Driver accused in fatal crash

ColdBud (anonymous) says...

When are we going to start treating drunk drivers like the criminals they are? Felony DUI???? What about murder???

If I walk in to the mall, blindfold myself and then start shooting off guns and someone gets killed, it's murder. DUI is the same thing. This happened at 5:55 in the afternoon. When my daughter was younger, I always made sure she was back at home by midnight specifically to avoid having her out when too many drunk drivers were on the roads. How do you protect you family and loved ones against someone driving drunk in the middle of the day when you have to get to work and school???

The female passenger that was riding with Pilarowski should also be charged. The "hand of one" law should apply to drunk driving too.

Yes, I love my Bud Light... but I never drink and drive and I don't ride with anyone that's been drinking either.

June 5, 2009 at 7:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

turkeypond (anonymous) says...

Felony DUI and DUI are two different things the felony part does follow up under murder felony DUI is a 30 year charge where DUI u just loose your licenses for 6 months then your on the road again so yea the people that do get charged with felony DUI do get the same treatment as murder.

June 5, 2009 at 8:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

amr83 (anonymous) says...

He was also underage, but since he is in the Navy it is ok. Cause if you are in the milatary you can drink at 18. They never changed that law.

June 5, 2009 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

loopdeedo (anonymous) says...

I looked up this kid on facebook and in like 90% of his photos he looks wasted or at a party in the process of getting wasted. He has probably been doing this same thing for years, since highschool, and always managed to make it home. This time his luck ran out. Gambling with your life and the lives of every other person you pass on the road is just not worth it. This is why parents need to discipline their kids when they are still at home and they have a chance to beat some sense in to them so that they use their head when they are out on their own and don't make stupid, life threatening mistakes.

June 5, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

loopdeedo (anonymous) says...

amr83 you are highly misinformed. being in the military does not allow you to drink at 18. kids get charged all the time in the military for underage drinking. they get fined, lose rank, and get in serious trouble.

June 5, 2009 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

amr83 (anonymous) says...

That's funny cause i have quit a few friends and relatives that were or are in the military and they thought it was so awesome that they could drink on base at 18. I do understand that they can only drink and buy the alcohol on base.

June 5, 2009 at 9:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

loopdeedo (anonymous) says...

okay whatever you want to believe, but someone is lying to you. my husband is in the air force and you have to be 21, whether you are civilian or military, on base or off base. the drinking age is a state law, not a federal law. military bases are operated under federal law, but they have to follow the state laws for drinking age. the only way you can drink at 18 is if you are in another country and that is their drinking age.

June 5, 2009 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...

amr83: You are completely incorrect. You must be 21 years of age to purchase and imbibe alcohol off and on military bases.

Is there underage drinking going on? Of course. Just as there are on college campuses.

But the military is EXPLICITLY clear about the ramifications of under-aged drinking.

Now this wasn't always so. Over twenty years ago when I first entered military service, the DoD started implementing rules that prohibited under-aged drinking. If the base was in a state that had the 21 and over law, the base abided by that law. Since that time ALL military bases in the US have implemented the 21 and over rules. This has been the case for quite some time.

Apparently those who told you that they drank while under-aged on a military base were not only committing a civilian crime, they were also committing a violation of UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice)

June 5, 2009 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

summerville_guy (anonymous) says...

I am glad that this article has been corrected and reposted. Yesterday, this article was exactly the same, except that it failed to mention which day the accident occured, AND the drunk's last name was spelled two different ways in the same article. I pointed it out in the comments, and it has been fixed now.

So when can I receive my check for serving as a freelance editor?

By the way - good to see you back, ColdBud!

June 5, 2009 at 10:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jca (anonymous) says...

AR
you are terribly misinformed. gotta be 21 and no drinking is ever allowed on post or base unless you live in base housing, and navy base housing is actually off base.

nukes especially because of the nature of their job and extensive training are held to an even higher standard.

guys this boys life and career are over.v under age drinking dui and death hes getting a very stiff dishonorable discharge
then handed over to the local police to handle. once his sentence his served here the navy may fly him to his home of record. they will not pay him a cent either while hes serving his time. he will have a terrible time getting into college or finding a job not even mcdonalds will hire someone with a dishonorable discharge.

remember this guy has to live with the guilt of what he did

June 5, 2009 at 11:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...

amr, you are still sadly misinformed. Oversees yes, in the states no. Independent thinking won't hurt you and it would remove all doubt.

June 5, 2009 at 11:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCHoser (anonymous) says...

When I was in the service, the base commander had discretion. In A school in Meridian Mississippi, the state was 21 but the club on base was 18. That was the only base I was stationed at that had that rule, so I can't speak for all of them. Of course, that was in the 80's.
jca-can't figure you out here. Yesterday, when two teenagers were having fun and did something stupid you said they deserved what they got, yet you want to cut some slack and give sympathy to a murderer who was well aware of the consequences of his actions? hmmmmm....inconsistent to say the least. This guy DESERVES to get the hammer. Time to stop feeling sorry for these killers and give them the punishment they DESERVE.

June 5, 2009 at 12:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Lovely_One (anonymous) says...

SCHoser,

Please, don't try to figure jca out. You will never get the full understanding.

June 5, 2009 at 12:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCHoser (anonymous) says...

Check it out:

Several years ago, Congress passed a law (USC 10, Section 2683), that mandates that military bases adopt the exact same drinking age as the state (or country) that the base is located in.

The legislation allows an installation commander to adopt a lower drinking age if the installation is within 50 miles of a state or country with a lower drinking age. In that case, the Installation Commander *MAY* adopt the drinking age of that state/country.

On Installations that are within 50 miles of a border with a lower drinking age, some Installation Commanders have elected to adopt the lower drinking age, while others have not.

June 5, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

amr83 (anonymous) says...

Well lets not get our panties in a wad. The last I heard was they were allowed to drink at 18 on the base. I find it wonderful that they have changed it.

June 5, 2009 at 2:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

traytray (anonymous) says...

What difference does it make whether you are 19,21 or 98. HE killed a beautiful person who loves his family. He needs to be punished severely for his actions.

June 5, 2009 at 5:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jca (anonymous) says...

i have no sympathy for this guy he deserves to fry for what he did. this clown knew what he was doing and knew the risks he deserves no sympathy from me or anyone else

June 5, 2009 at 6:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

GAL2000 (anonymous) says...

More to the {USC 10, Section 2683} if anyone is concerned.
2683. Relinquishment of legislative jurisdiction; minimum drinking age on military installations

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/10...
http://www.lawserver.com/law/country/...

Two innocent lives were lost, which is more important than a drinking age justification. traytray...stated this in his or her first and second sentences.

June 6, 2009 at 7:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

musicmama (anonymous) says...

So, does anyone actually know his blood alcohol level? Because as far as I'm concerned everyone that is commenting is terribly misinformed. I have 3 kids and I can understand the pain that the families are going through, but one has to stop and think that this 19 year old has lost his life and going to spend the next 40 years in a cell. Why do ignorant Americans call that justice? His family will never see him smile again. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind and personally I'm tired of America wanting to be blind. There is too much hate, anger, and a need for revenge in this country. I will pray for all of you.

June 6, 2009 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

wonderdog (anonymous) says...

So you want us to feel SORRY for the drunk driver who killed (actually murdered) a guy driving home from work? Seriously?

What would be a deterrent to doing it again - take away his license and make him apologize? We already see what a law abiding citizen he is*.

*sarcasm

June 6, 2009 at 10:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sbs (anonymous) says...

What was his BAC?

June 6, 2009 at 2:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

musicmama (anonymous) says...

No I want people to realize he is a human being. You only see his crime, and you don't know all the details.
Wonderdog is full of hate and needs to realize that all we have is this tiny news story. There are at least 4 families that have been directly affected by this tragedy. Murder is intentional, and this was a tragic and unfortunate car accident.
We all remember when we were 19 and we could conquer anything. I have a 19 year daughter and she thinks she knows everything and I just refuse to believe this boy was trashed and drove home with the consequences in mind.
All I'm asking is for us, as intelligent human beings, to look at this situation from all angles and see it for what it is before we make judgement. The first one without sin may cast the stone.
But apparently you aren't capable.

June 7, 2009 at 9:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

wonderdog (anonymous) says...

musicmama, I am not full of hate. I know two children who are growing up without their mother because she was killed by a drunk driver (not his first DUI killing). Talk to an emergency worker or police officer who responds to a wreck caused by a drunk driver - it's gut wrenching, because it was AVOIDABLE. Perhaps you should look at the victim's perspective (and I am not talking about the drunk driver).

What other "details" do you need?

June 7, 2009 at 9:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tween (anonymous) says...

I am a cousin of Tim Capps, and after reading all of these I just want to post something. The man is being charged with felony DUI not murder, which does carry a harsher sentence than murder, and I hope he gets what he deserves. This is the second reletive that we have lost to a drunk driver, and the drunk of course has walked away with a couple scrapes and bruises. This has got to stop. I don't like the fact that the boy will be in prison for us to pay for, but I don't want him to be back on the street to do this ALL over again. There are 3 kids and a wife that are now fatherless and husbandless. What about there lives?

June 9, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

wonderdog (anonymous) says...

I am very sorry for your loss, tween.

June 9, 2009 at 11:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

musicmama (anonymous) says...

I'm not asking for everyone to be completely sympathetic for the driver, but to grasp that we are all human and it could have been anyone. This young man will never be the same, he has to live with the fact that he has killed another person. His parents have lost a son, his brother is brother less, cousins cousin less and etc. ALL families are in pain, reading these posts, and are hurting like the other families. I lost my sister to a drunk driver and then my brother was charged with manslaughter and is in prison. I have been on both sides of a tragedy like this and have studied these types of cases in my job, every person involved in the tragedy is hurting. I want people to realize this. None of us are perfect and have made mistakes, please stop this hate. Hate is learned and we are teaching it.
I am praying for every single family affected by this tragedy and I encourage everyone to do the same. God bless everyone. My deepest sympathy to you all; the victims and the accused.

June 11, 2009 at 2:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Hawking (anonymous) says...

This is truly a tragic event. The loss of loved ones is one of lifes hardest tests to have to endure. My heart goes out to all involved and I pray that they will make it thru this ordeal.
I am quite shocked though at the hate being spewed about by some people making comments here when they don't really know the whole truth of the matter.
From what I have heard, Mr. Pilarowski was on his way to go camping with his girlfriend. He had some beer in the back of the truck which spilled out all over the place during the crash. The police that arrived on the scene saw and smelled the beer and automatically arrested him on SUSPICION of DUI. As of today, no one has seen a BAC report and Mr. Pilarowski claims he had NOT been drinking.

If the boy Brandon did indeed have a BAC that shows he had been drinking then I am sure that the court system will punish him. His life will be over at 19 and your need for a hanging will be satisfied. So be it.

In the meantime, some of you people are showing how ignorant and gullible you are by jumping to these conclusions of hate.

H.

June 12, 2009 at 10:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tween (anonymous) says...

yes they did take him in because of the smell of beer, they took him straight for blood work......if you go to the scene then you can see where he went off the road a good 8 feet and then came back on and across into oncoming traffic and where the crash happened. I don't believe that he fell asleep at the wheel at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. I don't even want to believe that he was drunk at that time, but all I'm saying is that if it does come out that he was drunk I can only hope and pray that he will be delt with accordingly. If indeed he did fall asleep then I feel for him because he's going to have to live with the fact that he killed someone because he was too TIRED to drive. If that is the case then his girlfriend should have been driving! NOT HIM. So that would be yet another STUPID move!

June 16, 2009 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Hawking (anonymous) says...

tween,
You mentioned above you are related to Tim Capps and want justice for his death. I happen to be related to Mr. Pilarowski and I would like justice for his involvement as well. True justice based on the actual truth of the matter. I have not seen a BAC report and I have not heard any direct eyewitness account of the accident. If there is incriminating evidence against Mr. Pilarowski, so be it and he will be going to jail for a long time. But none has been shown so far and it's going on a week and a half now. Tragic accidents do sometimes just happen. If our positions were reversed, I am sure that you would be defending your cousin to make sure he got a fair trial and would also be defending him against the unfounded slander and hate he has received in the above comments.
If the evidence goes against Mr. Pilarowski, I will not stand in the way of justice. If the evidence does not convict him and shows the accident to be just that, an accident, all I wish is that others don't stand in the way of justice either.
Either way, I know it will not diminish the anguish everyone involved will be feeling for a long time to come.

H.

June 16, 2009 at 8:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sbs (anonymous) says...

tween and Hawking...many prayers to all involved and thoughts of strength and peace to those suffering.

June 17, 2009 at 5:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sbs (anonymous) says...

How is Donald Cochrane, the other passenger?

June 17, 2009 at 6:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tween (anonymous) says...

Not sure last I heard he was still in the hospital

June 18, 2009 at 12:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

inmemoftc (anonymous) says...

Don is in rehab in atlanta ga and will spend a long time in rehab. He was in a coma for 8 days after the accident. As for everything else i understand people make mistakes. but whether it was being drunk or being tired he knew better than to drive if he was that tired. he took a father of 3 beautiful children that loved him very much and a wife that misses him.

July 10, 2009 at 9:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Hawking (anonymous) says...

The evidence is in on whether the boy was drinking or not, and a ruling has been made.

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/20...

H.

July 12, 2009 at 7:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

inmemoftc (anonymous) says...

So are u saying its ok just because he wasnt drunk?

July 13, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )