ODRAM hit and run death

[Matthew]

I did the One Day Ride Across Michigan this past Saturday. 50 year old Susan Cummings was killed by a hit and run driver. Mowed her down from behind and kept going, never attempting to slow down. Just awful. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Just read on WZZM 13's website that a person of interest and his attorney has met with prosecuters. Certainly sounds like he is the guy. So, so sad.

[JAllen]

Crap. Man, will do. :(

[tiretrax]

That is awful news. RIP. As has said in so many prior posts, people don't realize they are travelling in a loaded weapon. As a result, they take driving for granted and abuse the privilege.

[BumbleBeeDave]

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/08/11/lake-orion-nurse-hit-and-run-bike-crash/31474159/

BBD

[soulspinner]

Got a lawyer and admits remorse. Hit and run, now remorse...and the whatever is out of your system...am I too cynical?

[Jgrooms]

···, how do you get a lawyer to go speak for you regarding hit & run homicide wo warrant being served immediately? "Continue to investigate"... You betcha!

[thwart]

Got a lawyer and admits remorse. Hit and run, now remorse...and the whatever is out of your system...am I too cynical?
And what part of this would be cynical?

[R3awak3n]

Eventually they will have to make an example out of so someone so this stops happening. How can you even go more than 50 meters with ought feeling remorse and turning around.

[zmudshark]

Eventually they will have to make an example out of so someone so this stops happening. How can you even go more than 50 meters with ought feeling remorse and turning around.Not this time. The lawyer is very 'high powered' and they are already blaming the victim.

[oldpotatoe]

Not this time. The lawyer is very 'high powered' and they are already blaming the victim.

Are there any accurate reports as to what happened? More than 'hit from behind', hit and run'..like the specifics? Before the driver is convicted of a homicide or the victim is accused of being at fault?

[JAllen]

Not this time. The lawyer is very 'high powered' and they are already blaming the victim.

Wow...

Just like it is a woman's fault they get raped. Too many people have a deeply blackened heart...

People being killed by motor vehicles have become crimes against humanity. It is widespread and government practically condones it with it's blank faced inaction. This is a civil rights issue...

[etu]

Got a lawyer and admits remorse. Hit and run, now remorse...and the whatever is out of your system...am I too cynical?

yes a bit.
i hit an old lady when i was younger. immediately after, i was so scared that i just wanted to run away. fortunately i was able to gather myself and do the right thing.
is it wrong to hit and run?
hell yes it's wrong
but let's not think the driver nonchalantly drove away thinking "serves him/her right".

[malcolm]

Attorney says his client is "full of remorse and sorrow". The next question should be for whom, himself or the victim.

I don't know details but it amazes me how many adults flee when they are involved in something like this. If it's a kid it doesn't make it better but I get it.

didn't see the post above me when I posted. That is sort of what I was alluding to in my post. I get that behavior in an adolescent, but at some point you have to be a grown up and do the right thing. If you hit someone with your car, stopping to see if they are ok is the minimally acceptable behavior and malice isn't the issue it's responsibility and basic human decency.

[soulspinner]

And what part of this would be cynical?

The part where I suspect fleeing the scene due to a driving while under the influence of something...

[soulspinner]

yes a bit.
have you ever hit someone?
i did when i was younger. immediately after, i was so scared that i just wanted to run away. fortunately i was able to gather myself and do the right thing.
is it wrong to hit and run?
hell yes it's wrong
but let's not think the driver nonchalantly drove away thinking "serves him/her right".

Unfortunately a youngster ran out in front of me and was scraped by my car when I was young. Never ever thought of leaving and thank God the child was nothing but scratched by the rust on my old car...adults on the scene admitted they did not see me coming and told the child to cross.

[Saint Vitus]

The driver must have some really good connections in the area...

[RudAwkning]

Are there any accurate reports as to what happened? More than 'hit from behind', hit and run'..like the specifics? Before the driver is convicted of a homicide or the victim is accused of being at fault?

http://woodtv.com/2015/08/10/reward-offered-in-deadly-hit-and-run-crash/

[soulspinner]

http://woodtv.com/2015/08/10/reward-offered-in-deadly-hit-and-run-crash/

The dragging of a person you struck with your car... accidents happen...but

[etu]

Agree

[Trent12]

Yeah though at times such accidents happen without any fault of any of drivers but what I have observed while working with a DUI lawyer (http://www.duilawyerlosangeles.com/) is that most of them are caused either due to not driving in senses or getting distracted while driving.

[zmudshark]

Update.

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2015/08/man_arrested_in_hit-and-run_de.html#incart_river

MUSKEGON, MI Ronnie Jo Claflin, a 26-year-old Muskegon Township man, has turned himself in for arrest in the Aug. 8 hit-and-run death of Susan Cummings, an Oakland County nurse who was bicycling across Michigan with a large group.

Claflin turned himself in at the Muskegon County Jail around noon Thursday, Aug. 27.

An arrest warrant had been issued for Claflin on a charge of failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing death. That's a felony punishable by up to 15 years in state prison.

[kevinvc]

Looks like he turned himself in only because he was already busted and an arrest warrant had been issued. Still, hopefully justice will be served and this gives at least some measure of closure to his family and friends.

[Geeheeb]

Not much of an update, but he is going to trial:

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2015/10/hit-and-run_death_case_of_woma.html

[Geeheeb]

Driver plead guilty. Did coke, whippits, and huffed duster.

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/07/driver_pleads_guilty_to_hittin.html

[makoti]

Driver plead guilty. Did coke, whippits, and huffed duster.

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/07/driver_pleads_guilty_to_hittin.html

And can withdraw his plea if the sentence is too harsh. I'll be very interested to know what he ends up with. The max is 15yr and there is no minimum. That isn't enough.

[rzthomas]

What compels people to get ripped on something and then go for a drive?

[Aang]

I'll be very interested to know what he ends up with. The max is 15yr and there is no minimum. That isn't enough.

One year (http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/08/familys_forgiveness_judges_sen.html#incart_river_i ndex).

[soulspinner]

One year? Guess its time to follow the crowd off road. Effin ridiculous.

[Matthew]

Heard this today. Stunned he only got one year. What a slap in the face. I work in corrections. I've seen people get way more time for far less.

[soulspinner]

Heard this today. Stunned he only got one year. What a slap in the face. I work in corrections. I've seen people get way more time for far less.

I was a P.O. in NY a lifetime ago. Ditto that last sentence......

[makoti]

One year (http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/08/familys_forgiveness_judges_sen.html#incart_river_i ndex).

That's crazy. I'm sorry. Forgive? No, I don't think I would.

[thwart]

One year? Guess its time to follow the crowd off road. Effin ridiculous.

Locally, about a month ago, a woman cyclist was killed by a motorist who admitted he was distracted (looking at papers on his lap) and drifted over the fog line.

So far, no charges whatsoever.

We really need some stronger 'vulnerable user' laws protecting runners, walkers and cyclists.

Until we do, you're basically road fodder out there.

[mtb_frk]

I saw this earlier this afternoon, what a f'ing shame. Honestly I was disgusted and saddened when I read the article. It put me in a bad mood for the rest of the afternoon.