I agree that I don't have all the facts. I wasn't there. I'm only relaying the accounts as I recieved them. I'm told that the bike was not speeding or swerving across lanes. I'm told that the bike was not driving erratically or in an unpredictable manner. Am I guilty of villifying the driver of the Jeep? If so, that was not my intent.
As a driver, he was responsible to look before pulling out into the intersection. I don't know why he didn't see the bike. Perhaps he was distracted. Perhaps he glanced quickly, didn't see the bike, and pulled out. Perhaps he was in a hurry. I don't know. When you're behind the wheel, you're responsible to put all that other garbage aside and watch where you're going. It's simple.
I'm sure it's a devastating thing to live with the knowledge that your actions resulted in the deaths of two people. I can't imagine how I would respond in that situation. I hope I never have to find out. I'm sure this driver feels horrible. That pales in significance, in my opinion, to the loss the family feels.
In my completely useless and worthless opinion, I think driving a vehicle comes with a heavy and serious responsibility to safeguard other people's lives. I tell my kids that getting behind the wheel is assuming responsibility for a lethal weapon. I don't think there are very many people who care about this. The vast majority I see act like they have no concern for other people at all.
Am I a bad person for assigning blame to the driver of the Jeep in this case? Could be. The fact is, he pulled out into an intersection and ran over a motorcycle. If it turns out that there is some mitigating circumstance that makes that okay, then I can rethink that position. Since I can't imagine such a circumstance, I'm left with my original assessment.
No, I don't have all the facts. We probably will never have all the facts. Given that the people killed were not wealthy, there will probably be no serious investigation. Given that there have been accidents there before, there will probably be no investigation. Given the fact that the police are mostly ineffective, there will be no noticable change in the future. Given the fact that speed limits in Illinois are selectively enforced and the populace generally disregards them, there will be no change.
I'm not saying the driver is a murderer and deserves to die. I'm not saying he's a bad person. I'm just saying that his actions resulted in the deaths of two people and there should be more accountability than a $75 lane change ticket. I don't know what the correct charges and penalty should be. I don't know if he should be charged with vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving, or something else. I don't know what the appropriate penalties should be, either. I don't believe that holding him accountable is villifying him in any way.
Of course, this is all just my opinion. Feel free to disregard as you see fit.