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Saturday, December 8th, 2007

Cement truck driver charged in crash that killed 5

By News Staff

My feelings after reading this article was utter astonishment. This so called "accident" is absolutely horrific. It is heart-wrenching to even think about. On Friday, December 7th, a cement truck driver driving erratically ran a red light and t-boned a family of five in Calgary. The truck hit with such force that the car was pushed under the truck and carried 300 meters until they came to a stop. The family was killed instantly, a mother, 33, and a father, 41, and their three children ages six, nine and sixteen months. The driver had been speeding, which lead to a man calling in a complaint about his driving. While the man was behind the truck, on the phone with a complaint the truck driver hit the car. The operator listening to the man heard the crash in the background and he screamed and said, "oh my God! He has just gone through a red light and he has just hit a car, T-boned a car. Call 911. I have to hang up." The driver of the cement truck has been charged with refusing to take a breath sample, and five counts of dangerous operation of motor vehicle causing death. They are not sure whether or not alcohol was a factor at this time.

*This is absolutely horrible, it is hard to imagine what the friends and family are feeling right now. It was said that weather had nothing to do with it, it was a dry clear night and the roads were not icy, which means that this never should have happened and could have been totally prevented. A family of five could have had their lives spared if the cement driver had decided to drive more carefully. If alcohol is proven to be a factor, this man should be charged with five counts of second-degree murder. This just proves how horrific accidents can be when people drink and drive, although if alcohol is a factor I would definitely not call this an accident. Speed was the biggest factor in this crash. We have speed limits for a reason and under no circumstances should they be not used, especially in an area such as South Calgary were many people live, it is not a highway, it is an intersection. I am sure the cement truck driver did not intentionally crash into the car, but he was speeding and possibly drinking and that is no excuse and he should be punished accordingly for his actions that night.