Is this another Florida Story? Woman causes accident that kills two people. No charges will be filed

[Baitball Blogger]

I don't know if it's a coinky-dinky but there may family members in the inner circles.


No charges against 75-year-old driver in Altamonte Springs double-fatal crash

Cynthia Guthrie was headed to a doctor's appointment in October after she had slipped and fallen.

But while driving there, the 75-year-old former teacher failed to slow down as she approached a red light at an Altamonte Springs intersection, killing an infant and father in the car ahead of hers and causing a multivehicle chain reaction.

She will not face criminal charges for causing the seven-vehicle crash near state roads 434 and 436, the Brevard-Seminole State Attorney's Office announced Thursday.

<snip>

In a letter sent to the Altamonte Springs Police Department, State Attorney Phil Archer said charging Guthrie with manslaughter or vehicular homicide wasn't appropriate.

Her driving may have been careless, but it didn't meet the legal burden for proving the crimes — reckless disregard for safety or human life.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-cynthia-guthrie-fatal-altamonte-crash-20160107-story.html

[Warpy]

1. Considering she had just fallen at home

there might have been neurological issues, as well. Yeah, she should have called a cab.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. I hope this case isn't getting the Central Florida backwater treatment.

[GummyBearz]

3. Every one of us knowingly puts our lives on the line when we drive

Was she driving under the influence of anything?

Did she have a valid drivers license?

If the answers are no, and yes, then she is not guilty. I hope you don't have the misfortune of causing a bad accident in which someone dies. Being charged for manslaughter or homicide for an accident doesn't sound fun... best of luck to you next time you are on the road.

[Baitball Blogger]

17. I don't think you should assume that I would get treated in the same way.

[GummyBearz]

19. Anyone who caused an accident is guilty of just that. An accident

I hope they all get treated as such.

As long as they have a valid drivers license and are not under the influence

[libdem4life]

4. Race? Just asking.

[Baitball Blogger]

11. Not known.

[CBGLuthier]

22. Yeah it is.

I would bet anyone any amount of money she isn't black.

[Baitball Blogger]

23. If she is part of the family circle that I'm thinking about,

you would be right.

[ryan_cats]

5. I

I recall something similar in LA and charges weren't filed either for some reason, people here didn't have a problem with that and it was a Hummer VS a Prius VS a Lexus.

[saturnsring]

6. there seems to be a lot of that

[FLPanhandle]

7. Florida caters to the blue hairs

They vote in mass and no one in the state will try to take away their licenses or subject them to driving tests as they age.

There was a study that the elderly have a higher accident rate per mile driven than even teenagers (note: teens still have more accidents but drive many more miles).

[hay rick]

8. Sickening.

No charge of negligent or even involuntary manslaughter? I believe a justifiable involuntary manslaughter prosecution requires a demonstration that the defendant acted with "usual ordinary caution"- but I don't see how that is possible in this case. Can't help but notice that the victims were Hispanic.

[LisaL]

9. Did you see she was 75?

I've seen a lot of cases where elderly drivers caused all kind of accidents. I am pretty sure charges are rarely brought (presumably because of how old these people are).

[hay rick]

10. Yes, I saw that.

No, I don't think age is an acceptable defense. If an older driver has a stroke or similar traumatic event while driving and that leads to an accident I would understand. But that doesn't appear to be the case. If the driver is no longer competent due to advanced age, they shouldn't be driving. Elderly persons who choose to continue driving should be presumed to be competent- and liable for their actions.

[Baitball Blogger]

12. She chose to drive herself AFTER she had a slip and fall.

[LisaL]

13. I know. I am just pointing out the fact-most of the elderly drivers aren't charged.

It's not specifically a FL problem either.

[hay rick]

14. I saw that too.

Did she fall on her head? That might be exculpatory. We're missing a lot of information. I'm just saying that I don't think age should be a get out of jail free card.

[Baitball Blogger]

16. I agree. Age should not be a get out of jail free card.

But, I think local judgment is flexible when it involves people who are known to the inside circles, or their family members.

[hay rick]

18. Agree.

[Logical]

20. Let me get straight ....

Do you think of someone just makes mistakes, isn't drunk isn't speeding isn't driving recklessly And makes a driving mistake they should go to jail?

[hay rick]

21. Two people dead and it's "just a mistake."

There may be a way that this outcome doesn't involve some sort of reckless behavior but nothing in the article offers a good explanation of what the excuse might be other than the age of the driver or a recent fall. One would think that if either of those factors were disabling in some way, the driver should not have gotten behind the wheel and should be held accountable for that decision.

[libdem4life]

15. When I lived in Tucson, the Snowbirds (Winter Visitors from the North) were the

worst drivers and menaces on the roads.