ltljohn Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 I will try to keep up with this story and post the investigation results to see if we can learn from it.. Linky Link to comment
upflying Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 3:15 am is prime time for wrong way drunks. Stay out of the #1 (fast) lane late at night early morning hours. Drunks think that is the slow lane when they merge wrong way onto the freeway. RIP Link to comment
upflying Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 More info..and of course it is confirmed the wrong way was DUI. Like I predicted, it happened in the #1 lane. Due to the closing rate, wrong way drivers are very hard to detect. When you do it's too late for evasive action. I've encountered two them while I was on duty and both times I never saw them coming. I'm alive only because I was not in the fast lane. http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Off-Duty-Officer-Killed-On-I-95-161710245.html Link to comment
ltljohn Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 From this mornings news LINK Link to comment
Deek Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 Sure hope the drunk killer is tried, convicted and serves an appropriate sentence for 1st degree murder. In my opinion that's what she/she has done. Getting drunk and driving is intent. So very, very sad to read about cases like this, where the best in our society is taken out, usually with little notice, but the very worst in our society. Link to comment
Joe Frickin' Friday Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 I had heard something before about drunk head-on collisions on highways, which is that even though they're on the wrong side of the median (due to having missed the "WRONG WAY/DO NOT ENTER" signs at the top of the exit ramp) they go with long experience and keep to the rightmost (from their perspective) lane. Thus, most head-on collisions with drunks on divided highways tend to be in the passing lane. The picture that was with the OP's article this morning (it has since been removed) showed officers investigating a crash scene in the leftmost lane of the highway, so this incident appears to be consistent with that theory. The take-home lesson is that if you find yourself out on a divided highway at an hour when drunks are likely to be driving (yes, that could be any time, but it's most likely to be between sundown and sunrise), stay out of the passing lane unless you're actually passing someone. Link to comment
Paul Mihalka Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 "stay out of the passing lane unless you're actually passing someone." Good advice any time of day... Link to comment
Mike Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 How sad. It seems like there also have been a number of these types of incidents in the Chicago area over the past few months. The common denominator seems to be some sort of intoxication. Link to comment
4wheeldog Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 Here in New Messico, we have more wrong way head ons than anywhere else I am aware of. (This seems to be a product of the combination of elevation and culture). Anyway, a few years ago, after a bunch of these accidents in quick succession, a reporter did some research. Conclusions were, (As others stated) stay out of the fast lane. But also, if you see them coming, pull over and shut off your lights. It seems that drunks target fixate much more than sober folks. Right after the article was published, a drunk hit a truck that was pulled off the side of the road, headlights on, almost headlight to headlight. Maybe we could let Darwin work on this, by posting empty decoy trucks with lights on, parked on the side of the road. Drunks could run into those, leaving the innocent alone. Link to comment
upflying Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 "stay out of the passing lane unless you're actually passing someone." Good advice any time of day... Well not always. Except for wee hours of the morning, I always ride my motor in the #1 lane (aka passing or fast lane). This keeps any potential threats only on my right and leaves the left shoulder as an escape. I also ride fast enough so I am always passing. The intent is to stay away as far as possible from on and off ramps. Riding in the #1 lane also gives you instant access to lane splitting if needed. Link to comment
AdventurePoser Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 If there is not much traffic, I'll stay to the right and pass people as necessary, but when it's thick and running fast, I always use the far left lane or carpool lane if possible. I'd like to think this shields me from at least some errant drivers...Of course, YMMV. Steve Link to comment
BailyD Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 He trained several officers in my area. All of the Philly guys are really good people. He will be missed... Link to comment
ltljohn Posted July 11, 2012 Author Share Posted July 11, 2012 Drunk Driver has been charged with third degree murder among other charges LINK Link to comment
ltljohn Posted July 14, 2012 Author Share Posted July 14, 2012 More information trickles out. linky Link to comment
upflying Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 More information trickles out. linky Looks like TGI Fridays will be a party in the civil suit for serving Leck the alcohol that contributed to the death of officer Lorenzo. Link to comment
ltljohn Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 More information trickles out. linky Looks like TGI Fridays will be a party in the civil suit for serving Leck the alcohol that contributed to the death of officer Lorenzo. According to the article he paid his bill at 1:15 A.M. and the crash was at around 3:15. I wonder where he was for those 2 hours. It is only about 10 miles from Fridays to the accident site. Link to comment
George S. Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 I'm sure Friday's is going to say he went somewhere else to drink in the between time, but from my experience, it isn't going to matter in a civil suit, they'll be the ones liable. Link to comment
RT_Ross Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 Noticed a rise in the road just before the crash site so with the limited vis & 120+ mph closing speed he did not have a chance. Sad! Link to comment
Kevin-RT1150 Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 Where did this guy go? I assume this Friday's was in the area and the rest of PA the bars close at 2A. Is Philly different? My point is, the Tragedy occurred at 3:15A Link to comment
upflying Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 Where did this guy go? I assume this Friday's was in the area and the rest of PA the bars close at 2A. Is Philly different? My point is, the Tragedy occurred at 3:15A Bars close a 2am in Ca too. Many patrons meander out to the parking lot at closing time and continue to party around the cars. Usually someone brings a cooler in a trunk to share. After an hour, the drunks finally leave the parking lot. Link to comment
ltljohn Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 Looking at what he drank at Fridays it was not all that much. I would not drive after that but I would also not be so drunk that I would miss all the wrong way signs and get on the wrong side of the highway. He may have had a few before going to Fridays and a few somewhere else after he left. There are after hours clubs that are open until 3:00 A.M. unfinished drinks collected at 3:30. Unless he tells us we may never know. Link to comment
upflying Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 Looking at what he drank at Fridays it was not all that much. I would not drive after that but I would also not be so drunk that I would miss all the wrong way signs and get on the wrong side of the highway. He may have had a few before going to Fridays and a few somewhere else after he left. There are after hours clubs that are open until 3:00 A.M. unfinished drinks collected at 3:30. Unless he tells us we may never know. In a vehicular homicide, it is imperitve to trace his whereabout prior to the crash. Cell phone records, video cameras, charge cards and witnesses will sing like a bird if the perp "lawyered up". Link to comment
ltljohn Posted July 7, 2013 Author Share Posted July 7, 2013 Well this guy has a trial date. Charges include third degree homicide and homicide by vehicle while under the influence. Trial is set for October 21st. Link to comment
blackyam Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 "stay out of the passing lane unless you're actually passing someone." Good advice any time of day... Well not always. Except for wee hours of the morning, I always ride my motor in the #1 lane (aka passing or fast lane). This keeps any potential threats only on my right and leaves the left shoulder as an escape. I also ride fast enough so I am always passing. The intent is to stay away as far as possible from on and off ramps. Riding in the #1 lane also gives you instant access to lane splitting if needed. Hi, upflying. I'm sorry if this may be a hijack, but (in Calif) can I ride in the No. 1 lane fast enough to keep passing and not have to worry about being pulled over for speeding? What would be a reasonable passing speed difference, so that I wouldn't have to worry about getting a ticket? Thanks. ---John. Link to comment
upflying Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 The answer to your question will be "use your best judgement". Officially any form of speeding is illegal. From an ethics standpoint, cops cannot and should not tell you how fast you can go over the speed limit to avoid being stopped. That said, my personal and proprietary "professional tolerance" is 15 over...but not always. Link to comment
blackyam Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 upflying, thank you for your advice. Cheers. ---John. Link to comment
Lighthiker90 Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Well this guy has a trial date. Charges include third degree homicide and homicide by vehicle while under the influence. Trial is set for October 21st. What has happened to the 6th ammendment lately? Specifically the speedy part. July to October does not qualify as speedy. Neither does the Zimmerman trial. Link to comment
tallman Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Rights intact. Msny serious cases may involve a waiver of right. Link to comment
upflying Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Rights intact. Msny serious cases may involve a waiver of right. X2, waiver of speedy trial rights is often a defense tactic to hopefully heal emotions, lose evidence, misplace witnesses, fog memory and add credit for time served. Link to comment
ltljohn Posted July 14, 2013 Author Share Posted July 14, 2013 Rights intact. Msny serious cases may involve a waiver of right. X2, waiver of speedy trial rights is often a defense tactic to hopefully heal emotions, lose evidence, misplace witnesses, fog memory and add credit for time served. Looking at the court docket there are multiple continuances not sure if they are defense or prosecution. Link to comment
CuriousBikeRider Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 So Bob, question for you . . . Since you're the duly designated representative for all shield wielding officials (at least in this post), do cops apply the same speed judgements to motorcycles as they do cars? Is a vehicle a vehicle? or are they going to give a little more slack to the two wheeler because they know they're having fun?, OR less slack because the danger is increased? Thanks for your perspective. Curious Bike Rider (aka George - not the new Royal baby George, but hopefully related) Link to comment
upflying Posted July 27, 2013 Share Posted July 27, 2013 Nope, no slack, to me a vehicle is a vehicle. Generally, cops will be less tolerant of motorcycles speeding. Because they are "fun", riders often get carried away with speed with disproportionate and tragic results. The lack of tolerance factor could go up if LEO's see flip flops, tank tops, shorts and beanie helmets on sport bike riders. Link to comment
ltljohn Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 Just keeping things up to date Link to Court Docket. We will see what happens in October. Link to comment
ltljohn Posted October 16, 2013 Author Share Posted October 16, 2013 Guilty plea in crash death of Philadelphia police officer Brian Lorenzo Quote from the article "As for the criminal trial, Leck is facing 20 to 40 years in prison. Sentencing has been set for December 2nd." LINKY Link to comment
Bud Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Not good enough. I'm sure it was a plea bargain weighing a lot of different factors. Not saying that's right, but w/o plea bargains, our court systems, already overloaded, would grind to a complete halt. I would also guess the family was consulted about the length of sentence. Still a damn shame to see a LEO needlessly lose his life. Link to comment
ltljohn Posted December 2, 2013 Author Share Posted December 2, 2013 Not enough in my opinion. From the CBS 3 Philly website... A Levittown, Pa. man was sentenced today to 10-20 years in prison, plus an additional 10 years on probation, for the wrong-way DUI crash on Interstate 95 last year that killed a Philadelphia police officer on his way home from his duty shift. LINKY Link to comment
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