Comments on: Escambia Man Charged With DUI After Crash

By: mick

mick — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 00:56:01 +0000

Reading some of the comments on how a judge and jury will weigh the facts…here’s a fact, his intent was to go out and drink till he got his fill, he also had the intention of getting behind the wheel and driving. The result of these intentional acts was that he harmed someone with a vehicle. He intended to drink and drive wth the result being intentional bodily harm…put him in prison, no more alcohol…

By: Darby obrien

Darby obrien — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 21:04:28 +0000

I have a daughter who is also 18 and spells her first name just a little different than your sister. Please consider the Post by Coe in getting specific support for something as tragic and seemingly senseless as this. My prayers our with your family. Thank you for posting.

By: Ashley Vlastaris (O'Brien)

Ashley Vlastaris (O'Brien) — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 18:22:15 +0000

@henry Coe thank you, but is 100% ok for us to be angry. There are several stages of grief and we are in the first step. We as a family are smart, strong and have faith. At the immediate moment the focus is to get my sister well.

By: Anastasia

Anastasia — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 14:04:02 +0000

I too have seen people’s lives destroyed by using alcohol. My prayers go out to all who are affected by this.

By: Henry Coe

Henry Coe — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 06:42:49 +0000

@Ashley Vlastaris Condolences to you and yours for the long road of recovery ahead. Life altering injuries any way you get one, change everything.

As far as getting “justice” or “revenge”, the courts tend to not consider how people “feel” about what happened as much as they consider the “intent” of the person on trial. Odds are, this drunk, had zero intent on causing anyone any harm or any intent for wrecking his vehicle.

I hope the guy has money so you can get a good civil suit, but so you are less disappointed, you might lower your expectations in regard to what will happen in court.
Whether this guy has a stroke and dies this week or wins the lottery and lives happily ever after, neither would change his lack of intent over what happened, that he might not even remember. It also would not change the physical & mental challenges your sister and her friend and you will be living with from here on out.
It isn’t fair and nothing will make it ok, to include your anger and resentments.
I say that so you might consider that “hate & anger” take up a bunch of energy and are very distracting and hard to live with, but PTSD can be a real product of an accident like this, for you as well as your sister and her friend.
It would be wise to find someone that is trained in counseling to talk to at some point along the way. Especially for yourself and other family members if you are going to be caretakers for your sister. Best wishes. <3

By: Ashley Vlastaris (O'Brien)

Ashley Vlastaris (O'Brien) — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 04:38:39 +0000

Alexandra is my sister. I am absolutley heartbroken for her and her friend Jaclyn. The fact that this man is out on a $5,000 bond disgusts me. I don’t care if he is a first time offender. My sisters life will never be the same after what this low life did to her. Our family is devastated. We will make sure he pays dearly for what he did to our precious girl, and Jaclyn.

By: Marshall

Marshall — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 01:18:49 +0000

There needs to be a change in DUI Laws so that First Offenders spend Jail Time…Mandatory…with no option of the Judge to suspend the time. If just a DUI, then 15 days. If there is injuries to another party…it starts at 6 months and goes up with the level of the injuries. If someone dies, then it should be 10 years minimum, or maybe more. The time should also be set by the BAC…If first offender and between 0.09-.11 for instance…15 days…. if at .12 – .15 then 30 days and etc. Maybe if there was some actual teeth in the law some of it would stop!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 22:35:18 +0000

My prayers to the family involved. I work with one of the girls grandmother and I have seen what she has gone through all day worrying about her family. I agree that drunk driving should have a higher punishment in ALL states. It has ruined too many lives! God Bless the family and may the biggest blessing be found through all tragedy!

By: mick

mick — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 21:29:04 +0000

This DRUG that is so socially acceptable has ruined and destroyed so many lives. Any DUI that results in a car crash should immediately carry the charge of attempted premeditated vehicular homicide. The drunks are going to drink, the drunks are going to drive, the drunks dont care about anyone but themselves. Should be mandatory prison time. All of you that belly up to the bar are a scourge on society…

By: Vice Security

Vice Security — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 20:06:58 +0000

Sad to say but the Sheriffs Office Policy say they can’t pursue drivers for DUI. Their hands are tied.