Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
I feel like a DBAG, but I never followed that thread....story is sad though.
Also, dont we have a thread regarding ace? where this would be more appropriate?
Originally posted by: Gibson486
I never did either. I don't mean to be a dbag either, but as sad as the story is, their are other young people in my life who have died that I mourn over more than him. It's hard for me to mourn over him because I never knew him. Feel bad, yes. Mourning over it, no....but it still a reimnder of how life can be at times.
Originally posted by: interchange
I only discovered the thread a couple days ago. It reminded me how horribly, horribly wrong it is to operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Yet people do it all the time, some daily. I've done it a couple of times before (never with near the idiocy that killed acemcmac), and I realize now how idiotic it was to do so. Yet, as a society, we're generally impassive to watching our friends do this with regularity. There is a belief that individuals we respect can be responsible behind the wheel when intoxicated. That is wrong, and we need to fix it as a society. If we don't validate drunk drivers, then there will be far less drunk driving.
I thought of some ideas that could help:
1. Free lapdances to designated drivers at strip clubs.
2. Free food/non-alcoholic bevs to designated drivers at bars.
3. Tax breaks for bars that provide breathalysers to patrons (and call a cab or provide a courtesy service to get their drunk asses home).
4. Strict no tolerance policy for minors (mandatory license revocation until 21 y/o).
In general, ideas that are positive reinforcement are more successful.
Does anyone have any other ideas that could work?
Is anyone interested in pooling together some ATOT effort (e.g. publishing these ideas on a website and visiting community alcohol-selling establishments to pitch them policies that can help keep drunk drivers off the road)? We've vocalized in this direction on this forum for a while, and that's great as it might make a person or two think before they get behind the wheel drunk. However, if we really want to get the message out we can take action. Plus, setting up an organization like this would be great fodder for news broadcasts. Personally, I'd be embarrassed if a news story hit saying how we banded together as an on-line community -- by sitting on our asses and doing nothing when we have the opportunity to do so much.
Originally posted by: NightDarker
Petitions are a great way to start on top of contacting your local congresspeople. I think those are wonderful ideas
Originally posted by: ballmode
we can never move on if we keep living in the past
Originally posted by: SP33Demon
That would be phenomenal NightDarker. Also, anyone have an update to the case with his friend who was seriously injured as well? Last I heard, the guy that hit him was granted an appeal. :disgust:
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: SP33Demon
That would be phenomenal NightDarker. Also, anyone have an update to the case with his friend who was seriously injured as well? Last I heard, the guy that hit him was granted an appeal. :disgust:
i've been posting updates right along that told of Torsell losing his appeal, and i don't think there will be another appeal. he has been sentenced to 6 years in prison.
latest on Aaron Stidd:
Check this very touching and very informative video of Aaron coming home from the hospital
http://videos.centredaily.com/...d=1596509&genre_id=537
more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlEHqPfssHw
http://www.centredaily.com/new...news/story/836196.htmlNews-Breaking News
Friday, Sep. 12, 2008
Family of pedestrian killed in crash sue driver, others
By Sara Ganim
BELLEFONTE ? The parents of a pedestrian killed when he was struck by a drunken driver?s car almost two years ago have filed a wrongful death suit against the driver, Bellefonte native Anthony Torsell, and several of Torsell?s friends and family members.
Torsell was convicted last fall of driving drunk and speeding down Atherton Street in State College when he struck two pedestrians in a crosswalk.
Richard Smith, of Conshohocken, died from injuries in the crash. A second victim, Aaron Stidd, suffered severe and permanent brain damage.
Smith?s parents are suing Torsell; his parents, Daniel and Leslee Torsell; his grandparents Frank and Donna Clemson; and friends Laura Frye and Gregory J. Daughenbaugh.
Torsell is currently serving a more than five- to 8-year sentence in state prison for homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI and related charges.
He had blood alcohol content of .242 when he struck the pedestrians Oct. 28, 2006.
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For more details, see tomorrow?s Centre Daily Times.
Originally posted by: S Freud
I'm not saying they don't have a right I am just curious to know why are they are suing the grandparents and friends? I can see Torsell and his parents but I don't understand why they chose to sue the others.
Originally posted by: S Freud
I'm not saying they don't have a right I am just curious to know why are they are suing the grandparents and friends? I can see Torsell and his parents but I don't understand why they chose to sue the others.
Yeh, here's todays article with more info.:Originally posted by: DomS
Originally posted by: S Freud
I'm not saying they don't have a right I am just curious to know why are they are suing the grandparents and friends? I can see Torsell and his parents but I don't understand why they chose to sue the others.
served the booze maybe?
http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/story/837147.htmlSaturday, Sep. 13, 2008
Killed man's parents suing driver, family, friends
BELLEFONTE ? The parents of a pedestrian killed in a crash almost two years ago have filed a wrongful death suit against the driver, Bellefonte native Anthony Torsell, and several of Torsell?s friends and family members.
Richard A. Smith died shortly after what was described as a horrific early morning crash in downtown State College Oct. 28, 2006.
Smith, 21, and then-20-year-old Aaron Stidd were crossing West Beaver Avenue when they were struck by a Buick Skylark speeding down South Atherton Street.
Stidd suffered severe and permanent brain injury.
The driver, An thony Torsell, was convicted last fall of DUI, homicide by vehicle while DUI, and aggravated assault by vehicle by DUI. He is serving a more than five- to 8-year sentence in state prison.
Friday, Smith?s parents ? Arthur R. Smith and Ann Marie Brutch ? sued Torsell and his family and friends for negligence in their son?s death.
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They are asking for monetary compensation from the following people:
Torsell, for drinking excessively, getting in his car and speeding. Police say he had a blood-alcohol content of .242 when he was ar rested.
Torsell?s parents, Daniel and Leslee Torsell, because the suit al leges they knew Torsell had a habit of driving drunk but they al lowed him to keep driving their Buick.
?...Anthony Torsell was proud of his ability to drive while under the influence of alcohol ... and commonly bragged about it to his friends, family and the public in general, through discussion and postings on websites such as Facebook and Myspace, among others,? the lawsuit states.
Torsell?s grandparents, Frank and Donna Clemson, because they owned the home at 313 W. Pro spect Ave. in downtown State College where Torsell, who was then 20, lived, and where he drank before the crash that night.
The Clemsons ?had reason to be lieve that Anthony Tor sell would use the property for underage drinking, parties with illegal drinking and other dangerous activities ...? the suit states.
Torsell?s friends, Boalsburg resident Laura Fry and Huntingdon resident Gregory J. Daughenbaugh, who are both alleged to have provided some of the alcohol that Torsell drank in the hours leading up to the crash.
The suit says Daughenbaugh left hard liquor, shots of Jagermeister and beer at Torsell?s residence prior to the crash.
Daughenbaugh had been charged with furnishing alcohol to minors after the crash, but a judge dismissed the charge.
Fry is accused of throwing a party that Torsell attended the night of the crash and serving the ?visibly intoxicated? Tor sell ?large amounts? of hard liquor, Jell-O shots and beer.
Fry was also charged criminally with furnishing alcohol to minors after a police investigation, and she was put into an probationary program that will eventually allow her re cord to be wiped clean.
Attorneys for the parties named in the suit could not be reached for comment Friday.
Originally posted by: rudeguy
Originally posted by: S Freud
I'm not saying they don't have a right I am just curious to know why are they are suing the grandparents and friends? I can see Torsell and his parents but I don't understand why they chose to sue the others.
sue them all and let the courts figure it out
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/a...amily_faces_suits.aspxPosted on September 16, 2008 4:59 AM
Family faces suits
A previous version of this story incorrectly attributed information to Daniel Doyle. This correct version of the story can be found below.
Almost two years after Anthony Torsell struck and killed one pedestrian and injured another in downtown State College, the parents of the deceased man have filed a wrongful death suit against the driver and several of his friends and family members.
Richard A. Smith, 21, died Oct. 28, 2006 after Torsell, a Bellefonte native and former Penn State student, struck him and Aaron Stidd, then 20, with his Buick Skylark while Smith and Stidd were crossing the street at the Beaver Avenue and Atherton Street intersection.
Stidd was critically injured as a result of the incident.
Torsell was convicted of vehicular homicide, aggravated assault and three separate counts of driving under the influence in September 2006 and is serving a more than five to eight year sentence in The State Correctional Institution at Albion.
Friday, Smith's parents, Arthur R. Smith, of Chadds Ford, Pa., and Ann Marie Brutch, of Ridley Park, Pa., filed a lawsuit against Torsell and some of his family and friends, seeking monetary compensation because of negligence they say resulted in Richard's death.
Daniel Doyle, the attorney for Smith's parents, said the suit came after a period of investigation.
"Quite honestly, we feel that there's an environment at a lot of colleges, especially Penn State, where this kind of binge drinking and negligent behavior is tacitly condoned by friends and family members," he said. "They kind of look the other way instead of taking an active role. And in our investigation, we feel that's exactly what happened in this case."
Torsell is being sued for negligent, careless and reckless driving, which includes driving while intoxicated. Police said Torsell was driving at least 17 miles per hour over the speed limit and that his blood alcohol content (BAC) was .242 at the time of the incident.
The legal limit to drive in Pennsylvania is 0.08, but because Torsell was 20 years old at the time of the incident, he would have been considered to be driving under the influence with a BAC of 0.02.
According to the suit, Smith's parents are also suing Torsell's parents, Daniel and Leslee Torsell, of Fayston, Vt., for allowing Torsell to drive their vehicle despite knowing Torsell had a habit of driving drunk.
"Prior to relinquishing the keys to that vehicle to Defendant Anthony Torsell, Defendants Daniel Torsell and/or Leslee Torsell knew or had reason to believe that Anthony Torsell would operate said vehicle in a negligent manner, including but not limited to driving while intoxicated," the lawsuit states.
Torsell's grandparents, Frank and Donna Clemson, of Bellefonte, are being sued because they owned the 313 W. Prospect Ave. property where Torsell resided and drank before the Oct. 28 incident, according to the suit.
The suit states the Clemsons "knew or had reason to believe that Anthony Torsell would use the property for underage drinking, parties with illegal drinking and other dangerous activities involving alcohol consumption on a regular basis."
Donna Clemson would not comment on the suit.
Smith's parents are also seeking compensation from two of Torsell's friends, Laura Fry, of Boalsburg, and Gregory Daughenbaugh, of Huntingdon. The suit alleges both Fry and Daughenbaugh provided Torsell with alcohol in the hours leading up to the incident.
Joseph Amendola, Torsell's attorney during the criminal trial, could not be reached for comment.
http://www.centredaily.com/new...urts/story/916536.htmlWednesday, Oct. 22, 2008
Family files suits against alleged alcohol providers
BELLEFONTE ? Aaron Stidd and his parents are suing two people who they say gave Anthony Torsell alcohol in the hours leading up to the drunken-driving crash that crippled Stidd and cost his family hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills.
Aaron Stidd has spent almost two years in hospitals, then at home with round-the-clock care as he copes with the traumatic brain injury and permanent physical injuries that he suffered in the Oct. 28, 2006, crash.
Then-20-year-old Stidd and 21-year-old Richard Smith from Conshohocken were both struck by Torsell?s speeding car while crossing Atherton Street at Beaver Avenue.
Smith was killed. And after two years of rehab, Stidd still can?t walk, talk or take care of himself. Torsell is serving a more than five- to 8-year sentence in state prison.
?The circumstances are pretty horrible,? said Huntingdon attorney Richard A. Wilson, who filed the suit on behalf of the Stidd family. ?And it?s sad for everyone involved. The family is trying to make sure that the persons responsible compensate their son because he?s going to need medical attention for the rest of his life.?
Police say Torsell had a blood-alcohol content of .242, and at his trial on charges related to the crash, several people testified that he?d been heavily drinking the night before and morning of the crash.
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Some of those people testified that Torsell went to a party thrown by Boalsburg resident Laura B. Fry and was eventually asked to leave because he was drunk and belligerent and throwing things.
At her party, the lawsuit says Torsell played drinking games which involved massive consumption of alcohol. He drank liquor, Jell-O shots and beer, the suit says.
Torsell?s friends also testified that he drank alcohol he found at his house hours before the crash. Police later found that Huntingdon resident Gregory J. Daughenbaugh Jr. purchased that alcohol.
Fry and Daughenbaugh are the defendants named in the lawsuit. Attorneys representing them could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
The suit states that it is thought that Torsell commonly drank alcohol to excess and then drove, and that before the crash ?Anthony Torsell was proud of his ability to drive while under the influence of alcohol and/or other intoxicating substances, and commonly bragged about it to his friends, family, and the public in general...?
Both Fry and Daughenbaugh were criminally charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor after the crash, but charges against Daughenbaugh were dismissed by a judge and Fry was put into a probationary program that will eventually allow her record to be wiped clean.
A wrongful death lawsuit that was filed last month by Smith?s estate also names Fry and Daughenbaugh as defendants.
And Tuesday the Stidd family attorney also filed a notice that he may sue the landlords of the apartments where Fry and Torsell lived.
:thumbsup:Originally posted by: DomS
R.I.P. thank you for keeping this updated Mosh