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Subscribe to RSSA teenager ran over and killed two people sleeping on a downtown Los Angeles sidewalk early Sunday, police said.
Police allege that Carmen Elena Chavez of Los Angeles was drunk when her 1989 Mercedes-Benz careened onto the sidewalk where the two were sleeping.
Chavez had been speeding and attempted to navigate a turn when the vehicle spun out of control, Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Cleon Joseph said.
The two people, a man and woman, died at the scene, Joseph said. They have not yet been identified.
Chavez was booked into the Los Angeles County Jail on vehicular manslaughter charges, police said.
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Very tragic incident indeed.
Note to out-of-towners: If you don't like the way people in L.A. drive, stay off the sidewalks.
He needs to have to put a sign on his car for the rest of his driving life that says: I drove drunk and committed murder. Please after my sister being killed by a drunk driver don't bother to tell me it's not murder.
If people know not to drink and drive because of it being a potential life threatening act they should be guilty of 1st degree murder. They chose to get drunk and then killed people. In my book that is first degree murder.
They need to put commercials on TV against drinking and driving AGAIN.
It also needs to be noted she was UNDER AGE drinking. I don't want to hear or read anything about the homeless people sleeping where they were able to find shelter - that is irrelevant to me. What is relevant is this child, a minor, an under age and illegal drinker, was either served enough alcohol to become drunk, some one purchased it for her, or she got it from her house or a friends house. THAT is what is important. This girl made a choice - a very bad choice. The result was the death of two people. That will stay with her forever. The younger someone drinks, the more likely they will become an alcoholic. She has now also killed two people. Driving a Mercedes? My teen borrows my 1989 Oldmobile, that's how we roll. My teens don't drink, don't do drugs, and don't smoke. They also make choices NOT to hang out with the kids that do.
My heart goes out to the friends of the homeless couple that lost their lives. For this child that made the bad choices, I hope her parents take the time to have her face consequences - and not the Lindsey Lohan or Paris Hilton consequences.
@Debora #s; that person should not be able to get behind the wheel of a car to get a second chance to do it again. It seems she doesn't have the good judgement she thought she had so why give her a second chance to do this to someone else?
I cannot believe you would be giving an argument for letting a drunk driver get a second chance instead of fighting for your relative who was killed by a drunk, to have them never be able to drive again.
This is another example of a senseless tragedy caused by speeding. We hear all the time about anti-drinking and driving campaigns. People fail to realize the huge percentage of fatalities from accidents directly caused because of drunk driving, which is 67%. Not only is there a terrible price paid by those involved, but society also pays costs in medical bills, jobs lost, court costs and prison. In this case, two innocent people have lost their lives.
Although they didn't have a home at the moment and were down on their luck, their lives had meaning and they represent a symbol that at birth, life can hold great promises for ones future, yet it can also be unfair and unkind at times. Anyone can hit a detour and in need of a helping hand. Just needing another chance in life.For two friends traveling life's harsh road together, they are now insuperable in death.
I pray they are at peace finally free from the burdens they have carried so long. As for the driver who made such a awful choice when driving, exactly how does one ever forgive themselves? Teenagers just don't think maturely Some nightmares may never end as society will demand full justice and many without mercy.
sounding a little self righteous there Margo. While I agree with most of what you say it was a 1989 Mercedes not like some parent bought their kid a styling car and before you start puffing up your chest you might be surprised at what your kids do when they are not with you. Even if they are good kids and don't drink ect that really has no bearing on the subject of this vine.
You have a lack of understanding in the laws. Murder involves a level of intent that is lacking in manslaughter. Both charges are homicides.
When are they ever going to ban cars - here is a perfect example of how cars kill multiple people in one instance - must have been an automatic.
Now if she had walked into Planned Parenthood and just aborted twin 8 month old babies she would not be given a 2nd look, might even be given a medal by the president for her "bravery".
Afterall you can't be sure what those lumps of tissues might turn out to be, maybe broccolli or a Buick, so abortion is okay.
The charge for this should be second degree murder, the person knows that they are drinking and impaired, they know they should not operate a vehicle but do it anyway. While it is not premeditated or planned they knew when they got in the vehicle they could kill someone or themselves. I do not care that they will have to live with the fact they killed someone, the person who was killed family will have to live without their loved one the rest of their life. They should spend the rest of their life in prison.
Just me, I completely agree, but the law will allow her to keep that license and she will be on the road again. I hope she never touches alcohol again in her life, but that is unrealistic. :(
Commercials are paid for by advertisers. You are speaking of Public Service Announcements, which is donated by the TV station.
There is no time on the airwaves for more PSA's. The drug companies have bought up all available minutes. Drugs are advertised more than alcohol.
Industrial Strength - or maybe if she had just enlisted in the army and killed 2 teenage muslim men who looked to be "of military age" but were just innocent guys walking in the wrong place at the wrong time - it would have been ok, collateral damage and all.
it's not like we DEVALUE certain lives right, you right-to-lifer?
Or, do non-americans not have a right to life? so consistent you guys are...
if it's brown and looks muslim, kill it, it's probably a terrorist (or one in the making right?!!!!)
oh, but if it's a clump of cells that isnt even yet resembling a human body, that is murder in the 1st degree?
logic fail.
Jerry "the person knows that they are drinking and impaired, they know they should not operate a vehicle but do it anyway"
im not sure how many times you've drank to the point of impairment, but in my experience, you're judgement abilities are severely impacted. if you didnt make - predrunk plans - you're not likely to execute good judgement once you're sh1tfaced.
I remember being in college and drinking underage, and making a few bad calls myself...thankfully, I made it ok and I didnt hurt anyone else the handful of times i've driven when I shouldnt have.
thats the trouble with alcohol, you cant wait until you're drunk to "figure out the smartest thing to do"...it's simply too late. and thats the problem with young people drinking (even in their early 20's when they are legal)...not a whole lot of thinking ahead, before drinking, to ensure there's no drinking and driving.
and heck, lets just be honest, a lot of people think "they drive just fine" once they are toasted...simply because "nothing bad has happened yet, has it?"
im willing to bet, this isnt the first time this girl drove home wasted...but it's likely the first time something bad happened when she did it.
In respose to Thinker 318752. She was drunk, her car did'nt kill them she did. Do you think this would have happened if she was sober? Probably not!!! Put her in jail for 30-50 years. It's time to quit slapping the wrists of DUI people. Especially if someone is killed. If I wanted someone dead I would be better off getting drunk and running them over with my car than shooting them. I would only recieve 5-10 years versus possibly life.
You know what they say: "If you don't like my driving, stay off the sidewalk".
Toby6 - You made my point for me. People keep blaming the "tool" used to kill others rather than the user of the tool. NBCSnooze has an anti-gun agenda and is always dredging up any and every gun-related story they can find and people are quick to jump on the bandwagon of "guns kill". If that is their logic - this is a case of "cars kill".
You cannot abort a 8 month old baby. A 8 month old baby was born 8 months ago. You cannot get a abortion after the first trimester either. A fetus that was concieved 8 months ago is viable and would be delivered. If your going to make sh!t up you have to label it science fiction.
It's one thing to drink it's a whole different thing to drink and drive. There is no surprise that it's a bad thing to do, it's been drilled into our heads since we got our permits and licences. This girl was stupid and she deserves a very long stint in jail as well as never getting a licence again, but I blame the girl not the alcohol. It her fault she drank then drove and it's her fault she murdered those two people. If she can't show good judgement in driving then she has no business doing it.
They are still human lets check to she if she has papers? 10 bucks says she doesnt have Insurance! Just saying I have been hit twice once in amarillo TX by a spanish person No Insureance and fake Ins card after calling the Ins company and finding out it was fake I called the police they told me there was nothing they could do so I paid for the damage. Second time was in houston TX this time the spanish guy that hit me was illegal the cops new it and didnt arrest him a I paid again. Bitter
Seriously? 1/5 of all U.S. drivers don't carry insurance and you want to ASSUME that there is a correlation between her being Hispanic and not having insurance??? I am hispanic and have Statefarm- what would you say to that? Obviously, the fact that you can't complete a sentence without correctly spelling the word INSURANCE, ILLEGAL, or Knew is indicative of your ignorance. You close-minded twat.
i see the pain of both of you posting. however i work with many spanish immagrants. in normal conversation i have heard "nobody told me i had to get insurance" or the best is when a 55 year old man puts his 35 year old daughter on his insurance because when he fills out the info it says "family". when i tell them this is illegal they all proclaim, that "this is america, this is my family we have to take care of my family". do you think he puts down her real age? and these people get away with it.
Don't be so touchy, Robert L. Find out, first, what proportion of the 1/5 you cite are Hispanic. REALLY was just telling you of his experience with Hispanic drivers. He's pissed, and has a right to be, as far as I'm concerned. By the way, Robert, typos do happen. I envy that you are incapable of making any. You failed to capitalize "Hispanic" in your second sentence; "State Farm" is two words, each capitalized; there was no need to capitalize "knew" in the last line; and "You close-minded twat." is an incomplete sentence.
really
It sounds like you didn't have insurance either?
OK, Shil. I appreciate you running to his defense, both socially and gramatically, as we can see. First off, the "K" in my sentence was capitalizated to emphasize the fact that there should have been one there to begin with, and it was void (further lending to my point that he can't write). I have a degree in English, so I'm sorry if my capitilization doesn't recognize corporate entities like State Farm. I am also pissed that the WHITE woman that hit me two years ago drove off without giving her insurance papers as well, but I would hardly testify that to an argument concerning the loss of human lives. The fact of the matter is that some drunk PERSON (all race aside) hit someone else. There have been many a full-coveraged white suburban kids that have driven drunk and hit innocent people as well. That does not need to be an angle in this incident.
If I were you, I would call that correspondence school and demand my money back.
Funny thats what u have to talk about is my spelling. Bet you don't say anything about people that can't speak are write engish at all. And to assume that I didn't have Ins. well not even going to reply to that D---A. I am angry, but it at people that don't have to play by the same rules that I do. P.S I am not the best with grammer but I have sent two kids through college and always had Ins. And DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE
I'm thinking the very same thing. No insurance. Well she'll probably get a slap on the wrist and not long after she'll be driving again with no license and insurance.
GM Denver Bill
Jack is back!
In Phoenix this happens all the time. The illegal aliens do not bother with insurance (or any social responsibility for that matter). Whats worse is when injuries are involved. I personally know of a family that was T-Boned by a drunk illegal alien. The illegal alien gave a false name, spent some time in the hospital and walked away without a care. No charges, no bill. The Father and one of the daughters have permanant disabilities and have lost thier home and most everything of value trying to pay their medical bills. They have seen the illegal that caused the accident but the police can't be bothered unless they have proof, like a witness he has admitted to or his own admission. He is free to continue committing crimes and they will pay for the rest of their lives.
Just one of the many, many hidden costs (human and monetary) of illegal aliens taking advantage of our country and its citizens.
Very few beaners have insurance. Why should they, we stole this country from them, so technically they feel we are in their country.
We didn't steal it. They sold it to us. And we have the receipt to prove it.
I don't know about LA but in most places people sleeping on the sidewalk would be considered vagrants.
As far as the underage drinker....she will most likely be held until she is 21 and then released. Hopefully she will never drink and drive again but we all know that is unrealistic.
Until the laws are changed to reflect the severity of drunk driving crimes and people are held accountable for their crimes this type of tragic thing will continue to happen.
As to why TX doesn't do anything about the illegals on the roads one can only wonder....TX seems to have no problem with the death penalty.....maybe this in an instance where it could be applied.
- Come to TX illegally and break the laws and injure someone and you go to prison until the person is made whole or reimbursed.....kill someone and they take you out back and put a bullet in your head. Bet that would slow down the illegal problem in TX-
Turn the border into a no man's land with sniper towers every 500 yards...problem solved. Enter legally or not at all.
@Robert;
I know illegal hispanics who drive. Legally, they can't drive here without a license, can't get a license without being legal, and can't get insurance without a license. So, I would probably say they are driving without insurance. And while 1 in 5 people do not have insurance, I would also probably say that due to the aforementioned, that the statistic for illegals is much higher. In fact, if I remember correctly, the state was 4 in 5 of the illegals that were pulled over did not have insurance.
If it is true, how is that ignorant?
Did the 2 men have any family ? My heart goes out to their friends and family. When will we learn that drinking and driving kills? Her action calls for some sort of punishment. She took 2 lives and every life is sacred from cancer research scientist to working mom to homeless man. These men had memories of better times, laughter with friends, beautiful sites, love, a first kiss. etc. Now those memories have been wiped forever out by a young girls stupidity and selfishness. Please do not drink and drive!
It was a male and female... I really hope they have someone to bury them... SUCH A SHAME!!!
1. read past headline
2. comprehend same
3. post
GM Scooter
Seems only the headlines matter to some and they hurry to comment.
I may only have a 2 year degree and went to 3 trade asscociated schools to move further up the ladder. The third grade was no problem for me. Do you have anything higher than an 8th grade Grade Card to brag about?
Such a shame - she should pay dearly but i bet she walks... daddy has enough money to buy her a mercedes- he has enough to buy her out of this!!! Homeless or not- these were human beings and deserve justice... she should get A LOT of time for manslaughter for these two unsuspecting people... but as the saying goes "money talks and bull$hit walks" My prayers are with the families of these two homeless people- bless their hearts! People should THINK before they DRINK and drive!!!!! God bless their families! (the little drunken bitch should rot in jail!!!)
1989 MB And how old is she and where did she get the booze isnt the drinking age there 21?
Sheila:
Did you even read the article. It's a 1989 Mercedes that likely cost her a couple thousand dollars. Geezzzzzz
.
she also could have borrowed the car...
What difference does that make...there are still two people dead. I'm doubt the last thing that went through the victims head, besides the car, was whether the car was borrowed or not!
It was a 1989 Mercedes and it might be mommy that purchased the car for her. That car in my area cost maybe $3500 depending on damage and looks. Shiela, you are judging when we don't know all that is involved. The two that were killed were male and female and their death is horrible. It sounds as though you are allowing personal feelings to get involved and that isn't justified, "money talks, bullsh** walks", "daddy's money..." and lastly "bit** should rot in jail", maybe a little self reflection is needed?
We know nothing about this girl other than she was driving a 1989 Mercedes, hit and killed a male and female homeless couple (if they were a couple) sheltered together, and was driving drunk (underage drinking is implied by the fact that she was listed as a teen. The legal drinking age is 21. Instead of having the "bit**" rot in jail, shouldn't she have a trial? That is how we run our democracy in the United States, and I am quite happy that we as a nation are allowed to be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Sheila... A little bitter I see over the wealthy. A 1989 Benz would hardly be a car the wealthy would drive. Sure it sucks that two people died but enough already. Wealthy people, boohoo the rich get all the breaks. Cry me a river. As much as the justice system needs work it still functions and even if the driver comes from wealth it won't buy her a clean slate.
The legal drinking age in Cali is, pre-birth!
@ doagooddeedaday. The article states that it was two homeless people, one man and one woman, who were killed. God bless their souls. Let's hope for quick justice. When will the young stop wasting their youth.
Oh, I don't know, a 23 year old Merc doesn't cost that much. This will haunt her for the rest of her life, or at least it should. Her thoughtless, careless, reckless actions led to the death of two people. Homeless or not, they were valuable human lives, that are gone forever now. Is there any amount of money that can replace this loss? Of course not. I hope their family members and /or loved ones can find peace and comfort to heal their loss.
I can only hope that the two did not suffer in the crash and they went quick ( being homeless they suffered enough ) As far as the bitch behind the wheel goes. stuff her ass in a canoe and tell her to start rowing. after about a hundred yards out, open fire.
lock her up and toss away the key. same goes for pedifiles
a drunk spanish guy grazed the front of my jeep at a stop sign.. he just touched the bumper but blew through the light and almost hit others.. i chased him down and beat his Frigging ass for it.. then I called the cops and they were pissed at me cause i hog tied the little f u c k e r and made him sit in a mud puddle... (hind sight)I should have beheaded him and left the scene. Drunk, no licence or insurance wrong tag on truck.. pissed at me???
It would seam telephone tough guy has been replaced with keyboard kickass, in otherwords ....seek help..
Clayton, way too funny. Does that mean his head was up his...
Way to go Clayton. In many parts of the country, we're over run with illegals...
This country is seriously broken...
I know a lot of white people that don't have no insurance either. I put odds up that every other skin color doesn't have insurance in numbers to.
I love you. I wish more people would hog tie drunk drivers and illegal immigrants and throw them in the mud.
The America we're SUPPOSED to have doesn't have 50 million latinos.In that America,she doesn't exist-so no dead homeless .That would be based on our govt having done its' job.I suppose she's a real american.
The America we're supposed to have doesn't have any whites, blacks, or asians, either. I'm sure all the original Americans will be glad when they get their country back and people like you have gone back to whatever rock you climbed out from under.
That is the most sophmoric reply.Go back?Not native american blah blah blah.Our world ,your world,is based on the awesomeness of[nothern] european christians kicking ass and taking names.You can thank us anytime.PLZ share with me oh flbikerchick.Yeccch
We have the America we DESERVE to have instead. A failing, bankrupt cesspool of corruption, greed, laziness, stupidity and arrogance where the rich lie to and steal from the poor and stupid; anyone who isn't educated is just as bad as the corrupt politicians who easily trick them into voting them in over and over again; and the corporations who buy our politicians have their profits protected above all else at any cost while every other thing the government is responsible for is neglected and in a state of decline.
What a dummy.
Um, Clayton, you are justified in your anger toward a drunk driver, but you may want to talk to someone about your anger issues: beheading, really?
Folks, where available, purchase underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage; it's worth the extra on your premiums.
As to the young lady: FOR SHAME. I do hope the penalty is severe enough to match the crime. There is no excuse for drunk driving, period. I do hope the two homeless persons have family somewhere that will step up and sue the crap out of her so that they can provide for a proper burial and perhaps donate the rest to a homeless shelter for the less fortunate.
sad to say but the homeless are little more then speed bumps to most anyway, sad really just how far do you believe YOU are from the sidewalk?
That being said,i have a simple question. where did she get the booze? isn't the drinking age (even in CA ) 21 ? they haven't listed her age as of yet but twenty one isn't a teenager. is this just another case of ignoring the laws of THIS country perhaps, it would seem so. of course should that be the case it wont be printed here, and you know why.
In the old day, drinking and driving was a $25 fine. Didn't matter if you killed someone or not. It was pretty much legal and acceptable. NOW, if anyone drinks and drives, they are CRAZY. Most state do NOT fool around. It's loss of license, big fines and legal fees, all kinds of court dates, and some rehab class. If you get caught a second time, forget it. Forget about driving for a long time and think about jail time. All that IF you don't hurt anybody. Everyone has a dring with dinner out or family get together, But, if you have more than two drinks and still drive, you are CRAZY. It's hard to feel sorry for someone who does it. EVEN if you are not at fault, like somone slams into you, IF you have been drinking, forget about it.
the court system from cop to jail and everyone in between found out there was money to be made.
This is seems to happen all over the USA and not to homeless people either. In Miami, Florida some people were just sitting on a bus stop and car out of control killed and serioulsy hurt several four (4) others and he didn't have a licence and he walked away without a scratch.
All of these"accidents" make want to vomit and that is a fact.
Lawyer: "Your Honor, the blame clearly rests on the 23 year old Mecedes, you know those things are no good".
The color of the driver doesn't matter. The killing of two innocents does!
Really how selfish can a person be. She killed 2 innocent people because she was drunk and careless. But god knows she will go to court and say your honor i have a problem and i dont know what to do abou it. He will say of course you do honey and send her to classes to get help and guess what she will do it again. She should be put on a sidewalk and run over with a 1989 mercedees punishment fits the crime.
Manslaughter???? Really? She chose to drink. She chose to drive drunk. The facts that she was driving a mercedes and her victims were "only" homeless people should not in any way mitigate her responsibility for premeditated murder. She is exactly the kind of person who should be removed from society immediately and permanently, no matter how much money her family has.
I bet she is nothing but a "white trash" , her Mercedes was build in 1989 nothing but piece of old garbage.
What kind of car she was driving is irrelevant. She was driving drunk, she is underage, she could have been in any type of vehicle and still killed the two victims. She expressed blatant disregard for herself, others and the law, thus she should be charged with vehicular homicide. That fact she has a hispanic name does not make her illegal nor does it make her a bad person. She is a person who made bad choices. I like the old saying "you give a dance you pay the band", regardless of her age, she decided to get behind the wheel of a car intoxicated and two people lost their lives because of her, so now she does the time. Now to satisfy those who think she was illegal, then deport her ass back to what ever latin american country she came from...
And yet the fight against marijuana continues to be a bigger issue.
Another sad story about someone drinking until inebriated and going out in public to risk lives and cause mayhem.
OMG! So tragic. I am so sorry.
This is a case of blatant disregard for the laws of the state and of humanity. If you drink to excess, drive a vehicle and kill someone, then you I feel you are guilty of premeditated murder.
Her lawyers will probably claim that the two homeless people she murdered discriminated against underage drunken Latino female drivers by deliberately sleeping on the sidewalk she was entitled to drive on, thus causing false and trumped-up charges to be filed against her. They will then sue the estates of the two murdered homeless people for damage to here Mercedes, and pain and suffering from having to be tried for her crime.
If I could find a lawyer who could pull that off I'd hire him immediately.
And Magic Tonic, the coffee case was legit. When that lady sued it was revealed that McDonalds all over the country were serving there coffee dangerously hot and many people had been seriously burned.
@ willie smith Are you freaking serious the sleep where they can and im sure if they had better options they wouldnt be sleeping on the sidewalk u ignorant prick and who says there druggies or drunks maybe with this wonderful economy there just down on there luck but that cant be it because its just easier to assume there bums let me guess ur college educated and fortunate enough to have a place to sleep everynight well these people obviously didnt they were human beings who we slaughtered by a careless child who im assuming if u had kids by your comments would be alot like yours willie
About 1 in 4 homeless people are also veterans.
(That doesn't preclude mental health or substance abuse issues - but something to think about).