Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The day I accidentally killed a little boy

bbc.co.uk

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 683 posts

Re: The day I accidentally killed a little boy

#61

Post by nkrisc »

dudul wrote: post #37
dsego wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What investigation? They measured the tire tracks. Unless there was an eyewitness, there is nothing else to do.

I guess. I'm just baffled picturing the scene. This young woman just killed a little boy and the cop is basically saying "ok, well, he's dead, just be careful next time. Ok, have a safe trip home, bye". You're right, without witnesses what can you do? But I would imagine a procedure a little more involved when somebody kills a child.

But what procedure are you imagining, exactly? Grilling her until she confesses to something? There was no indication of any crime, just a tragic accident.

Re: The day I accidentally killed a little boy

#62

Post by WhitneyLand »

corpMaverick wrote: post #16
Pigo wrote: post #7

I can barely bring myself to read stories like this now. I never really thought about it before my son was born, but there's always this dread you live with in the back of your mind. This little helpless person has your life in it's hands. The world and fate is trying to take them out, and if they succeed you'd never recover. You can learn to live with pain, but I don't believe you ever get over something like that.

It is really scary to think about it. But don't focus on what you might loose. Just be grateful for what you have. Try to enjoy every moment you have with them.

The problem with that advice is that is makes too much sense.

In otherwords, most people would agree with it, but then comes the hard part. Fundamentally transforming default thinking patterns that have been etched deeply through years of habit and experience.

Why leave out step 2? Can advice on step 1 be helpful without a plan for step 2?

Re: The day I accidentally killed a little boy

#63

Post by tinco »

weavie wrote: post #17
bitexploder wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is just back of the envelope math here, but I think it will cost the US a significant amount more dollars per fatality reduction. We have a huge number more cars and a very different culture and driving mindset. One relative small country with a pretty singular culture and a much, much smaller amount of roads is just going to have an easier time addressing the issue. It is still worth pursuing, but the scale of…

Could you expound on how the culture and mindset is different? I can imagine what it would be, but don't want to just jump to stereotypes..

In Europe you generally have to be 18 to get your drivers license, and rigorous study is required to obtain a drivers license. 40-50 hours of driving with an instructor (depending on your talent), and a test that I as a reasonably intelligent person had to take three times to pass.

Note that this makes getting your license fairly expensive (on the order of 1500 to 2000 euro), some parents save up for this like American parents save for their childrens college, others simply work a part time job or wait until they've finished college to get the license. I feel that the way the US is structured this alone makes it infeasible to implement these requirements, you can't be 30 and not have a license in US suburbs.

Re: The day I accidentally killed a little boy

#64

Post by thearn4 »

Pigo wrote: post #7

I can barely bring myself to read stories like this now. I never really thought about it before my son was born, but there's always this dread you live with in the back of your mind. This little helpless person has your life in it's hands. The world and fate is trying to take them out, and if they succeed you'd never recover. You can learn to live with pain, but I don't believe you ever get over something like that.

Agreed, I'm a father and found it to be a tough read.

Re: The day I accidentally killed a little boy

#65

Post by bryanlarsen »

dudul wrote: post #25

"The lead officer came and told me that they were not arresting me - there was no indication that I was negligent or distracted or impaired in any way - but he gave me a little lecture saying, "This child died, that's a terrible thing, you need to make sure that you never do this again."" Was I the only one shocked by this? I mean, a little kid died and she's not arrested at least to conduct an investigation? How did…

IMO, the only person to blame in this incident is the person that thought a 50mph speed limit was appropriate for a road that kids live on.

Re: The day I accidentally killed a little boy

#66

Post by Myrmornis »

qaq wrote: post #49
mikemac wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same here, wish there was a Netflix section for "movies where no children are harmed"

Same and this is a really good idea

Non-parent here. I’m surprised to hear calls for a Netflix “safe space” from adults on HN rather than from whiny kids at a liberal arts college. It’s obvious that you’re sincere and that becoming a parent has affected you profoundly.

Re: The day I accidentally killed a little boy

#67

Post by erik_landerholm »

nxc18 wrote: post #51
thriftwy wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the other hand, having more of them decreases your odds that you will face losing all of them. Imagine how parents live who had just one child, who died.

There have been studies on this. Your life (well, chance at ever being happy again) is effectively ruined by the death of one child, regardless of how many you have. You never stop loving or missing the one that died.

It’s terrifying. The other day my youngest started crying and screaming cuz his stomach hurt (ended up being gas or upset stomach that lasted for 4-5 hours). My brain instantly went to “well that’s it...”...it almost always goes through worst case first.

I literally can’t imagine how hard it is on parent’s whose kids are actually sick, suffering so badly, and then may end up dying. I don’t know...I’m not sure I’m made of stuff strong enough to deal with that.

Re: The day I accidentally killed a little boy

#68

Post by chris_7 »

epitrochoidal wrote: post #59
dudul wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess. I'm just baffled picturing the scene. This young woman just killed a little boy and the cop is basically saying "ok, well, he's dead, just be careful next time. Ok, have a safe trip home, bye". You're right, without witnesses what can you do? But I would imagine a procedure a little more involved when somebody kills a child.

The procedure later, away from the accident scene, probably was more involved, but at the scene, unless there was evidence of negligence or bed intent I wouldn't expect an arrest. She didn't flee. Apparently didn't appear impaired. What would they possibly arrest her for?

If you're driving fast enough on a local street that you can hit and kill someone, you're incredibly negligent (see: all NYC taxi drivers).

Re: The day I accidentally killed a little boy

#69

Post by chris_7 »

nkrisc wrote: post #61
dudul wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess. I'm just baffled picturing the scene. This young woman just killed a little boy and the cop is basically saying "ok, well, he's dead, just be careful next time. Ok, have a safe trip home, bye". You're right, without witnesses what can you do? But I would imagine a procedure a little more involved when somebody kills a child.

But what procedure are you imagining, exactly? Grilling her until she confesses to something? There was no indication of any crime, just a tragic accident.

http://crashnotaccident.com

Re: The day I accidentally killed a little boy

#70

Post by chris_7 »

dudul wrote: post #37
dsego wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What investigation? They measured the tire tracks. Unless there was an eyewitness, there is nothing else to do.

I guess. I'm just baffled picturing the scene. This young woman just killed a little boy and the cop is basically saying "ok, well, he's dead, just be careful next time. Ok, have a safe trip home, bye". You're right, without witnesses what can you do? But I would imagine a procedure a little more involved when somebody kills a child.

Cops are predominantly drivers and don't want to enforce anything against other drivers, because "it could be them".
Post reply on HN