Stereotype all over it.

[ccasanova22]

Aside from the obvious lack of driver’s ed (or maybe the kid wasn’t paying attention, as they should cover how to stop a runaway vehicle) I smell a case for subrogation here.

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[Trigganometry]

The report says he was also carrying a firearm. This one isn’t the sharpest crayon in the box is he…

 

[ccasanova22]

The report says he was also carrying a firearm. This one isn’t the sharpest crayon in the box is he…

I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on that one. Maybe he forgot?

But some other things don’t add up, like the bystanders being able to stop the truck easily, looked like it was in Neutral.

If it were truly in Neutral, after a brake failure, then I would guess some sort of sabotage instead.

 

[OFC Ranger]

I'm not sure why him carrying a firearm is even pinging on anyones radar - especially if he was in his own truck, which is an extension of his home (in free states at least).

 

[mtsoxfan]

OR...
He paniced. It's easy to sit here and say he could have done this or that. When you are faced with shit hitting the fan unexpectedly, it is human nature, for many, to panic. I don't know specific details, but the skys the limit for theories on what happened...

 

[OFC Ranger]

OR...
He paniced. It's easy to sit here and say he could have done this or that. When you are faced with shit hitting the fan unexpectedly, it is human nature, for many, to panic. I don't know specific details, but the skys the limit for theories on what happened...

My comments are based in my experience (as the po-po) that I've never seen someone arrested and charged so quickly when a mechanical error is in question. As I said before, if someone claims mechanical error, then the investigation has to occur to prove it wasn't. That takes time. It could have been as simple as he claimed his brakes no longer worked and the responding investigator got in the truck and the brakes worked fine, so until proven otherwise he takes the ride and get the mugshot. I dunno.

@Glocker is now retired, so maybe he will throw his 2 cents in.

This quick arrest is more akin to someone being arrested and charged with DUI. Either through confession or preponderance of evidence. Now I could be wrong, it just doesn't fit the usual pattern of arrest in this situation IF truly a mechanical failure.

 

[mtsoxfan]

Like I said,I don'tknow the details. Could I speculate, like others here? Sure...

He's got a show truck, he lit them up, lost control and paniced.
Drinking? maybe, which would explain the arrest,and the thought to light them up at a parade.

 

[ccasanova22]

The video clearly shows him towing a float which seems to be of decent size. That alone makes me think something’s messed up on the truck vs intent to injure or kill somebody. Wasn’t it someone from the dance troupe he was involved with that died?

 

[Muddy Fenders]

One of the videos from a drone shows two of the trucks doors open as it rolls forward. to me thats an important clue that something went wrong with the truck, more than just the drivers actions, or lack thereof.
My thoughts on the truck: highly modded, higher risk of something not right. Whomever did this work, the driver, a backyard mechanic, or some shop, pro or fly by night, should all be worried of further liability claims.

 

[ccasanova22]

Like I said,I don'tknow the details. Could I speculate, like others here? Sure...

He's got a show truck, he lit them up, lost control and paniced.
Drinking? maybe, which would explain the arrest,and the thought to light them up at a parade.

I’m going to go on a limb and say lack of experience was most likely a culprit. Kid is 20, probably comes from a family with money (I don’t know many 20 year olds who can afford a truck like that) and has never owned a beater or cheap, buy-here-pay-here special where brake failure (and a lot of other mechanical problems) teaches you fast how to stop a runaway car.

Probably kid didn’t think of using the parking brake, or putting it in park, or it’s one of these new electronic shifters that don’t allow selecting Park at speed.

Videos show the truck idling, when it appears to strike people, even some bystanders said “he wasn’t giving it gas” according to some interviews I’ve seen.

Another guess is the dance troupe he was towing is related to his family or maybe even his sister’s “big Christmas performance“ and to intentionally kill someone in the group would be very difficult, sounds like the truck just idled forward as it rolled through the crowd.

 

[9zero1790]

wow i missed all that yesterday. I wonder if the trailer had brakes? what is the claimed malfunction? im not saying the kids innocent but id bet it was not intent to kill. id bet he was trying to be cool and shit went wrong beyond his ability to do anything useful.

when i was 15 (no dl) i took my brothers truck for a lunch run while we were working. it was a small town then. at one point a very slow driver was in front of me going half the speed limit. i got around and stomped on the gas. when i let off the truck was still going full tilt. for about 2 seconds i was thinking what the hell. thankfully no traffic as i was rolling 70 ish in a thirty zone before my mind said turn off the damn key. hit the key that solved one problem and brought another - i was blasting down the city road with no power anything at that point... fought the brakes and wheel down to a safe stop thank jesus. turns out the go pedal was jammed up by a custom heavy duty floor mat. so no foot on pedal but still pedal down. i could have easily ran over someone or smashed into all sorts of stuff. i was lucky it was a small town and not much traffic.

 

[Chris M]

I'm not sure why him carrying a firearm is even pinging on anyones radar - especially if he was in his own truck, which is an extension of his home (in free states at least).

Apparently you're not allowed to be armed when you're part of the parade party.
Seems I read that in one of the news reports of the incident.

 

[ccasanova22]

If you’ve ever had that happen in a carbureted vehicle, turning ON the key to try and regain control may blow the muffler to pieces. Not proud of the fact I know this but beater life does truly give you “life lessons”. Even modern beaters I’ve had that passed the used car lot’s inspection (state inspection, sold as-is) have left me without brakes shortly after purchase. I think owning one of these vehicles does add to the gray hairs but has some positive benefits.

 

[OFC Ranger]

Apparently you're not allowed to be armed when you're part of the parade party.
Seems I read that in one of the news reports of the incident.

I'd be the first to say I'd ignore than unconstitutional garbage.

 

[ccasanova22]

I'd be the first to say I'd ignore than unconstitutional garbage.

I don’t think the firearm changes the situation, maybe he forgot it was in the truck?

One concerning pattern I’m seeing on late model vehicles is when the electronic brake units fail, they fail suddenly without much in the way of fail-safe. Google Ford Escape Hybrid brake failure and see how many have had the pedal just sink to the floor.

Yes, you can get 1-2 stops without assist, but after you’ve used it it’s down to your personal force. Not many know that’s even there, they just think the brakes “failed”.

So what if he had the firearm, the fact is (based on the drone video) and news footage he had a rolling truck that was supposedly “out of control”. The driver and passenger opening doors and shouting to warn people just adds credibility to the brake failure scenario.

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