...I am posting this for no other reason than it's cathartic to me to get this off my chest.
An acquaintance (not really a friend, just a guy I would see at my local watering hole from time to time), was arrested last week and charged with two counts of homicide. In January, he left the bar after "a couple of beers" and drove his high end German sedan home - at a high rate of speed. For those familiar with New Jersey, we have jughandles - aka, stay right to turn left.
He tried to make the turn at the jughandle, lost control, jumped the curb, and smashed into a minivan, pushing the van and it's occupants into a small waterbody. The two people in the van drowned.
He was physically fine, although shaken up. Subsequent investigations indicated his "couple of beers" were actually eight beers, based on interviews with the bar. Police estimate that he was going over 90 MPH - all while trying to navigate a turn.
His toxicology reports came back last week, and based on that, he was arrested and charged with homicide, and a couple of other offenses.
His wife, a doctor, has filed for divorce. And she is pregnant with their first child. His company fired him (he was in IT). His parents/family don't have the means to help him out. So, he has nothing. He is in jail, and based on what some local police told me, it does not look like he will be able to afford a high priced lawyer, and will have to settle for a public defender. He has told the police he wants to end his life rather than spend time in jail.
He is 29 years old.
He has ruined two families, and possibly more extended families, by his irresponsible, now considered criminal, act. And he may spend the better part of the next 20 years in jail.
I don't understand people nowadays, with all we know about drinking and driving, why people still do it. One Uber call and the couple in the minivan would be around today, and he would still be a husband, soon to be father.
I just don't get it.
