Woman faces life in prison for stopping to save ducklings

BeerSteakBirds · 25-06-2014 12:58AM

She took two people's lives- took away the wifes family. If I did that so recklessly and stupidly I would consider my own life worthless and want to leave this earth just so the widow does not have to think about me possibly enjoying my life any longer. So my thoughts are with the victims. Of course I do not know this case inside out. Maybe the killer is mentally ill in which case I am not qualified to judge.

Capt'n Midnight · 25-06-2014 01:02AM

emeldc wrote: »

In the US you can make what could be seen as a mistake no matter how stupid and they lock you up and throw away the key.

Yeah , yeah in the US you can get life for a third offence , like shoplifting a jacket or something.

Anyway it's a story from CANADA

and she hasn't been sentenced yet ,

and the max sentence is 14 years not life

and it's her first offence

so I'll go out on a limb here and am guessing that she won't be spending the rest of her life in a US jail

Bongalongherb · 25-06-2014 01:07AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Is it not clear enough in less than 60 characters, any longer and it would get truncated!.

There is more to this than 60 characters, of which is shown in the news story, over-speeding. His wife was driving slower and was un-injured...As in... she was watching her speed and was observant in relation to her speed and surroundings.

Both were at fault unfortunately. The driver of the motorcycle should have driven slower especially with his young daughter on-board. And that idiot stopping her car on the highway. Both were at fault. Speeding is the most common problem when it comes to accidents. Don't speed, and then at least you will have some leeway as to slow to a stop or manoeuvre without injury.

Awkward Badger · 25-06-2014 01:07AM

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Yeah , yeah in the US you can get life for a third offence , like shoplifting a jacket or something.

Anyway it's a story from CANADA

and she hasn't been sentenced yet ,

and the max sentence is 14 years not life

and it's her first offence

so I'll go out on a limb here and am guessing that she won't be spending the rest of her life in a US jail

Convicted on four counts according to the article. 2 carrying a max of life and 2 a max of 14 years. I know its not America or she'll be in an American Jail. But...

Emma Czornobaj was convicted by a jury on Friday on two counts of criminal negligence causing death, a charge that carries a maximum life sentence, and two counts of dangerous driving causing death, which comes with a maximum of 14 years in jail.

ardle1 · 25-06-2014 01:08AM

You know what, I hadn't even read the article before I went through some off these posts. And in my mind I knew the mother had probably come to terms with what happened and would want leniency(and even feel pity) for this '25' year old woman who has to live with her actions for the rest off her life. I've just read the article, and I was right...
No bloody way should she serve life in prison!
This is going to sound stupid 'to some of you'.
But she made a mistake, I know I know a mistake that caused the deaths off two people. But I certainly do not think she deserves a lengthy prison sentence never mind life!

feargale · 25-06-2014 01:14AM

BeerSteakBirds wrote: »

If I did that so recklessly and stupidly I would consider my own life worthless and want to leave this earth just so the widow does not have to think about me possibly enjoying my life any longer.

Hands up anybody here who has never made a bad judgement while driving. Hands up anybody who is utterly confident of never doing so in future.

@BeerSteakBirds I hope you never find yourself in that predicament. But if you do I'm sure none of us here would want you to regard your own life so cheaply.H Hara kiri isn't a solution to anything.

My suggested sentence: a lifetime driving ban ( with a long prison sentence if breached ) and something short of a prison sentence, maybe community service. By all means jailblackguards, but this is not thuggery.

25-06-2014 01:15AM

Bongalongherb wrote: »

There is more to this than 60 characters, of which is shown in the news story, over-speeding. His wife was driving slower and was un-injured...As in... she was watching her speed and was observant in relation to her speed and surroundings.

Both were at fault unfortunately. The driver of the motorcycle should have driven slower especially with his young daughter on-board. And that idiot stopping her car on the highway. Both were at fault. Speeding is the most common problem when it comes to accidents. Don't speed, and then at least you will have some leeway as to slow to a stop or manoeuvre without injury.

I was actually replying to the post that was requesting an more appropriate title for this thread.

goz83 · 25-06-2014 01:21AM

As it was the overtaking lane, maybe the motorcyclist was overtaking

And maybe it was simply too late when he got into the overtaking lane. He may have been checking his side mirror and it was all too late. Just another scenario to consider.

The driver/parker of the car should get some jail time. Even 3 months. Few accidents are caused by smart behaviour on the road and what she did was beyond stupid, so the old "ah, but she just made a mistake" doesn't wash with me. Words can't describe it. She should have her license taken away for life.

darkpagandeath · 25-06-2014 02:00AM

Even if the Motor bike driver was speeding, The woman should still be charged with criminal negligence causing death. She was not broken down it was not an action out of her control. She made an active decision to stop in that lane of the motor way that action lead to the deaths of 2 people. People can't see into the future and yes should drive at a speed for the conditions of the road in question. We don't even know if the speed was to low or high for that stretch of road. Motorway speed limits here can be to slow of the quality of the road, and to fast for some other roads. Speed yes probably a minor contributing factor in this case, We do know though if the car was not stopped on the road there would not have been an accident. So primary contribution to the accident was the woman's choice to stop on an active motorway.

whiteandlight · 25-06-2014 02:15AM

Why are so many jumping to the conclusion that they were speeding/not enough due care? If the car was at a dead stop have you any idea how hard you would need to brake even not speeding? And how long a stopping distance is needed, nevermind the face that the average human brain would be like "wtf, she can't really be stopped? That cars not stopped is it? No hazards? OMG I'm gaining on her so fast...." The mother was travelling behind them, not necessarily slower.

The other driver said they had to swerve to get out of the way as it was too late to brake. If the motorbike was just behind the car they wouldn't have known it was stopped unttil after she swerved-there wasn't even hazards on ffs.

Cookie_Monster · 25-06-2014 02:29AM

Bongalongherb wrote: »

Source: http://foxnewsinsider.com/2014/06/23/woman-who-stopped-car-help-ducks-faces-life-prison-causing-fatal-crash

What's a "roughly 60 mph zone"

osarusan · 25-06-2014 03:08AM

Horrible, horrible, tragic story. Lives ended and survivors' lives ruined.

I still think that life in prison is incredibly harsh though.

whiteandlight wrote: »

Why are so many jumping to the conclusion that they were speeding/not enough due care? If the car was at a dead stop have you any idea how hard you would need to brake even not speeding?

Isn't driving too fast/being to close to the vehicle in front pretty much a textbook example of driving without due care?

AlanS181824 · 25-06-2014 03:11AM

Awful story wow.

darkpagandeath · 25-06-2014 03:11AM

osarusan wrote: »

Horrible, horrible, tragic story. Lives ended and survivors' lives ruined.

I still think that life in prison is incredibly harsh though.

Isn't driving too fast/being to close to the vehicle in front pretty much a textbook example of driving without due care?

And effectively parking your car on a motorway is Criminal neglect regardless of your motives.

osarusan · 25-06-2014 03:15AM

Different versions of the story too.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/06/20/woman-faces-life-in-prison-for-stopping-car-to-help-ducks-causing-crash-that/

Roy’s wife Pauline Volikakis was injured when her Yamaha motorcycle also slammed into Czornobaj’s car.

http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/quebec-woman-who-stopped-for-ducks-guilty-in-2-deaths/

Volikakis was on another motorcycle behind her husband when the collision happened. She was driving more slowly and managed to avoid injury.

Czornobaj testified that she turned on her hazard lights and put on the parking brake.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2663995/Canada-woman-stops-ducks-guilty-2-deaths.html

During the trial, witness Martine Tessier testified that she noticed parked car didn't have its hazards on and that the driver's door was open

Turtwig · 25-06-2014 03:29AM

Such a horrible thing for the mother and woman to witness. I'd just take her licence off her and give her community service. Unless she's a sociopath then she's already been punished in the worst way possible.

Most of us witness reckless motor acts everyday, I'd wager some folks reading this, possibly myself included, have done some stupid things but none us of have been punished in the way this woman was. Lesson learned in the cruelest way possible.

Sir Gallagher · 25-06-2014 03:35AM

Turtwig wrote: »

Such a horrible thing for the mother and woman to witness. I'd just take her licence off her and give her community service. Unless she's a sociopath then she's already been punished in the worst way possible.

Most of us witness reckless motor acts everyday, I'd wager some folks reading this, possibly myself included, have done some stupid things but none us of have been punished in the way this woman was. Lesson learned in the cruelest way possible.

I've seen some sh1t in my day, but i think if i seen some mad thing stop her car in the middle of the m50 to rescue Donald Duck and his pals it would top the lot.

LizzieJones · 25-06-2014 03:40AM

I'm saddened that it took 4 years to get to court. That doesn't say much for the Canadian justice system.

COYVB · 25-06-2014 03:43AM

Deserves a long time away for sheer stupidity that destroyed a family. Absolute idiot of the highest degree

Wompa1 · 25-06-2014 07:01AM

Gotta go on the side of; You should always be prepared to stop. Motorway or not. All I do is highway driving now. There's constantly accidents in the fast lane, particularly when people swerve in and out for the HOV lane. I don't know, was he on her a$$ or what? I'd imagine it's tougher on a Motorcycle to stop at short notice but still..how close was he to the car? How fast was he going?

diomed · 25-06-2014 07:24AM

She parked a car on a highway. She refuses to do jail time.
That woman is living in a world of her own rules.

She was convicted by a jury on Friday on two counts of criminal negligence causing death. The jury voted unanimously.

People who say following drivers should be able to stop are living in a world of theory. If a line of vehicle are approaching a stopped car the first car might see the stopped vehicle and change lanes, leaving vehicles following no warning of the obstruction. You can not have one person causing mayhem, and expect everyone else to take evasive action successfully.

Barely There · 25-06-2014 07:34AM

diomed wrote: »

She parked a car on a highway. She refuses to do jail time.
That woman is living in a world of her own rules.

I don't think it works like that.

Wompa1 · 25-06-2014 07:39AM

diomed wrote: »

She parked a car on a highway. She refuses to do jail time.
That woman is living in a world of her own rules.

She was convicted by a jury on Friday on two counts of criminal negligence causing death. The jury voted unanimously.

People who say following drivers should be able to stop are living in a world of theory. If a line of vehicle are approaching a stopped car the first car might see the stopped vehicle and change lanes, leaving vehicles following no warning of the obstruction. You can not have one person causing mayhem, and expect everyone else to take evasive action successfully.

No you cannot, that's true. But ultimately, you need to do your best to protect yourself from the unexpected. When I was taught how to drive, I was told to take every corner like I'm expecting a parked car on the other side. For the Lane switching, if it's switching due to built up traffic you'd see it far off. If the person went into the other lane to overtake, that person should also get penalized...

Henry Ford III · 25-06-2014 07:43AM

What became of the ducks?

inforfun · 25-06-2014 08:07AM

feargale wrote: »

Hands up anybody here who has never made a bad judgement while driving. Hands up anybody who is utterly confident of never doing so in future.

Bad judgement is trying to parallel park in a spot that is just too small for your car.
Stopping on the overtaking lane to get some ducklings out of the way is pure and utter stupidity.

20 years ago i almost crashed into some idiot who was standing still on the overtaking lane changing a tire. That was the most scary **** i have ever experienced in 25 years of driving.

This woman should never be allowed of the pavement anymore.

Arthur Beesley · 25-06-2014 09:10AM

mad muffin wrote: »

Yeah, good luck with fitting that into a thread title. You still haven't suggested a better one.

Thread title is accurate enough to get the gist.

No, it is misleading.

Arthur Beesley · 25-06-2014 09:11AM

poppyvally wrote: »

Some daft oul hippie gets out of their car in a fast lane to save ducks. Fuk her she cost 2 lives!

I wonder would our own 'old hippy' be stupid enough to do the same...

RoisinDove · 25-06-2014 09:33AM

mad muffin wrote: »

To do what? Oh that's right. Save ducklings :rolleyes:

What does it matter what she was doing? Whether she was helping ducklings or taking a photo or scratching her arse, she stopped in the overtaking lane of a motorway and two people died as a result.

RoboRat · 25-06-2014 10:06AM

Well it depends on whether prison is seen to be a consequence and in some form, retribution for an act or whether its to rehabilitate.

I am torn as if it was my wife and child, I would be devastated but I cant see how prison would rehabilitate this woman. What she done was mindless and stupid, but it wasn't malicious or planned.

mad muffin · 25-06-2014 10:07AM

RoisinDove wrote: »

What does it matter what she was doing? Whether she was helping ducklings or taking a photo or scratching her arse, she stopped in the overtaking lane of a motorway and two people died as a result.

You don't say…

Woman faces life in prison for stopping to save ducklings

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