequences are good. Some are very bad. If I don't think of the potential consequences before I do something, it is my fault for being irresponsible. If I think of the consequences and still participate I am a moron. It is far beyond me how someone could not think of a potential consequence of speeding at such a high speed and especially not think of what could happen to his passengers even if he had no concern for himself in his actions. I highly doubt this was the ONLY time he ever was speeding or especially going around that speed before. He behaved badly and took others with him. Shame on him. It is that simple. He did not show love and compassion for his friends at all in his actions. I find it hard to have any sympathy for him at all. He obviously wasn't thinking of his family either when he did this.

It all comes back to the principle of "you reap what you sow." He sowed reckless and irresponsible behavior. He reaped death.

It seems like so many on here are just saying that something bad happened. How dare he be judged now because he's dead. This is the whole point!!! We are all held accountable for our actions and face some form of judgement based on those actions, whether positive or negative. He paid the ultimate price and took his friends with him.

EXACTLY!! Don't worry. I'm sure they will be sued for wrongful death at least in civil court and they deserve to suffer those consequences. They acted irresponsibly in allowing him access to the car and obviously they didn't do a good enough job raising him that he would know to behave more responsibly. And I'm sure we will hear all the typical "He was such a good boy" BS that usually follows.

:wallbash:

I'm done!

I really dont see how calling the driver a moron or idiot is helpful at all. To hear all you righteous and judgemental people point fingers and cast blame is sad indeed.

I wonder what tune you'd whistle if confronted by any of the grieving parents or friends. I doubt if any of you would have the guts to tell them that they raised their children wrong or that those in the car were idiots. If you cant show respect for fellow posters at least show some respect for the dead and grieving.

I guess empathy comes with age. Many of you need to grow up and grow a heart.

I'm so glad that erroneous behavior has been erradicated in my lifetime. It appears many here cannot relate to erring whether it be conscious or otherwise. I feel so much safer knowing none of you posters ever break the law or speed in your RX-8's.

I am also overwhelmed by the numbers of infallible humans that post on this forum. This thread is rife with so many righteous judgements that I am in awe of you all. I should just sit back, listen and learn from all you pontificators. God bless you all and God bless those that perished in that horrible accident.

Ok, first of all, we don't know to what extent those kids wilfully put themselves into that situation. As we discuss this accident, we must bear this in mind. The tragedy of the loss of young life is obvious, unequivocal and irrefutable. What's left to discuss, however, are these other issues that bunnygirl, SRIBMK, MM and myself have been trying to point out.

Arguments that 'everyone has done it, so it's ok' don't cut it, simply because not everyone has, whether you believe it or not. I haven't, and neither have 90% of my friends. Secondly, even if everyone does it, that doesn't make it right either. Some of you may have done things like that and survived. That gives you the capacity to empathise better..that's all. Does that make it ok for others to follow in your footsteps?

If parents try to make excuses for the decisions and consequences of other kids to their own, that's just asking for their own kids to go out and make 'mistakes' of such magnitude of their own. This is not about comparing who does a better job at parenting.. it's about trying all we can to let our kids know about behaviour and consequences. If they go out and do it anyway, there's nothing more we could have done. BUT, making excuses for such behaviour isn't even 'trying'. We owe it to your kids to guide them.

So anyone who points out irresponsible behaviour is 'pontificating'? Does anyone really have to point out to you that the extent of speeding makes a difference? I know i'm not 'infallible'... that's why i don't drive that fast when i'm about to exit the freeway!

I personally do not take any car to 115mph on an off ramp, precisely because that's reckless. I'm sure (hoping) most of you don't, either.

Just another poster to add to my ignore list.

Another tidbit of information that has been updated with this story is that the driver already had three car accidents on his record before this happened.

I really dont see how calling the driver a moron or idiot is helpful at all. To hear all you righteous and judgemental people point fingers and cast blame is sad indeed.Ahh. But you have no problem calling people names when you don't agree with them. Interesting.

I guess empathy comes with age. Many of you need to grow up and grow a heart.Don't confuse empathy with pathos.

Just another poster to add to my ignore list.
Please! Add all of us so you will stop responding!

Another tidbit of information that has been updated with this story is that the driver already had three car accidents on his record before this happened.

Where did you get that info??

Just another poster to add to my ignore list.

So much for rational discourse.. At least pretend to attempt it, and put aside emotions for once. You're not the only guy who feels for them.

sheesh, who's on a high horse now?

Another tidbit of information that has been updated with this story is that the driver already had three car accidents on his record before this happened.Great news,huh? Now you guys can vilify him even more.

Where did you get that info??
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/415280.html

"The teenage driver of a Mazda RX-8 that crashed this weekend, killing him and three other boys, was involved in at least two accidents in Raleigh before Saturday's fiery wreck, according to police."

Wood was at fault in both accidents, according to the police reports. His mother, Jaynee Wood, said Monday night that her son had become a good driver.
RRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGG GGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHTTTTTTTTTTT

Good thread. Lots to learn... but let's be clear that the RX-8 isn't at fault, to keep it relevant.

Interestingly, I've seen lots of publicity of RX-8s going off the road and exploding:
1. The one out east where it cut the top off another car killing all innocents then caught fire against an overpass. (killing 8 occupants i believe)
2. The one in Hawaii where the stolen car flew off the road, hit a tree and exploded killing the driver.
3. This one.

There has probably been more. Unfortunate that the 8, one of the easiest cars to control in my experience is at risk of being called unsafe. It does seem to have a pattern of catching fire in extreme cases, does anybody else know the frequency of car fires in similar accidents? I'm curious.

is at risk of being called unsafe. It does seem to have a pattern of catching fire in extreme cases, does anybody else know the frequency of car fires in similar accidents? I'm curious.
So Mazda should design their cars to survive 50' drops at 100 MPH???

Cold Blooded(Rick James voice)

I’m going to attempt to add to this thread again.

There seams to be two sides to this issue. One side is really down on the driver and somewhat on the passengers and the other side is asking for some understanding on concern for 4 kids (yes they are kids) that died in this terrible crash.

Both sides have valid points and the further the discussion goes, the more one sided each will get in defense of their opinion.

The kids are probably being buried today and that is very harsh for me. I hurt for the families and friends first. Putting blame on people and saying things that can scar a person all the way to be core of their existence to me is just not right.

The lawyers, judges, insurance companies and enforcement officers will do their job in due order. Parent’s lives may be ruined and little puppy dogs will not see their friends come home. I know these kids did a very bad thing and they were not obeying the laws of our highways and that was, no matter how you look at it, a fatal mistake.

I think for me to get past something like this, I must not judge the kids and parents without first grieving for them. It’s just a natural thing that I do and I guess I just can’t understand an attitude of, well, they got what they deserved and the parents should suffer the consequences.

How do you teach kids lessons, how do you make them understand laws and the right thing to do? As a parent, you should try your best to set an example, stay in touch with your kids and their friends, never give in to what you know is right for them, never stop listening or teaching to them. Who knows what these parents were like and how devoted they were to their kids but one thing is for sure, they are hurting to their sole right now.

I hope that if nothing else comes of the discussion on this board, that some of you that are so quick to judge will first have some compassion for the kids, their families, friends, and for yourself as you develop your futures and raise your own kids. Maybe you will remember this thread and how important it just could be to you.

Sincerely and from the heart.
Don

I like others feel bad for the kids family's, but the driver gets no sympathy. I measure peopel by my life. If *I* was smart enough to not get myself killed doing something as stupid as this kid did, then anybody can do it.

Now the other kids, I feel really bad for their families. They just might have been yelling at him to slow down. But theya re the only epople here who I would feel any sympathy for.

I do not have kids, nor plan on it, but I do take care of my 2 nephews on my wife's side and am teaching the 15 year old how to drive now. The 16 year old one has his permit and so far has been smart. I made it very clear that if he ever got cought doing something stupid like this, before he paid for his own car, his ass was riding the bus to school. If that drivers parent had followed the same rules, he would NOT have been driving that day and killed his friends. But too many parents dont want to actually do the work of a parent these days and we end up with a lot of bad and/or stupid kids for it.

This is all quite tragic and a lot of good points were made. My only comment is to those who think that the parents are at fault for buying their kid (or allowing their kid to buy) an RX-8. RX-8, Ford Focus, or Volvo...it doesnt matter. The driver was doing over 100mph on an exit ramp and was pushing the laws of physics to the limit. If this happened and he was driving an uber safe Volvo, would we say, " damn those parents for buying him a volvo"? No. Did him having an RX-8 give him a false sense of security that he could do 100+mph, *maybe*.

I am 24 w/ a 12 year old brother and that has really brought into perspective to me how I was as a kid and what its like for parents nowadays. Throughout time, kids will always think they are invincible and that their parents "just don't understand", because they don't know better and its learning from their mistakes that makes them stronger in life. Good parenting of course plays a role, but sometimes you need to stick your hand in the flame, before you really know what its like to get burned. I made plenty of stupid decisions when I was a teenager, and when I was in college, and hell, I'll probably make plenty more before I die. When all is said and done with lawyers, insurance, and the law, someone will be blamed in this tragedy and it will be most likely the driver. But who are we to say this kid was an idiot? Did he have a lapse in judgement, yes, but was he an idiot? Who knows. Trying to correlate this accident to the drivers intelligence or his parents abilty to be good parents is stupid. He had a lapse in judgement, but unless any of us knows these people directly, I think comments about the driver and parents do no nothing more than to spark debate.

I bet there isnt one person on this forum who hasnt pushed their 8 just a little more than they should have. Whether that means taking an exit ramp a little faster or speeding just a little more than usual, we've all done it. Anyone who claims they haven't is a liar. You don't buy an 8 and drive it like a sedan 100% of the time, if you did, then you wouldn't appreciate what makes an 8 an 8. I am not saying we should all go out and drive like its an F1 car, but if you seriously think you drive your 8 like any other car, then you clearly got the wrong car. Driver education and good parenting (with severe punishments as needed) all contribute to how kids drive. As we get older and more experienced, we start to understand where the limits of the driver no longer matter as physics is physics and if we could defy it, we certainly would have made ourselves richer by now. Unfortunately, this driver drove his 8 and pushed its limits more that he ever should and has affected the lives of 3 others and their familes.

I certainly feel for these families as its always said when a parent has to bury their kids.

Well said Genom. 100% agree with your reply. I'm just glad the stupid driver didn't take out any other innocent bystanders (geez, what would of happened if he plowed through a bus full of kids???)...if I were the passenger's parent, I would raise hell on why the @#$ was the driver going that fast on an exit, AND had previous car accidents (due to speed?) before that.

Also, like Genom pointed out, if I were the driver's parent, I would of either take his car away for x days/weeks/months, or sell it all together..because I doubt he had the $$ to buy and pay for it himself...but, most parents now-a-days don't have the time or care what their kids do...until something tragic like this happen...suffice to say, rude awakening for all party involved..give sympathy where it is due..that driver deserves none..although I do feel that the parents of this kid will be in their own hell because they had a part of what transpired..

I would raise hell on why the @#$ was the driver going that fast on an exit, AND had previous car accidents (due to speed?) before that.



Did you even read the article about his previous accidents? In one, he made a right hand turn from a left lane and in the other, he backed out of parking space into a car. I dont think you can assume either of these shows a trend that some how says this kid was an unsafe driver prior to this accident. Maybe the right hand turn thing, but backing into a car, come on, how many countless people young and old havent done that?

As for too many bad parents in this world, I don't think thats true. I think there are just as many "good" parents as there are "bad" parents, you just don't hear about good parents kids on the news anymore. When Johnny graduates high school with a 4.0 and goes on to become someone great, he doesn't make headlines. When Johnny kills 3 of his friends while speeding, not only does it make the headlines, but it automatically somehow implies his parents don't care? That's just crap.

RX-8, Ford Focus, or Volvo...it doesnt matter. The driver was doing over 100mph on an exit ramp and was pushing the laws of physics to the limit. If this happened and he was driving an uber safe Volvo, would we say, " damn those parents for buying him a volvo"? No. Did him having an RX-8 give him a false sense of security that he could do 100+mph, *maybe*.

True, the same thing would have happened if he was going 100+mph in any car, but I seriously doubt that he would have though. My first car when I was 16 was a 1993 Nissan Altima. Not a bad first car at all, but its not a sports car. Although I'm sure it had the ability to maybe go 100mph, I never tried, because I was never tempted to. Sure all cars can go fast enough to get you in trouble, but not all cars provide that temptation.


I bet there isnt one person on this forum who hasnt pushed their 8 just a little more than they should have. Whether that means taking an exit ramp a little faster or speeding just a little more than usual, we've all done it. Anyone who claims they haven't is a liar. You don't buy an 8 and drive it like a sedan 100% of the time, if you did, then you wouldn't appreciate what makes an 8 an 8.

I 2nd this.

Time to speak/write again...

My first post in this thread was a protest to the conviction and subsequent application of the death penalty to these 4 young adults. I think the driver of the car is at fault in the accident and the possibility of a seizure or something outside his control is remote. His past driving record certainly indicates a tendency to make bad driving decisions. So, I am not standing up for his actions.
I was upset and remain upset at someone saying he and his friends deserved to die and that the gene pool is now better off without him. What kind of a world do we live in that we can coldly say that this was an equitable doling out of punishment for the crime committed?
Thankfully, my life has not been touched with any tragedy like this and I hope I never experience it. I have 2 daughters that won't be driving for several more years. When they start, I will pay for a teen driving school. If they like speed, I will take them to HPDEs so they learn what a car can and can't do. We talk daily about being aware of who they are with and making decisions for themselves and not succumbing to peer pressure. I don't think I am an exceptional parent or the most compassionate person in the world. Instead I tend to jump to conclusions and act judgemental. That said, I still am appalled that people can look at this accident and say it served the kids right. I am appalled that people can say the parents got their punishment for doing a bad job raising their son. If the punishment for speeding and bad parenting (if that is indeed the cause) is death what the hell do you do for an encore?

So Mazda should design their cars to survive 50' drops at 100 MPH???

No no no.. Not at all what I was saying. I was noting that the car has been in the media a lot with big and tragic crashes. I would not expect any car on earth to survive this.

I guess given the extreme speed and impacts in the previously mentioned crashes, fire isn't that unusual.

I was upset and remain upset at someone saying he and his friends deserved to die and that the gene pool is now better off without him. What kind of a world do we live in that we can coldly say that this was an equitable doling out of punishment for the crime committed? You (and several others) have a reading comprehension issue.

It is NOT punishment. No one DESERVES anything. Ever.

Their death was the consequence of their actions. The gene pool is not "better", just simplified.

Why do people think anyone "deserves" anything? No one is entitled to anything, positive or negative. There are just consequences and results. Some are equitable and others are not.
Your only value and reward as a human being are your contributions to those you can affect directly.
These kids made none and neither did their parents in rearing them.
Even if the kid cured cancer on the way out the door for this victory drive, the value of the consequence is the same and has nothing to do with being deserving or not.
Death doesn't care and neither does life.
Only those that are benefactors of one's good name can speak of one's value.
To the rest you are just protein.

I bet there isnt one person on this forum who hasnt pushed their 8 just a little more than they should have. Whether that means taking an exit ramp a little faster or speeding just a little more than usual, we've all done it. Anyone who claims they haven't is a liar. You don't buy an 8 and drive it like a sedan 100% of the time, if you did, then you wouldn't appreciate what makes an 8 an 8. I am not saying we should all go out and drive like its an F1 car, but if you seriously think you drive your 8 like any other car, then you clearly got the wrong car.
Being 39 those moments are mostly limited to the track. The rare times I do push it on the street I am the only one in the car. If you have passengers in the car you need to realize you do have some responsibility for their safety. If the driver had has much compassion for others as some of the posters here do this would have never happened. Taking an off ramp at 100 is stupid; taking it at 100 with passengers is criminal.

Well at least he went out in style. I hate running into an old persons home with all his gadgets that are keeping him alive, and for what. Old mans house looks like a car shop lol. Old man dead on the shit'r or eating his oatmeal sunday morning. BORING if you ask me. I see alot of boring deaths all the time(fire fighter). at least sparky and his buds went out in a ball flames, so great that we are all talking about it. But no ones talking about old man. Whats the big deal about death that has you guys all cry "be nice be nice" I have had best friends burn in front of me. Big deal, life happens. Dont cry about it. They go to heaven or hell so it's not like their lives are over, The real shit has just begone for these kids. They are lucky if you ask me to go out like stars

Being 39 those moments are mostly limited to the track. The rare times I do push it on the street I am the only one in the car. If you have passengers in the car you need to realize you do have some responsibility for their safety. If the driver had has much compassion for others as some of the posters here do this would have never happened. Taking an off ramp at 100 is stupid; taking it at 100 with passengers is criminal.

I agree 100%. Track style driving and speed is for the track, I am just stating that people do tend to make bad decisions every now and then. I think teenage drivers are more at risk to make worse decisions, but that doesnt mean that more experience drivers dont. As an avid motorcyclist and a motorcycle track junkie, I have seen more than my fair share of people who make bad judgements in riding on the street when they should be doing that at the track.

Sorry, did not read the story, just from glancing over thread..so..if the other accidents were what DJ stated, all of us at one time or another made bad decisions..that being said, granted, you don't hear much about the "good" parents, but with the work menality of parents now-a-days (aka both parents working), the kids are put in the rear seats..the parents might care, but sometimes are overburden with the work/life, etc. that they don't take the time to if not teach, but put values into their kid(s)..in this case, we can assume all we want..what matters is that the driver made a fatal decision that not only killed 3 innocent passengers, but had the potential on taking out others along the way..whether the parents had anything to contribute to this..I don't know..so I do apologize for "assuming." Suffice to say, whether in a sedan or a sports car, for a driver to choose to speed over 100mph at an exit is irresponsible. But, like what I said, the parents now have to live through his fatal choice and wonder if they could of help changed this unfortunate outcome..

Correction, irresponsible isn't the word for this situation..like Expo1 said, it is "criminal." When you are putting other people at danger for your stupidity, you consciously chose to commit to an action that could lead to multiple deaths..in this case, they were the 3 innocent passengers who could not control the outcome...surprised that there weren't other casualties...

Wow. Just got my 8 a week ago, then went on vacation, and returned to N. Carolina to hear about this tragedy from my next door neighbor. What a sad, sad loss. The local TV news reported last night that there was evidence that alcohol was involved. The only good thing to come out of this is that it may serve as an example for other teens- and their parents.

I looked at picture in the link to one of the articles. It actually looks like the exit wasnt a typical 20-35mph exit ramp like most of us normally see. For those of you in Atlanta, it looks almost like the onramp to 285 from 85N at Spaghetti Junction. For those of you not, it looks like a 2-3 lane exit ramp from one highway onto another that doesnt have a tight , decreasing radius path, but more of an onramp/overpass thing. Anyone from that area know?

http://www.nbc17.com/news/7755693/detail.html with a video of the overpass and RX-8

I looked at picture in the link to one of the articles. It actually looks like the exit wasnt a typical 20-35mph exit ramp like most of us normally see. For those of you in Atlanta, it looks almost like the onramp to 285 from 85N at Spaghetti Junction. For those of you not, it looks like a 2-3 lane exit ramp from one highway onto another that doesnt have a tight , decreasing radius path, but more of an onramp/overpass thing. Anyone from that area know?
Very familiar with that ramp. It scares the hell out of me driving 60 MPH on a sunny day with no one around.

wow.. look at what I started.

just curious.. does anyone know if this was a rx8club member/user?

DrKillJoY... as far as I'm concerned, your started (reported) one of the most important threads that has been on this forum in quite some time. It's threads like these that make people think, change their ways, alter their driving and hopefully teach some a little humility. Thanks!

I just saw a news report on ABC 11, police now say the teens may have been drinking prior to the incident. I still feel for the families but now to have live the fact that their child may have been drunk at the time also adds to their pain. It's just another sad statistic to chalk up.

Very familiar with that ramp. It scares the hell out of me driving 60 MPH on a sunny day with no one around.

The video makes it look just like that 285 ramp. It doesnt scare me to do 60 on that ramp in the 8, but it always bothered me on the motorcycle.

Watching the video of the accident, I am puzzled as to why the car, which slid some 400 ft along the guard rail barrier, suddenly got flipped into the air. The 8 is so low to the ground and has such a low center of gravity, that I can only think that while the car was grinding the wall (passenger side of the car), the driver tried to steer to much to the left to get himself off the wall, causing the car to make its way to a perpendicular angle to the direction he was travelling, therefore causing the car to roll. does that make sense to anyone? If you are familiar with motorcycle racing term, this would essentiall be a "high side" crash when going through a corner. Does anyone think maybe he was going so fast that when the DSC kicked it to put him back in line, that it caused the car to flip because it was just going so fast that the DSC whipped him back into line, but the speed caused it to be unstable (again, another "high side" scenario) ?

For those of you who didnt watch the video, you should, the wreckage doesnt even resemble a car, nevermind an 8.

I actually was just on that road and that exit where the accident occured. Not a pretty sight...skid marks for a long ways...I feel really bad for their families and friends and especially the 4 kids. Loss of life so early to a really poor decision. Please be carefuly everyone!!

I looked at picture in the link to one of the articles. It actually looks like the exit wasnt a typical 20-35mph exit ramp like most of us normally see. For those of you in Atlanta, it looks almost like the onramp to 285 from 85N at Spaghetti Junction. For those of you not, it looks like a 2-3 lane exit ramp from one highway onto another that doesnt have a tight , decreasing radius path, but more of an onramp/overpass thing. Anyone from that area know?

That is about right. It is where US-64 Bypass and I-440 merge...64 splits where the right merge joins 440 to the north and the left merge joins 440 to the south of Raleigh, right before the Poole Road exit. The bridge rises and curves left to go over 440 prior to merging with it. The skid marks from the accident are in the first portion of the bridge. The hwy is pretty straight leading up to that with signs indicating the change in road pattern. Strange thing is that these kids were from North Raleigh and this split curves to the left to go towards South Raleigh but who knows if they were heading home or not. I did see another set of tire marks that curved around the outside edge in a smooth curve as if another car was really pushing the edge of the outside tire and leaving marks so I do wonder if there was another car invovled somehow but it could easily have been from another time. Very, very sad...

Today, I was driving at about 60 mph over the bridge and I changed lanes to the left. I did feel the tires grab some as the g's increased but not bad. The curve does tighten up in the middle of the bridge. At over 110 mph it would be virtually impossible to make it.

Where did you get that info??


A news link posted in the Lounge.

Unless it was sideways for 120 ft I don't understand how a car with ABS leaves classic 120ft skid marks. I s'pose the police may have measured the ABS chatter marks left on the road. Has anyone seen the skid marks?

BTW guys, the car belonged to the drivers father. I posted a link in the Lounge thread with a report about it.

It's tragic that a bunch of kids lost their lives in a fast car. That's not really all that new though. It happened with the old musclecars wich were far more dangerous if pushed to far. I should know. See my avitar? Thank God it's still in one peice. My parent's would not let me have it until I could buy it from them and that was after college! The really dumb part is that the drivers parents obviously thought their son needed a $30k sports car before he was ready.

The really dumb part is that the drivers parents obviously thought their son needed a $30k sports car before he was ready.

You didn't read what I'd just posted..... :)

It was his fathers car, not his.

Your right. I succumbed to pre-mature postation after reading the first page about kids dying in a car wreck. I've read ever one now. Wow there's some cold folks up in here. So, either his dad let him have the car for the evening or he "borrowed" it. However he came to be so far outside of sane judgment, It's horrible and really reminded me of how lucky I am my parents kept me on a short leash. I didn't realize I was even mortal until I hit about 24. By that time, I had a couple of good old American lead-sleds to learn on. My first car was a 66 Malibu. Yep, 2 tons of fun. It took a gallon and a half of bondo and a case of grey primer to even get it presentable (by red neck standards anyway). My second car was a much cleaner 77 Camaro with an ever so slightly more powerful 305. I managed to blow the tranny and rear end out of that car. Dad was not impressed. Thank God my guardian angel was faster than I in those days. By the time I finally did get to buy my 69 Mustang (from my mom!) I had been blessed with enough close calls and lectures from my parents to teach even my dull head that there was a line I shouldn't cross. 100+ at an off ramp with a load of friends is way way past that line. It's so sad and I feel for the parents too, but what the H were they thinking? The RX8 is by far the safest feeling car I've ever driven. You've really got to push it to be in trouble. Many (not all) teens simply do not posses enough skill or good sense to be aloud a night out on the town alone in one. Especially with prior accidents! My dad wouldn't let me near our 9.4 second drag car when I was a kid. Thank the good Lord too. I'm still here.

Ohhhh, my heart hurts for the kids as well as the families and friends. I have skimmed through this thread and find it hard to accept some of the responses. I am a parent that has raised 2 boys, one of which is still just 20 and survived the early driving years, this is the kind of accident that causes nightmares and torn up lives.

You guys that think these kids got what they deserved are so wrong. I would agree that giving a kid a fast car is inviting trouble. My kids drove a Plymouth Reliant, an early model Altima and a toyota pickup and no matter what they wanted they didn't get anything else. Kids can die in the Reliant just as easy as the RX-8. My youngest totaled 3 cars before he was 18 and that was with taking his license away for 6 months. He could have been (according to some of you) needed to be removed from the gene pool! But he survived because we never let up on him. So many nights I worried myself sick waiting for him to come home. Those were the toughest 2 years of my life, watching him get past that stage. But he did and now at 20 is putting himself through a private college because he is working his ass off and going to college. He is a taxpaying contributor to our society and thank God, he made it.

He could have so easily have died in any of his accidents but he didn't. The parents of these 4 children will never have the chance to teach their kids again. They will never be able to direct them on how to survive the tough times or how to correct their mistakes. And I assure you that every single person that reads this post has had a bad, and probably stupid, experience that you could have died from but obviously you are lucky enough to be reading this.

Please give these kids, even the driver, a break and pray for them and their devastated families. I may be wrong but I suspect that you guys that are so down on these kids have probably never raised your own.

So sad! I shall call my son tonight just to talk and listen to his voice and be thankful I stuck with him all the way through his early years.

no kids can not die as easily in a reliant as in an rx-8. if you had allowed your son to have a car like an rx8 he would probably have been going much faster when he had those accidents, and would have been hurt more seriously or died.

you are being too kind. you did the right thing. Those parents did not.

Well at least he went out in style. I hate running into an old persons home with all his gadgets that are keeping him alive, and for what. Old mans house looks like a car shop lol. Old man dead on the shit'r or eating his oatmeal sunday morning. BORING if you ask me. I see alot of boring deaths all the time(fire fighter). at least sparky and his buds went out in a ball flames, so great that we are all talking about it. But no ones talking about old man. Whats the big deal about death that has you guys all cry "be nice be nice" I have had best friends burn in front of me. Big deal, life happens. Dont cry about it. They go to heaven or hell so it's not like their lives are over, The real shit has just begone for these kids. They are lucky if you ask me to go out like stars

there is no heaven and there is no hell.

now tell me how lucky they are.

Well at least he went out in style. I hate running into an old persons home with all his gadgets that are keeping him alive, and for what. Old mans house looks like a car shop lol. Old man dead on the shit'r or eating his oatmeal sunday morning. BORING if you ask me. I see alot of boring deaths all the time(fire fighter). at least sparky and his buds went out in a ball flames, so great that we are all talking about it. But no ones talking about old man. Whats the big deal about death that has you guys all cry "be nice be nice" I have had best friends burn in front of me. Big deal, life happens. Dont cry about it. They go to heaven or hell so it's not like their lives are over, The real shit has just begone for these kids. They are lucky if you ask me to go out like stars

did you juss say "at least he went out in style"? haha sorry but i laughed when i read that......So if that was your lil brother,girlfriend, or someone close to you in that car ,i bet you'd never say there dead and its all good cuz they went out in style..?????
i think theres a difference when someone wants to die in style and when someone wants to live....

oh theres another thread in the lounge about the same thing....

So, no-one's seen the skid marks?

I'm glad they got out of the gene pool early before they wasted even more resources or possibly reproduced.
Real bright guy! Do you have any kids?

Real bright guy! Do you have any kids?Your pretty brilliant yourself! :wavey:

Try reading the thread.

Your pretty brilliant yourself! :wavey:

Try reading the thread.
Why thank you. Had to dig but just as i thought, no kids, what more can i say.

Why thank you. Had to dig but just as i thought, no kids, what more can i say.Probably nothing, since you don't seem to really have a point of view.

:stickpoke

OK people, this thread has turned to nothing but bickering. Closed.