Street Racing claims another life

[MisterBimmerMan]

http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/photo_servlet?contentId=8334933&version=1&locale=EN-US&subtype=MIMG&siteId=1004&isP16=true

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- Montgomery County Police say a 17 year-old Rockville High School student died when he was ejected from a car after it hit a tree on Veirs Mill Road. Police are now questioning his friends, including the driver of the car, because witnesses say he was racing a second vehicle when his car lost control.

Family members and friends collapsed when they saw the two halves of the same car, shredded by a tree along the eastbound lanes of Veirs Mill Road near the Rock Creek Terrace Apartment Complex in Rockville, MD.

The car went straight for the tree, says Michael Asghedom, who watched the accident from the window of his apartment. Hit the tree. The back part of the car flew off and went that way and the other part of the car came this way.

Asghedom says his neighbors poured out of the apartment complex to help the driver, who was still sitting behind the wheel of the car. Asghedom ran towards the tree.

I came up here to see if there was another car involved and once I looked to my left there was a dead body there, Asghedom says.

Police say 17 year-old Thiago Andrade was thrown from the car when it hit the tree and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, 17 year-old Johvanny Alonso Garmendez, survived and was sent to a shock trauma center.

Hes conscious and hes talking with investigators, says Montgomery Count Police Spokesman Paul Starks.

Police also questioned two teenagers at the scene, who were inside a second vehicle. Witnesses say the two cars were racing each other at high-speed when the accident occurred.

In the chaos after the accident, Asghedom says the teenager told him they were best friends. "I asked him, 'do you know these guys?'" Asghedom says. "He said, 'Yes, he's my friend. He's like my brother, I grew up with him.'"

[NoSoup4U]

I saw that on the news last night. That car looked like a ninja sword sliced right through the middle of it ...

[Jed]

I saw that on the news last night. That car looked like a ninja sword sliced right through the middle of it ...

Yeah, I saw it on the local news too and it was crazy how the car was in sections. Amazing that the driver still survived.

[MisterBimmerMan]

It's just not worth it. If the person you are racing against crashes and kills somebody else on the road or their passengers, you will be charged with accessory. There is really nothing to gain from street racing except feeding your own fragile ego. Besides, corners are funner.

[ohnoes]

I saw that on NBC after the Superbowl... very tragic. But who says he was street-racing? I guess he'd have to be going pretty fast to have a tree bisect his car like that and/or hit it at just the right spot. But, you don't see too many Camrys street-racing. Maybe it was a V6 Camry. :shifty

[MisterBimmerMan]

I saw that on NBC after the Superbowl... very tragic. But who says he was street-racing? I guess he'd have to be going pretty fast to have a tree bisect his car like that and/or hit it at just the right spot. But, you don't see too many Camrys street-racing. Maybe it was a V6 Camry. :shifty On that particular stretch of road, you have enough space (about 1 mile) to reach +100MPH and the road is pretty smooth. Also, the roads intersect on the westbound side for pretty much that entire mile (he was heading eastbound). In the story, witnesses say he was racing another vehicle.

[ohnoes]

On that particular stretch of road, you have enough space (about 1 mile) to reach +100MPH and the road is pretty smooth. Also, the roads intersect on the westbound side for pretty much that entire mile (he was heading eastbound). In the story, witnesses say he was racing another vehicle.

Ahh, okay. Makes sense then... damn, that's terrible. :( 90 mph can probably do that to a car...

[rdorman]

I had a friend killed in High School almost the same way. Please don't street race. There are lots of places you can race 'safely' and for very little cost.

[Motorsport333]

I saw that on abc 7 news at at11pm last night. very sad an unfortunate.

[mattmartindrift]

No sympathy here. Unless the passengers were unwillingly along for the ride, they're as much at fault for not yelling at the driver to stop.

At least innocent bystanders/passers by weren't injured.

[MisterBimmerMan]

No sympathy here. Unless the passengers were unwillingly along for the ride, they're as much at fault for not yelling at the driver to stop.

At least innocent bystanders/passers by weren't injured.

That's true in a sense but isn't it still your responsibility as a driver to ensure or at least attempt to ensure the safety of your passengers by not placing them in a potentially fatal situation in the first place? Any time you get into a passenger seat you are putting your life in the driver's hand and vice versa. It's my opinion that if somebody dies in your car as a result of your negligent actions, that it is your fault regardless of if they egged you on or didn't try to stop you from being negligent.

[The Man]

No sympathy here. Unless the passengers were unwillingly along for the ride, they're as much at fault for not yelling at the driver to stop.

At least innocent bystanders/passers by weren't injured.

+1 but I have tons of sympathy for the family and friends not in the car...


That's true in a sense but isn't it still your responsibility as a driver to ensure or at least attempt to ensure the safety of your passengers by not placing them in a potentially fatal situation in the first place? Any time you get into a passenger seat you are putting your life in the driver's hand and vice versa. It's my opinion that if somebody dies in your car as a result of your negligent actions, that it is your fault regardless of if they egged you on or didn't try to stop you from being negligent.
I have plenty of friends that egg me on all the time in my car, sometimes I just don't respond and let them figure out the answer (NO). I only go fast if there's no one in my car except for me and if the road is clear of all other cars (except for BMW runs). I hate to hear about these tragic stories but it's just another lesson.

[AshamedGorilla]

It's just hard for me to imagine that these are people my age getting killed in these senseless acts. :(

I couldn't imagine if this happened to one of my friends at school.

[tEckniks]

i just gave him a love tap.. :dunno

[mattmartindrift]

That's true in a sense but isn't it still your responsibility as a driver to ensure or at least attempt to ensure the safety of your passengers by not placing them in a potentially fatal situation in the first place? Any time you get into a passenger seat you are putting your life in the driver's hand and vice versa. It's my opinion that if somebody dies in your car as a result of your negligent actions, that it is your fault regardless of if they egged you on or didn't try to stop you from being negligent.



Correct. However, if the passengers didn't react to said neglegence they trusted their life in the wrong hands. You wouldn't go skydiving with someone who's never been trained; or, ride a large passenger jet with somone who's co-piloted a Cessna, once. So why would you jump in the passenger seat when the driver has an untrained lead foot?

[EvilTwin]

holy poo! thats crazY!

[SmallJ92]

The one who died went to my school and was in my same grade. I knew who he was, but didn't really 'know' him. It's amazing that the car split into two like that, and that anyone could survive a wreck that bad. It's tragic and it should be a wake up call for all the kids at my school who drive like asshats.

[B1MMRRR]

Jesus. An unfortunate reminder to 'take it to the track'.

:(