Did I do the right thing?

gramar · 10-05-2013 08:53AM #1

Did I do the right thing?

On the way home yesterday I saw a car that had lost control and was wedged in a field
just off the road. I stopped to see if they were ok. The guy who was driving (he was on his own)was not to put too fine a point on it..scuttered. No damage been done to himself or anyone else and the car wasn't in a dangerous place but if the gaurdias had arrived he was in serious shít as he was way over the limit.

When he got out of the car he could barely stand and was a bit dazed due to the drink and the knock he took. He stumbled a few times and as I caught him by the arm as he stumbled it felt odd, kind of hard. I asked him if he had his arm in plaster and he told me he was missing an arm and he had a kind of plastic arm. The car was automatic and was set up for his disability but in his state and with one arm he wasn't fit to look at a car let alone get behind the wheel.

I got him to call a friend which wasn't easy as he hadn't got his wits about him. Frankly it was like talking to a child. His friend came but it was impossible for us to move his car from where it was so I rang a guy I know with a tow truck who got the car out and his friends son drove it home while he went with his friend.

I did the guy a favour but I'm not happy about it. He shouldn't have been on the road and he could have caused a serious accident to me a loved one or anyone other innocent road user. So my question is if I did the right thing or not? Should I have shopped him? He would have lost his license for 2 years and had to pay a serious fine and would have had to
apply for his license again etc. If he had previous he would have been looking at jail. The only thing that makes me feel any better is that hopefully it was one off but if I found out he was at this shít the whole time I'd be furious with myself for helping him out.
What would other people have done?

Kylo Ren · 10-05-2013 08:55AM

Time will tell. If he does it again and kills someone it'll be partly your fault.

Have a nice day.

IM0 · 10-05-2013 08:57AM

NO

Nabber · 10-05-2013 08:59AM

I would have recorded it all and put it up on youtube.

May have shamed him into not doing it anymore, would have been funny too.

tfitzgerald · 10-05-2013 09:01AM

Keno 92 wrote: »

Time will tell. If he does it again and kills someone it'll be partly your fault.

Have a nice day.

I agree with keno. If he was that bad you should have called the Garda. I have no time for people who fcuk around in cars. As a result of a little fcuke in a stolen car hitting me head on a few years ago. I'm still not recovered over his little joyride

10-05-2013 09:01AM

Should have reported him tbh

Chuck Stone · 10-05-2013 09:01AM

Hitler.

Dravokivich · 10-05-2013 09:03AM

gramar wrote: »

Should I have shopped him? He would have lost his license for 2 years and had to pay a serious fine and would have had to apply for his license again etc.

Yes, the consequences of his actions that he has to face are his own fault. All he's suffered from this is the loss of an arm and possibly needing to buy another car.

neonman · 10-05-2013 09:03AM

Personally I would have called the Garda. Nobody should drink and drive full stop. He could have caused a serious accident or even killed someone. His disability shouldn't have been a factor in your decision not to call the Garda imo.

You could always call them if you have his reg number or details? Maybe put the spooks up him, he can't be done for drink driving now but it might deter him from doing it again if the Garda pay him a visit.

Valetta · 10-05-2013 09:03AM

Shopped is too emotional.

You should have reported a crime.

Ms. Pingui · 10-05-2013 09:04AM

I probably would have called the guards if I was in that situation.

Arciphel · 10-05-2013 09:04AM

But on the other hand, he might be a good driver.

(I'll just get me coat)

LostDamo · 10-05-2013 09:06AM

I don't think this was the right thing by any stretch of the imagination, not only that but think you've assisted in covering up the accident and any damage he did. Also guarantee it's not a one off.

tfitzgerald · 10-05-2013 09:06AM

Arciphel wrote: »

But on the other hand, he might be a good driver.

(I'll just get me coat)

Thank you. For bringing a smile to my face on this otherwise dreary morning.

Whatever_fools · 10-05-2013 09:06AM

I know its maybe easier said than done but being a bit of a skeptic I very much doubt that this was the first time and there's just no way I wouldn't have called the guards. Imagine if he did it again and cleaned a child out of it. People like this deserve to be off the road for 2 years, they deserve to lose their licenses. If you had caught him breaking into someones house, which wouldn't even really be life threatening behaviour, would you have let him away with it? Sorry, I totally disagree with your decision.

KeithTS · 10-05-2013 09:07AM

Should have left the prick by the side of the road once you found out he was pickled.

Fart · 10-05-2013 09:08AM

Chuck Stone, why do you have a pair of dangling testicles at the end of your "Location"?

JustAThought · 10-05-2013 09:11AM

Fair dues to you for stopping & helping .

If he was scuttered the chances are that there are no traces if it left in his blood now , and i dont know if the guards would have any chance of getting him.

The guy could say the incoherence was due to head injury/medication - tou mentioned that he was disabled - he might be on some tablets .

You acted in good faith & helped him -tow truck etc.

What you could do is report the incident to the guards on the basis above. You cam be sure the insurance company will be interested.

It may be the fright he needs never to do it again - but there is a big difference between 1 over & scuttered.

I still have issues from " my" crash driver not being as lucky as he was - that was 3 years ago .

Did you get his name/number/reg.

You could follow up & see how remorseful/his attitude today -could be the basis for a judgement call.

It kind of hinges on that -I wonder dies he have previous convictions.

gramar · 10-05-2013 09:12AM

Whatever_fools wrote: »

I know its maybe easier said than done but being a bit of a skeptic I very much doubt that this was the first time and there's just no way I wouldn't have called the guards. Imagine if he did it again and cleaned a child out of it. People like this deserve to be off the road for 2 years, they deserve to lose their licenses. If you had caught him breaking into someones house, which wouldn't even really be life threatening behaviour, would you have let him away with it? Sorry, I totally disagree with your decision.

Don't be sorry! I disagree with my decision but I did what I did or didn't do as was the case. A crime is a crime whether you're caught or not.

December2012 · 10-05-2013 09:12AM

No.

You should have (and maybe still can) call the gardai.

It probably wouldn't been the only thing that actually saves his own and others lives in the future.

michael.dublin · 10-05-2013 09:13AM

gramar..... lets say, that the next time this person is drink driving, and he hit one of your family members, ask yourself..... did i do the right thing ?????

Chuck Stone · 10-05-2013 09:14AM

Fart wrote: »

Chuck Stone, why do you have a pair of dangling testicles at the end of your "Location"?

Ah sure why not?

fryup · 10-05-2013 09:14AM

Keno 92 wrote: »

Time will tell. If he does it again and kills someone it'll be partly your fault.

Have a nice day.

yep, next time he might crash into you OP karma

KeithTS · 10-05-2013 09:17AM

Just out of interest, how did his mate react?

GarIT · 10-05-2013 09:17AM

Honestly I think you deserve at least a driving ban yourself.

Esoteric_ · 10-05-2013 09:21AM

You should have reported it. This isnt a case of someone luckily making it home safely while drink driving. The bloke crashed ffs, what if there had been a person there??

the_syco · 10-05-2013 09:22AM

gramar wrote: »

On the way home yesterday I saw a car that had lost control and was wedged in a field
just off the road. I stopped to see if they were ok. The guy who was driving (he was on his own)was not to put too fine a point on it..scuttered. No damage been done to himself or anyone else and the car wasn't in a dangerous place but if the gaurdias had arrived he was in serious shít as he was way over the limit.

This time he hit a field. Next time it may be a person or another car.

Did you check for any blood at the front of the cars bumper?

kfk · 10-05-2013 09:25AM

If it was me, I would have called the garda. He should have been handcuffed and put in the back of their car instead of a friends car.

gramar · 10-05-2013 09:26AM

JustAThought wrote: »

Fair dues to you for stopping & helping .

If he was scuttered the chances are that there are no traces if it left in his blood now , and i dont know if the guards would have any chance of getting him.

The guy could say the incoherence was due to head injury/medication - tou mentioned that he was disabled - he might be on some tablets .

You acted in good faith & helped him -tow truck etc.

What you could do is report the incident to the guards on the basis above. You cam be sure the insurance company will be interested.

It may be the fright he needs never to do it again - but there is a big difference between 1 over & scuttered.

I still have issues from " my" crash driver not being as lucky as he was - that was 3 years ago .

Did you get his name/number/reg.

You could follow up & see how remorseful/his attitude today -could be the basis for a judgement call.

It kind of hinges on that -I wonder dies he have previous convictions.

He had a mark on his forehead even though he said he didn't feel any pain (probably the alcohol) but he must have whacked it off the windscreen or steering wheel. Now that I think of it he almost certainly did. He told me that having one arm means he's exempt from wearing a seatbelt. The knock he took and the fact he had arm no doubt messed with his balance but drink was the main factor.

I know his name, his friends name where he works, what he does and I have his phone number and I'll ring him today to see if his attitude is one of remorse and regret or just delighted he got away with it and he'll do it again tonight.

December2012 · 10-05-2013 09:26AM

Actually, the more I think if this the more pissed off I am at you.

Tell me OP, what do you think of religious orders not reporting crimes to the Gardai, and just saying "ah sure they won't do it the next time".

The Backwards Man · 10-05-2013 09:27AM

Too many people have the Ah shure it was grand .

Sometimes it isn't grand. Report it today OP.

Did I do the right thing?

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