Thought some of your readers might want to know the end of this story.
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/27/Hillsborough/For_death__he_gets_60.shtml
Very ugly crash scene."
"According to court testimony, Outlaw was fresh from a night out in Ybor City with his girlfriend and a friend in June 2004. He was behind the wheel of his Honda Civic and possibly under the influence of drugs and alcohol, police said.
Bell, 29, was on his way home from a motorcycle event in Ybor City, riding with his cousin.
While stopped at a red light at 22nd Street and Hillsborough Avenue, Outlaw argued with Bell about his driving.
Outlaw drove around the corner, and Bell followed him. Outlaw got out of his car, and a second confrontation ensued.
. . . .
Enraged, Outlaw chased Bell down Powhatan Avenue. Bell slowed as he reached Nebraska Avenue, and Outlaw hit him from behind, police said.
The impact sent the motorcycle crashing through a wooden fence and into the pond of a two-story blue house at the southwest corner of Powhatan and Nebraska.
Bell landed on the sidewalk at the corner, his helmet still on, witnesses said. Outlaw's car crashed into a utility pole."
. . .
"On Monday, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Barbara Fleischer . . . sentenced him to 60 years in prison."
What a waste, all around. Nobody wins anything here. There are alot of lessons to be learned. The dangers of riding a motorcycle, the dangers of driving under the influence, the importance of opportunities and education and THE IMPORTANCE OF AVOIDING SITUATIONS THAT PROVOKE ROAD RAGE. You never know when the driver you just shot a bird at is looking for some anonymous reason to express pent up anger!! Don't make yourself a victim.
ReplyDeleteI'm completed shocked after reading. flooded with memories of my old friend Ronald Bell. We went to Junior High together and got in a lot of trouble. He was one cool cat and one of the nicest guys I knew in those years. I lost track of him after 9th grade...I had no idea he died in this accident...My heart goes out to his family...
ReplyDeleteThe guy should have recieved a longer sentence. Off the bat, he'll only serve 85% of his sentence which is 51 years. After that he will be eligible for "good behavior", "early release" and "parole". He may not even serve 20 years for killing someone and endangering the lives of everyone in the neighborhood. The judge is blind if she thinks that this guy was just out to "hurt" someone. He intentionally rammed the motorbike to KILL him!!! KILL, Murder, END HIS LIFE! Can't make it any clearer. Could you imagine if after killing the guy on the motorcycle, his car veered off and killed a mother walking on the sidewalk? Or a child? Or crashed into the house or oncoming traffic?
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