Tuesday, September 28, 2010
One Bad Decision
The story made national news in April of 2009, so there's a good chance you've heard about it. If one of his victims hadn't been Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart, the collision would have hardly received a mention in any news outlet outside of Orange County.
On the evening of April 8, while 22-year-old Adenhart was on the mound pitching six scoreless innings in Anaheim, 22-year-old Gallo, on probation for a drunk driving conviction, celebrated job prospects with his 21-year-old step-brother Raymond Rivera. Nick and Andrew, who had never met each other, had no way of knowing that in a few short hours their lives would be tragically, irrevocably linked.
What happened to Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, Henry Pearson, and Jon Wilhite is one of the worst kinds of tragedies. I can't imagine how awful it's been for their families, and for Wilhite, who miraculously survived the accident and suffers from long-term injuries.
"Miraculous" isn't even a strong enough word for Wilhite's recovery. He was internally decapitated, and apparently fewer than 5% of people can hold on long enough to make it to the hospital. And the ones that do almost never walk or breathe on their own again. This kid threw out the first pitch at the Angels/Athletics make up game just a few months later.
I've been following this case since the morning of the collision when the freeway exit was closed and it impacted my morning commute. Three hours before I had any idea that someone from my beloved baseball team was involved.
I was angry when I learned that a drunk driver caused the crash. I have no tolerance, patience or sympathy for someone who drinks and then gets behind the wheel. And when it turned out that this guy had a previous DUI, well... It wasn't pretty.
But yesterday, when I heard the jury had reached a verdict and I frantically refreshed three different news feeds and my Twitter account waiting for the announcement, I kept thinking about Andrew Gallo. He's 23 years old and chances are good that he'll spend a substantial portion of the rest of his life in prison. He's 23.
I agree with the prosecutor's decision to charge Gallo with murder rather than vehicular manslaughter. And I agree wholeheartedly with the jury's guilty verdict.
He's 23.
The crash happened when he was 22.
To call what he did a "mistake" is to diminish the gravity of the situation. He made a bad decision.
One that resulted in the deaths of three people.
One that nearly killed a fourth.
One that ruined his own life.
Still just a kid in so many ways, Andrew Gallo took the keys and drove the car that night, not caring that he'd been drinking so long that he was three times over the legal limit. And when he crashed into that car, he tried to run away. To hide. To avoid responsibility.
I think about Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton and so many others that get involved in drugs and alcohol and convince themselves that they aren't hurting anyone.
But it only takes one time for that to change.
If you drink, please don't drive. Even if you haven't had enough to be legally intoxicated, your judgment can still be impaired. Just don't risk it. I can't tell you how many nights I've taken the freeway home from wherever I've been and encountered drivers who couldn't stay in their lane, who drove far too slowly or much too fast and I realize there are dozens of times it could have been me in that mangled Mitsubishi. It could have been you or someone you know.
If you're going to drink, don't drive.
If you're going to stay up all night and exhaust yourself to the point you can't see straight, which, in some states is equivalent to legal intoxication, don't drive.
Please, make the decision to be responsible.
I'm sorry that this turned into such a PSA, but I think that what Andrew Gallo did to his own life is, in some ways, nearly as tragic as what he did to the others.
UPDATE: December 22, 2010--Andrew Gallo was sentenced to 51 years to life. He's serving three consecutive 15 to life terms for killing Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart and Henry Pearson, plus an additional 6 years for other charges. Even with good behavior, he is not expected to be eligible for parole until the 2050s. While he still has the right to appeal the sentence, it is generally believed that he will not prevail.
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Well said. It infuriates me how lightly DUIs can be treated. There was a story in our local news, last month, about a woman who had been arrested on her 19th DUI!!!!! And it was only then that she received significant jail time.
ReplyDeleteAmen! I just typed a really long comment, but blogger ate it, so this time I'll just say AMEN!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a sensitive subject. Such a tragic one. And you are so right.
ReplyDeleteAs for driving while tired, I do that most week days. After I leave work I have to commute home, I eat to try and stay awake in the car. Mass transportation isn't an option between my work and home or I would utilize it. I always joke that my parents must've driven me around a lot to get me to go to sleep when I was a baby because being in the car lulls me into super relax mode.
Driving in general is so dangerous. I really think that we should see more commercials with regard to just operating vehicles more cautiously. Maybe if we focused more what TO do to be a safe driver it would make a stronger impact.
There is just so much that so many people to do cause accidents every day... talking on the phone, texting while driving, being distracted inside the car. I have a cyclist friend who was run over by a lady messing with her child in the backseat. Fortunately he made a complete recovery and had an awesome helmet on.
I'm definitely not trying to curb your message because it is such an important one. I'm glad you covered it.
I get personally involved in many news stories that really don't involve me specifically. I know how strongly these kinds of events impact those involved AND many others. It's never too much to remind us that impaired driving is impaired driving no matter what the source. I pray daily that I'll never be responsible for some one else's misery. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteWell said. One bad decision can affect more people than one realizes!
ReplyDeleteA family friend was killed by a drunk driver. She was hit while walking to her car...I understand the frustration. He's 22, but at the same time he made a horrible mistake that affected so many...Nobody wins here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting during my SITS Day! I appreciate it!
So sad that 1 bad decision has such diasterous concequences. Very well said.
ReplyDeletevisiting from LBS
I so wholeheartedly agree. Not just about the not drinking and driving, but about him being only 23. It's a situation that is painful all around. I have had dear loved ones on both sides of this - killed by a drunk driver and having their lives ruined for having driven drunk. And seeing each side is painful. And seeing so many people still do it when it is SO SIMPLE not to, is so frustrating and heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteI used to be a very heavy drinker. But I NEVER drove drunk. Not once.
I 100% agree. There is just no excuse to drive drunk. I have no patience, no tolerance, no sympathy for that. Some day, it will be my kids out on the road, and I simply can not stand the thought of anything happening to them simply because someone was too stupid to call a cab.
ReplyDeleteOne DWI conviction should send someone to jail for a minimum of one year, plus rehab, plus community service. Maybe more. People who drink and drive are idiots.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with your assesment of Inception!
This is a GREAT post!! No excuse for such stupidity. And yes, that's what it is. I don't believe in "drunk" as a defense for anything. Not driving, not abuse, streaking... nope... NOTHING!
ReplyDeletePlease link this post up on the Awareness Wednesday on my blog tomorrow!! This is a GREAT CAUSE!! <3 Thanks for speaking out!
Well said. I didn't hear of this story but I have heard of many just like it. I liked what you had to say and agree wholeheartedly.
ReplyDeleteI don't feel sorry for Gallo. Something in him was broken if he could go out and do that. He showed a clear lack of accountability for his choices when he got behind the wheel. I like to believe the best of people, but in his case, it was only a matter of time before he was caught. Too bad it involved the deaths of others. Drunk drivers make me so angry.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of the case but I'm guessing from your post and the comments he got something pretty serious.
ReplyDeleteHe deserves something pretty serious. You can't be a danger to society, kill 3 people, ruin the lives of countless others and go "Whoops. My bad"
"Still just a kid in so many ways"
ReplyDelete*rant*
I'm sorry, hon, but...bullsh*t. He wasn't twelve, he was TWENTY-TWO!!!
You know right from wrong well before then. And his brother's claim was, "Don't convict him because I urged him to drink." So f*cking what??? If you're going to drink to excess, TAKE A CAB!!!
30 years ago, a friend and her mom were killed by a drunk driver as they were coming home from school. Stacy was 16 years old.
Don't drink and drive!!!!!!!!!
*rant over*
I agree, there is a reason driving is legal only after a certain age- it is expected that you have to be 'responsible'. Sometimes the responsibility comes in the form of deciding not to drive- when you assess yourself to be not 'fit to'.
ReplyDeleteSimple.
I don't remember hearing about this...but April 2009 I was really self absorbed with losing my job and place to live and moving... anyway, excellent post. I don't know how people aren't aware of the chain reaction of drinking and driving. Where is the common sense?
ReplyDeleteAny time you hear about a fatal accident caused by drunk driving it's sad, but when you actually know someone who's involved you realize just how tragic and senseless it is.
ReplyDeleteMy aunt was hit by a drunk driver; she barely survived, and lived very disabled for a couple more years, but ended up dying later from complications. A wonderful wife and mother was taken from her family because of a drunken man who got behind the wheel.
That's it right there. If you are GOING to drink, don't drive.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there should be such a thing as a repeat DUI. One strike and there should be a way to keep the person from ever operating more than a horse or bicycle.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the PSA. People need to wake up and read it.