Driver Watching DVD While Driving : Not Guilty

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  • esef
    Platinum Poster
    • Jun 2004
    • 1717

    Driver Watching DVD While Driving : Not Guilty

    A man was acquitted Tuesday of charges he caused a fatal crash by taking his eyes off the road while watching a movie on a DVD player mounted on his truck dashboard.

    Jurors acquitted Erwin Petterson Jr., 29, of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of manslaughter. No law in Alaska prohibits operating a DVD player in view of a driver.

    Petterson had been charged in the deaths of Robert Weiser, 60, and Donna Weiser, 56, when his truck collided with their vehicle on a highway in southern Alaska on October 12, 2002.

    "I think this case was really important because it brought out the issue for public discussion," said the prosecutor, June Stein, after the acquittal. "It's probably an issue the Legislature should address."

    Neither Petterson nor his lawyer could immediately be reached for comment after the acquittal. Lindsey Petterson said her brother was taking a long drive in his truck.

    "He hasn't been able to drive in over two years," she said. "He just wanted to be alone for a while. He's very happy he can get on with his life again."

    Stein argued that Petterson and his passenger Jonathan Douglas were watching a DVD movie when Petterson's pickup truck crossed the center line, hitting the Weisers' sport utility vehicle head-on. Petterson testified he was not watching a movie and that his truck strayed into oncoming traffic when he reached for a soda.

    The Weisers died at the scene.

    Marty Zoda, Douglas' former wife, testified that her ex-husband told her the DVD was running when the accident happened, a claim Douglas denied.

    If installed as recommended, DVD players will not work in an automobile unless the emergency brake is on or the vehicle is in park. Prosecutors said Petterson overrode those safety measures when he installed an entertainment system including a DVD player, speakers and a Sony PlayStation 2 in his pickup truck.

    David Weiser, a son of the dead couple, said the family was not surprised by the verdict because skid marks at the scene and Petterson's driving record were not allowed as evidence.

    "I'm very disappointed in how the justice system has to prove a case against someone who took two lives," said David Weiser.

    what a lucky muthafuker! get off w/ murder AND has a bumpin system! shit, i don't even have a PS2 at home! WTF!!


    3-time Breakspoll nominated in the 'Best Website' category
  • fumanchu182
    Angantyr The Ruthless
    • Jun 2004
    • 962

    #2
    Well now they set a precedent in the judicial system that over riding the security features of mobile dvd players for car use is acceptable, if not downright evil!

    I feel bad someone had to die cause of someones shitty driving but eh shit happens. As for my PS2 it is staying right near my TV, I don't need that shit jacked out of my car.

    Also if you notice the fucking cock monger was reaching for a soda, bull shit cause if he was reaching for a soda when impact happened he would of broke his colar bone on the steering column.

    IMO at least the relatives of the dead person should be told the movie that he was watching, it would ONLY BE ACCEPTABLE IF THE DVD WAS SCARFACE ANIVERSARY EDITION!
    The sailors of the United States Navy are among the most disciplined, devoted, and well-trained fighting men the world has ever known. They drink gasoline and piss fire, The spit bullets and shit bombs, and will swim across the ocean with a knife in their teeth just for the chance to carve up those that threaten their homeland.

    Comment

    • palmer
      Retired or Simply Important
      • Jun 2004
      • 5383

      #3
      Originally posted by fumanchu182
      IMO at least the relatives of the dead person should be told the movie that he was watching, it would ONLY BE ACCEPTABLE IF THE DVD WAS SCARFACE ANIVERSARY EDITION!
      So if your brother/sister/mother/father/best friend was killed it would be acceptable to you if the man responsible for killing them was watching scarface?

      Originally posted by esef
      what a lucky muthafuker! get off w/ murder AND has a bumpin system! shit, i don't even have a PS2 at home! WTF!!
      incredible.




      Is there anyone sane left in this fucking world
      todayistomorrow
      art direction | design | animation

      Comment

      • tiddles
        Encryption, Jr.
        • Jun 2004
        • 6861

        #4
        Re:: Driver Watching DVD While Driving : Not Guilty

        e skid marks at the scene and Petterson's driving record were not allowed as evidence.
        why?

        Comment

        • Yao
          DUDERZ get a life!!!
          • Jun 2004
          • 8167

          #5
          Re:: Driver Watching DVD While Driving : Not Guilty

          Originally posted by tiddles
          e skid marks at the scene and Petterson's driving record were not allowed as evidence.
          why?
          The judge was disgusted by the thought of having to examine the inside of Petterson's knickers.
          Blowkick visual & graphic design - No Civilization. Now With Broadband.

          There are but three true sports -- bullfighting, mountain climbing, and motor-racing. The rest are merely games. -Hemingway

          Comment

          • Morgan
            Platinum Poster
            • Jun 2004
            • 2234

            #6
            Re:: Driver Watching DVD While Driving : Not Guilty

            this fucking retard killed two people whilst not paying attention to the road and has got off scott free with it. That is so fcuking wrong.

            What is worse is you spastics making light of it with your tossey comments. Fcuk sakes, i hope you feel ashamed of yourselves. What if someone killed your fcuking parents whilst playing space invaders whilst doing 55 down the freeway. Grow up you wankers
            "Pain is only weakness leaving the body."

            Comment

            • qwerty2222
              Platinum Poster
              • Jun 2004
              • 1615

              #7
              Re:: Driver Watching DVD While Driving : Not Guilty

              i hope its a justice reor cause i dont see any reasonable arument in watching anything else but the rode while killin someone with a car
              i m sure it will go to apeal and the part that got hurt will win or i hope so

              Comment

              • chato
                Gold Gabber
                • Jun 2004
                • 815

                #8
                INCREDIBLE! killed 2 and is free.... irresponsible biatch!

                Man those laws need to be set properly. Its lame that shit like this needs to happen so that they realise the laws need to change... but thats how things work in thw world.:cry:
                ...enjoy every single second

                Comment

                • esef
                  Platinum Poster
                  • Jun 2004
                  • 1717

                  #9
                  Re:: Driver Watching DVD While Driving : Not Guilty

                  Originally posted by Morgan
                  Grow up you wankers
                  yes mother...


                  3-time Breakspoll nominated in the 'Best Website' category

                  Comment

                  • Morgan
                    Platinum Poster
                    • Jun 2004
                    • 2234

                    #10
                    Re:: Driver Watching DVD While Driving : Not Guilty

                    Originally posted by esef
                    Originally posted by Morgan
                    Grow up you wankers
                    yes mother...
                    You?ve obviously never been affected by the actions of a drunk or irresponsable driver. Maybe if you had you wouldn?t be telling me to fuck off.
                    "Pain is only weakness leaving the body."

                    Comment

                    • esef
                      Platinum Poster
                      • Jun 2004
                      • 1717

                      #11
                      Re:: Driver Watching DVD While Driving : Not Guilty

                      Originally posted by Morgan
                      You?ve obviously never been affected by the actions of a drunk or irresponsable driver. Maybe if you had you wouldn?t be telling me to fuck off.
                      you're right, i haven't. if you have and i have acted in an unsympathetic manner, appologies. no offense is ever ment in my posts, only good natured humor...









                      unless you're canadian!


                      3-time Breakspoll nominated in the 'Best Website' category

                      Comment

                      • Morgan
                        Platinum Poster
                        • Jun 2004
                        • 2234

                        #12
                        ^^ no worries.
                        "Pain is only weakness leaving the body."

                        Comment

                        • Neo
                          Gold Gabber
                          • Jun 2004
                          • 663

                          #13
                          Re:: Driver Watching DVD While Driving : Not Guilty

                          Originally posted by Yao
                          Originally posted by tiddles
                          e skid marks at the scene and Petterson's driving record were not allowed as evidence.
                          why?
                          The judge was disgusted by the thought of having to examine the inside of Petterson's knickers.
                          Now that's comedy. I was thinking the same thing.

                          In seriousness though. I can't wait until they outlaw cell phones everywhere. This has got to stop. They proably should outlaw eating as well but I don't think that will happen. Thhis has got to come to an end.

                          Comment

                          • Yao
                            DUDERZ get a life!!!
                            • Jun 2004
                            • 8167

                            #14
                            Re:: Driver Watching DVD While Driving : Not Guilty

                            Well Neo, I second that.
                            To be honest, when I see some jerkoff on the phone while driving and going from left to right I get so fucking angry...those stupid cunts just won't leave the damn cell phone alone, at the risk of causing a serious accident.
                            Makes me itch to drag the A-hole out of his/her car and do some serious damage before they do...

                            Blowkick visual & graphic design - No Civilization. Now With Broadband.

                            There are but three true sports -- bullfighting, mountain climbing, and motor-racing. The rest are merely games. -Hemingway

                            Comment

                            • Neo
                              Gold Gabber
                              • Jun 2004
                              • 663

                              #15
                              Re:: Driver Watching DVD While Driving : Not Guilty

                              Originally posted by Yao
                              Well Neo, I second that.
                              To be honest, when I see some jerkoff on the phone while driving and going from left to right I get so fucking angry...those stupid cunts just won't leave the damn cell phone alone, at the risk of causing a serious accident.
                              Makes me itch to drag the A-hole out of his/her car and do some serious damage before they do...

                              Yes and I'm so susceptible to road rage

                              Comment

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