Other driver charged in Mark's death.

Mongoose · #1 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 11:18 AM

Just a follow up to the recent events around Mark's death.

http://desmoinesregister.com/news/st.../21261112.html

Just a personal thought. Both drivers understood they were taking a chance and I don't know that I would agree with the manslaughter charges. But, "the leaving the scene" charges are more than appropiate.

PSB · #2 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 11:32 AM

There has been some talk about the possibility that the Trans Am hit Mark's Cobra. If that is the case, then manslaughter charge would be very appropriate.

Pete

Mr.Fixit · #3 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 12:10 PM

They are sticking it to street racers, throwing the book at them and trying to make examples of any they catch. Use you good judgement out there guys.

agro1 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 01:33 PM

Like I said before - Good judgement is what keeps you alive (or outta jail) driving these kinda cars...

I still don't understand why the other drive is being charged with "homicide by vehicle" if they were just racing...They must have found evidence that the black car hit the Cobra. What a shame...

Excaliber · #5 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 01:59 PM

The pressures on all over the country. Street race in Hawaii and they WILL throw the book at you.

Ernie

HIQ · #6 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 02:05 PM

No excuse for leaving the scene of the accident. As for the manslaughter charges...I feel it was just a "racing" accident. If the person killed was not involved in the race then I could understand the charges.

If nothing else, I hope this helps Mark's family.

Edley Rondinone · #7 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 02:06 PM

Kind of like if three people rob a bank, and one robber kills a person while committing the crime, all three robbers are charged with murder, because it happened while a crime was committed. The authorities are going to great lengths to increase penalties for crimes. I can see their point, but if the crime rate is not going done, are their actions working?

scottj · #8 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 02:46 PM

What about all the people charged with vehicular manslaughter every year that aren't street racing. I can here those people's defense now... but your Honor, we were street racing.

I don't think the law should be circumvented because of an agreement between two people, on an ILLEGAL activity taking place on public streets.

Mystical Desire · #9 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 02:56 PM

Des Moines, May 14, 2003 - The suspect wanted in last week's deadly street racing incident has turned himself in.
Des Moines police say 35-year-old Gregg McCarthy was driving the car that collided into a green Cobra driven by Mark Doherty. The collision caused Doherty's car to roll over several times before hitting a utility pole at 2nd and Madison.
Doherty was killed at the scene. His passenger, Karrie Thomas, was taken to a local hospital.
McCarthy is charged with homicide by vehicle and leaving the scene of a deadly accident; both punishable by up to seven years in jail. McCarthy posted his $16,000 bond on Wednesday.

This is the article in todays paper.

Debbie

SilverCobra · #10 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 03:33 PM

It is really sad that Mark lost his life over street racing. One thing that was really curious to me was that the driver with roll bar died of neck injuries and the passenger (no roll bar) had minor injuries. I would have expected injuries/death to be the other way around. I guess that there is no way to make predictions on injury/mortality when a car is rolling over and over at high speed.

Mystical Desire · #11 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SilverCobra

It is really sad that Mark lost his life over street racing. One thing that was really curious to me was that the driver with roll bar died of neck injuries and the passenger (no roll bar) had minor injuries. I would have expected injuries/death to be the other way around. I guess that there is no way to make predictions on injury/mortality when a car is rolling over and over at high speed.

I have my theories on this issue, but they are only theories. My brother had 5 pt racing belts in his car.. The really good kind like they use in nascar racing. The belt goes between your legs and over both your shoulders.

Karrie says she was wearing her belt. She was thrown out of the car though. The passenger seat belts were still buckled when the police arrived. I personally, don't see how she could of gotten thrown with those belts on.. just because of how the belts were. Whatever happened, I believe the only reason she is alive, is because I personally don't think the belts were on, which caused her to get thrown. Anyone that knows my brother, knows though, that you cannot ride in his car without wearing the belts. He was very particular on this issue.
So it kinds of remains a mystery to me, I think her getting thrown from the car is the reason she is alive though. Just my theory though, since on this subject, I will probably always be in the dark.

SCOBRAC · #12 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 05:18 PM

Anyone that leaves the scene of an accident particularly with even the chance of an injury needs to be an example.. If the passengers belts were not tightened the passenger likely slipped right out of them. Particularly if the belts are of the older "simpson" style which require fitting to each size person riding in the seat..

Mystical Desire · #13 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SCOBRAC

Anyone that leaves the scene of an accident particularly with even the chance of an injury needs to be an example.. If the passengers belts were not tightened the passenger likely slipped right out of them. Particularly if the belts are of the older "simpson" style which require fitting to each size person riding in the seat..

Thanks.. This explains greatly something that just did not make sense to me. (about the seatbelts) It was a mystery to me, because she swears up and down she had them on. I could not see how.. but your explanation fits.

Excaliber · #14 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 08:09 PM

I would not be surprised she could/did slip out of the belts. Several rolls of the car would generate a lot of g-forces. You can see evidence of that the way the side pipes are torn away from the body but attached to the engine. I suspect the car did some of it's rolls in mid air, without touching down or touching down lightly (analysis based on minimum car body damage).

The debate rages on as to how Dale Earnhardt (NASCAR)sustained bodily injury leading to his death. Some say the seat belts broke, others say there were cut AFTER the accident, some say they just "stretched" to much, maybe weren't "tight enough" to begin with.

I parachute jump, you THINK you get your rigging tight until the chute pops. THATS when you realize how "loose" it really was!

Ernie

Bill Kesner · #15 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 11:35 PM

Debbie,

First off, I want to thank you for keeping us informed of what had transpired. We all feel awfull as to what happened. Many of us do not know eachother within the club, but we have all found a common place to share our stories about Cobra's...whether good or bad.

I was curious if you had heard if Mark had his belts on, both lap and shoulders...or just the lap? I don't mean this in a bad way, as I think many of us within this club are wondering how this traggic event could occur with the roll bar, and the safety harness belts in place?

I'm sure this has opened alot of eyes, as many read the posts in disbelief. Stay strong Debbie, and thank you for your responses to the club.

- Bill -

Mystical Desire · #16 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Kesner

Debbie,

First off, I want to thank you for keeping us informed of what had transpired. We all feel awfull as to what happened. Many of us do not know eachother within the club, but we have all found a common place to share our stories about Cobra's...whether good or bad.

I was curious if you had heard if Mark had his belts on, both lap and shoulders...or just the lap? I don't mean this in a bad way, as I think many of us within this club are wondering how this traggic event could occur with the roll bar, and the safety harness belts in place?

I'm sure this has opened alot of eyes, as many read the posts in disbelief. Stay strong Debbie, and thank you for your responses to the club.

- Bill -

He definately had his belts on. He was strapped in nice and tight when the police arrived. He always wore the belts how they should be worn.

Russ Dickey · #17 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Kesner

Debbie,

I was curious if you had heard if Mark had his belts on, both lap and shoulders...or just the lap? I don't mean this in a bad way, as I think many of us within this club are wondering how this traggic event could occur with the roll bar, and the safety harness belts in place?

- Bill -

Even with the belts and roll bar in place though, I bet that due to the extremely violent nature of this accident, one could sustain a fatal neck injury just from the severe g-forces of the multiple rolls/flips.

Russ

Cal Metal · #18 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 08:19 AM

A protective device that no one ever talks about on CC is a pad behind the driver's head mounted on the roll bar. A couple of guys at Unique's Cobrafest had them and they looked like a great safety device.

Excaliber · #19 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 08:26 AM

NASCAR is now requiring the drivers to use that neck/head brace thing, forget what they call it. Some drivers don't like it because it is so restrictive they can't turn their head to "see" well enough.

There have been some of the most horrific accidents in NASCAR. Richard Petty comes to mind, rolling his car SO violently there was virtually nothing left but the roll cage and his seat, and he walks away. Dale E. has what appears to be a relatively minor hit on the wall and dies.

Marks girl friend being thrown from the car is NOT a "good" thing, yet in this case it WAS. Marks roll bar was intact, his belts were on tight, he had those fundamentals correct. Sometimes accidents just defy "logic".

So sad, Ernie

avanti-176 · #20 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 08:44 AM

Bill,
I broke my neck on a pair of snow skiis when I was 22 or 23. Had been skiing since I was 2 and done an awful lot of crazy things on skiis (big jumps,flips,30-40 foot cliffs,bounced off a few trees,crashed going very fast) alot of things that probably should have hurt.
When I broke my neck I was going probably 5 mph caught an edge and fell over, that is it, just landed right and there you go..
broken neck. much of my left side paralysed(sp?) for about a week.Sorry for rambling but my point is that it does not take a whole lot to break ones neck.
I broke mine at 5mph so I think a car crash with a couple of flips
@ 20-30-40-50-60-70......

mystical desire,
you have my sincerest condolances for your loss. And my greatest respect for the grace and class with wich you are handling this .

Dan Billings