By Kenneth C.
Rossignol
ST. MARY’S
TODAY
ACCOKEEK
(Feb.
19, 2008) UPDATE---
ST. MARY'S TODAY has learned
that wagers as large as
$10,000 have been made on
street races between drivers
at Accokeek with many of
hundreds of spectators
conducting side bets and
answering one of the
questions as to why the
crowds go to the illegal
events such as the one at
which 8 people were killed
as they stood in the middle
of the northbound lanes of a
divided highway at 3 am.
Prince George's County
States Attorney Glen Ivey
told WUSA 9 News on Monday
that he would be taking as
much as three months to
interview all the witnesses
and prepare charges in the
case while police continue
to advise that there are no
charges pending against the
driver of the vehicle which
ran into the morons who were
standing in the roadway.
While the nation tries to
make sense out of the latest
mass murderer to pull out
guns and wipe out innocent
lives in the Illinois campus
shooting, Maryland proved it
was able to up the ante of
the gruesome college scene
with yet another whacko
tragedy of its own as eight
people died when a car
legally operating on a
highway ran into a crowd
participating in an illegal
street race.
The names of the
identified dead spectators
as released by PG Police are
as follows:
Ervin Gardner, 39 and Daryl
Wills, 38, of Prince
George’s County, Maryland,
Maycol Lopez, 20, of
Montgomery County, Maryland,
Blaine Briscoe, 49 and
William Gaines, 61, of
Charles County, Maryland,
and Mark Courtney, 33, of
St. Mary’s County, Maryland.
Otis
Williams, 35, of Indian
Head, and Milton Pinkney,
41, of
La
Plata, were among
those killed, Prince
George's County police said.
While Prince Georges Police
dealt with reconstructing
the crash scene, the facts
of the matter show that at
just before 4 in the
morning, about 100 people,
were out in the cold
watching two idiots race
each other on a public
highway.
As the crowd
stood in the middle of a
four lane highway in the
middle of the night, police
say that the smoke from the
start of another race
generated by squealing tires
in a ‘burn-out’ blurred the
vision for the driver of a
Ford sedan who could not see
the crowd standing in the
roadway and plowed into
them, sending them reeling
through the air like bowling
pins.
What would
possibly possess people to
be so stupid to stand in the
middle of a highway in the
pitch black night for an
illegal drag race is beyond
comprehension.
But for the
lawless rednecks and morons
of Southern Maryland, it
wasn’t the first time and
certainly won’t be the last
as these street racers bring
to life the old TV show, the
Dukes of Hazard on a daily
basis.
The spot the
crowd of morons chose for
their illegal drag race was
picked on purpose, as well
as the time.
Accokeek is
at the far end of the patrol
area of both Charles and
Prince George’s Counties and
at that time of the morning
a street race is unlikely to
be disturbed by a patrolling
police cruiser.
While the police are dealing
with the routine gunfire,
drug dealing and violence of
Oxon Hill, an area which
ought to be fenced in and
marked with danger signs and
offering police escorts to
the residents trapped in
these areas of hopelessness
which are ruled by
criminals; the drag racers
know that they can operate
with impunity in Accokeek.
The race time
was not long after the last
bars close. It was dark with
no street lights around and
no one to stop them.
Charles County Sheriff Rex
Coffey confirmed to ST.
MARY'S TODAY that his agency
had not been on the lookout
for the white Ford sedan
which hit the crowd at the
illegal race.
"We had not been in any
contact with that driver,"
said Sheriff Coffey. "I
can't understand why people
are out in the middle of the
night with young children
watching something like
this, I'm just glad it
didn't happen in Charles
County."
When asked if those who
stand and watch an illegal
street race were just as
criminally responsible as
those who are behind the
wheel, Sheriff Coffey made
the point that if the
spectators were not there,
would the drivers be racing
without a crowd betting on
the outcome.
This is not
the first time that illegal
street racing has claimed
lives in the area.
One such
fatal wreck
was a spring Sunday
afternoon in 1992, on Pin
Cushion Road in Loveville
and again, a crowd had
gathered to watch two
drivers race their cars
against each other on that
single lane road in a
farming community. Two
people were killed, one the
son of a police officer, and
the officer’s daughter was
critically injured, when one
driver lost control of his
car and flipped over into
the crowd gathered to watch
the race and bet on the
outcome.
Oddly enough,
the presence of a legal drag
strip at Budd’s Creek, not a
very long drive from either
Accokeek or Loveville, was
not a temptation for those
who were involved in either
race.
The thrill of
a James Dean style street
race continues to draw
spectators and racers,
usually to watch the drivers
test their street cars
against each other.
In Lexington
Park several years ago, a
State Trooper stopped three
men racing at 95 mph on Rt.
235 just north of the Naval
Air Station. One man,
Robert Braddock, should have
known better as his father
is president of the local
fire department, which has
dedicated themselves to
helping many victims of
crashes and roadway trauma.
These road racers called
themselves the Masked
Bandits and actually had the
name of their racing gang
emblazoned on the back
windows of their fast cars.
Braddock, later bragged on a
racing forum that he didn't
even get any points for the
tickets but he did take the
club name off of his back
window. The disposition of
the case would have been up
to St. Mary's States
Attorney Richard Fritz.
Last year two
motorcycles racing each
other on Rt. 235 ended with
one of them losing control
near Wildewood Shopping
center and crashing, killing
the driver.
Redneck
racers in the south end of
St. Mary’s County have
routinely out run police by
using nitro in their hot rod
cars.
Running from
police on motorcycles
doesn’t stop just with local
heathens. Two men on their
own personal motorcycles ran
from St. Mary’s Sheriff’s
Deputies and State Troopers
in the Mechanicsville area,
leading them on a high speed
chase and finally pulled
over for the cops near the
Mechanicsville Post Office
about ten years ago. The
two men turned out to be
Prince Georges County cops.
People
standing in the middle of
the highway in the middle of
the night would seem to be
somewhat out of the ordinary
and even for the wild land
of Southern Maryland, this
new habit of local idiots
should seem bizarre, but
unfortunately it isn’t the
first time.
A crowd that
had gathered at the Mirage
Bar in Clements decided to
engage in an
after-the-bar-closed fight
on a summer night two years
ago and while about 50
people were fighting in the
middle of Rt. 5 at about 2
am, a truck came over the
hill and plowed into that
crowd, killing several
people, one of them a
16-year-old boy, who had
been at the bar.
While the
driver of the truck had been
drinking enough to later be
charged with DWI, the
astounding reaction of many
to the tragic event is that
the driver was the only one
at fault. Many readers
expressed the view that the
driver should have been able
to see the brawl in the
roadway in the middle of the
night.
Perhaps all those spectators
who survived this Accokeek
Race will show up at 5 am on
any morning this week on the
main line of Amtrak at New
Carrolton and stand in the
middle of the tracks to
place bets on which train
will win. These trains
race every day and you don't
make it one day, go there
the day of your choice.
The only victims in this
tragedy were the operators
of the Ford and the
tractor-trailer. Those who
stood in the highway and
were killed were not victims
but predictable results of
idiotic behavior.
What
explanation for this culture
of crazed street racers and
street brawlers and their
expectations for their
activities in the middle of
dark highways who will
continue to be challenged by
traffic, may be provided
perhaps with a tractor
trailer some day wiping out
a couple of dozen of these
bozos, giving further proof
to Darwin’s Theory.
Reader Feedback:
Should all those who were
standing in the roadway as
spectators be charged with
participating in an illegal
street race and as
accessories to manslaughter?
Should Indian Head Highway
be closed to traffic for an
hour in the middle of the
night so these morons can
use it to race? Send
your views to
Reader Feedback
staff1@stmarystoday.com
Reader Feedback: Yes I use to be one of those people who would go and watch street races when I was younger. I stopped going after I've witnessed two crashes.
Yes it took two crashes to make realize that It's better to race at a track than on the streets.
This two races didn't take part on 210 but another highway here in Maryland.
The first wreck that I witnessed was on a four lane highway when a kid lost control of his car crossed the grass divider into the opposite lanes and hits the guardrail on the opposite side of the highway with so much force that the car shot a crossed the grass divider striking the guardrail on the side of the road where he first started off in.
People didn't care about the kid. They were scattering like a bunch of roaches when the lights get turned on. The second wrecked I witness was a man on a motorcycle on the same highway lost control.
Unlike the kid in the car this man died on the scene. Again people didn’t care and fled the scene. I just want people to think about this. Next time you're at a street race and it's you that gets involved with a wreck here's two questions to ask yourself
1 How many people will stick by your side to help you out?
2 How many people will call 911 for you? .
Just something to think about.
Kevin Lee
Reader
Feedback:
Thank
you
for
bringing
this
up
in a
way
that
will
draw
attention.
Your
news
paper
has
a
poor
reputation,
but
because
of
that
all
of
Southern
Maryland
reads
it.
I
just
have
5
words
TAKE
IT
TO
THE
TRACK
street
racers
believe
that
it’s
a
waste
of
money
to
pay
to
race,
but
how
much
is
the
ticket
going
to
cost?
I my
self
am
guilty
of
an
occasional
run
light
to
light
when
I
was
younger.
Yes
you
get
an
adrenaline
boost.
The
same
boost
you
get
at
the
drag
strip.
There
is
no
difference.
I
race
all
the
time
at
the
track
and
do
the
speed
limit
on
the
street
it
isn't
that
hard
to
do.
Most
of
them
wonder
how
come
cops
are
always
messing
with
me?
Let
me
tell
you
when
I
was
acting
like
a
retard
on
the
street,
I
was
always
getting
stopped
and
at
the
time
I
thought
harassed.
Since
I
stopped
acting
like
a
retard
on
the
street
police
don’t
care
that
I'm
there,
and
I
occasionally
get
the
"hey
man
car
sounds
nice"
To
all
the
street
racers
out
there
that
say
"yeah
it
is
dangerous
and
I
could
die;
but
I
could
die
going
down
my
stairs…."
Please
go
down
your
stairs
and
kill
yourself
at
least
then
you
will
not
be
putting
other
families
at
risk.
How
would
you
feel
if
one
day
your
driving
down
the
road
with
someone
you
love
then
SMASH
a
street
racer
slams
into
you
killing
your
loved
one.
Feel
free
to
post
my
name
I
don’t
care
who
I
piss
off.
I
will
be
at
the
track
plenty
this
season-
bring
your
street
cars
and
have
some
fun
legally,
safe
and
where
there
is
more
than
a
crappy
cell
phone
video
of
you
winning
against
your
rival.
Steven
Coogan
Reader
Feedback:
This
is about
something
bigger
than
racing
illegally.
It's
about
standards
of
behavior
or more
importantly,
the lack
of
them.
It is
tragic
that
there
are so
many
adrenaline
junkies
out
there
doing
this.
And
that's
what
they
are.
It's the
same
thing as
the
folks
who are
addicted
to
working
out in
the gym
pumping
iron.
Or any
other
addiction
to
endorphin
releasing
activity.
What's
sad is
the fact
that
these
same
people
will
stand in
the
middle
of a
highway
to get
their
"fix."
And
that's
exactly
what it
is. I
agree
that
name
calling
is
unnecessary.
What
they're
doing is
moronic
and
idiotic.
And
you'd be
surprised
how many
come
from
outside
the
Charles
County
to
engage
in this
activity.
They
come out
of D.C.
and PG
County
not just
to race,
but to
drink
themselves
blind on
a Sunday
afternoon
at the
bars in
Mason
Springs.
You want
to see
bad
behavior,
just
hang
around
somewhere
close
and
watch.
And the
families
of the
victims
. . . I
do
sympathize
with
their
grief
and
torment.
Parents
need to
educate
their
children
and/or
family
members.
Really
educate
them.
And
continue
to
educate
them
whether
they
want to
hear it
or not.
Not
nagging
or
badgering,
but true
education
done in
a
meaningful
way.
It's
hard
when
children
are of
legal
age and
you
simply
don't
where
they are
or what
they're
doing.
But,
even
when
they are
grown,
you can
still
let them
know
that
this
kind of
behavior
is
unacceptable.
On a
daily
basis if
necessary.
I have
children
in their
mid-thirties
and
while
they may
not be
engaged
in this
kind of
thing, I
don't
hesitate
to let
them
know if
they're
doing
something
that I
don't
agree
with.
It's not
about
"controlling"
someone's
life . .
. it's
about
acceptable
standards
of
behavior
and not
breaking
the law.
It's
about
setting
an
example.
What
about
the
parents
who had
their
children
with
them
during
this
event?
History
will
keep
repeating
itself
because
what
these
folks
are
really
saying
is, that
they are
above
any of
the laws
out
there
and they
shouldn't
be held
accountable.
Shame,
shame on
them.
So those
of you
who
continue
to stand
idly by
and
watch
this
sort of
behavior
continue
and do
nothing
about it
and even
worse
promote
it and
expose
your
children
to it,
don't
cry
about it
down the
road
when
something
tragic
happens
to your
child or
family
member.
Remember
where
you were
this
night
thinking
you were
having
fun and
probably
betting
money
you
couldn't
afford
to lose,
taking
food out
of your
children's
mouths
and
clothes
off
their
backs.
Instead
of being
home in
bed or
in front
of the
TV., you
were
participating
in
illegal
activity,
whether
you were
driving
or not.
If these
people
are
really
that
good,
let them
go to
the
track,
pay
their
entry
fee, and
be a
hell of
a lot
safer
than in
the
middle
of a
public
highway.
But, you
know why
they
won't go
to the
track?
Because
they'd
have
rules
they'd
have to
follow.
That's
not what
they're
about.
They
sent
that
message
loud and
clear
already.
BJJ
(I do
not want
my name
published.
I live
entirely
too
close to
where
this
stuff
goes on.
)
Reader
Feedback:
I
am amazed by
the people
and families
that are
looking for
answers as
to why this
happened. I
have the
answers:
1) Crowds
gathered in
the middle
of a
highway. 2)
Crowds were
there
illegally
watching
illegal
racing. 3)
Cars started
race and the
crowd
illegally
stayed in
the middle
of the road.
The crowd is
hit by the
true victim
here, the
person
driving a
car going
home or to
work and now
for the rest
of his/her
life has to
live with
the fact
he/she took
8 lives.
That's the
tragedy
here! Why do
the families
in these
events look
to blame
someone
instead of
taking
responsibility
and saying
they were
wrong for
being there?
Never has
made sense
and never
will.
TTM
Reader Feedback:
After listening to
many discussions
throughout the
weekend (from many
friends and family
members of the
deceased) regarding
the devastation that
occurred this
weekend on 210…..I
wonder; why is
everyone so quick to
say the police
aren't doing their
job. I'm so sick of
hearing that the
police need to do
more.
The race
participants and the
spectators were
there to watch a
race (of their own
free will)…..at
3am……..some with
small children……some
spectators over 60
years old…….I ask
you what is wrong
with this
picture?….and what
do the police have
to do with this?
People need to stop
looking for someone
to blame, and take a
long look in the
mirror.
Anyone who was there
in the middle of the
night to
participate/watch
this race is dead
wrong !!!!!!!! It
is a horrible
tragedy all the way
around; not to
mention illegal.
The police have a
hard job to do, not
to mention trying to
tip toe around a
lawsuit everytime
that they make an
arrest.
If the police were
sitting on the side
of the road trying
to keep a race from
happening or waiting
for a race to start.
Then people would call that entrapment.
Again, the police
would be blamed.
I wouldn't be a
police officer in
Southern Maryland
right now for a six
figure salary.
And I know they don't make 6 figures.
My God, what are we
teaching our
children?
This all makes me
sick to my stomach.
Kim
Reader Feedback:
You cannot
charge someone with be
an accessory to a crime
unless there is an overt
act. That means that
the spectator must have
had made a clearly
definable act to assist
in the running of the
race. It does not seem
that it happened here.
Jack T.
Reader Feedback
Is
it possible for your
newspaper to keep the name
calling of victims to a
minimum. I can only assume
that you are all human at
some level, show some
compassion for the
families. Have any of you
printing this paper ever
lost someone tragically?
Did you enjoy reading about
how your loved one was an
idiot redneck? I’m curious
actually, to know exactly
who will be reporting when
your sons or daughters are
involved in something they
shouldn’t have been. At one
point I tried to see past
the name calling in your
writings, I tried to
understand that within a
story was just a stark
opinion but a story none the
less. I now know that this
publication contains trash,
you are truly heartless. I
will no longer acknowledge
this print. Anita Austin
(Editor's Note:
No one
who participates in illegal
street racing either as a
spectator or driver can be
called a victim. The ones
who should think of the
families of those who died
are those who were standing
in the highway. When one
stands on a dark highway,
one is only a target.)
Reader Feedback
On your reporting on
incidents around the areas
that you serve it seems that
you have no feelings for
families or others who are
out there, so let me let you
in on something. When it
happens you or one of your
family members one day I
hope you will be able to
call them a moron or a idiot
or something worse cause
everybody on this earth is
not perfect like you. I
first want it to be known if
someone ever kicks your ass
I hope you won't be able to
dial 911 due to the things
that you have written about
emergency personal in the
Southern Maryland area, so
if I were you I would enroll
in the first EMT class so
you can do first aid on
yourself. Now for your
article on the incident in
Accokeek you should
personally give each and
every family member involved
an apology for your
comments........ but a
person likes you can only
hide behind his computer and
newspaper. I think your
parents are morons for
raising child that makes
comments before having all
the facts. My opinion of you
is that you are un American,
a racist and you have no
morals. As they say "WHAT
COMES AROUND GOES AROUND".
I'm pretty sure that you was
picked on as a kid and now
you have a shield to hide
behind. Why don't you see
someone for some help
because you're a sick
individual and you need to
seek help before someone
takes some type of action on
you. Reporting news is one
thing but to make fun of
someone who has been killed
or families that have been
killed is wrong. I will make
it a point that one of the
families get's a copy of
your article and hopefully
make contact with you and
let you explain your
feelings to them........ oh
my mistake a racist has no
feelings. Why don't you
stick to reporting and
layoff the insults and maybe
your sales will rise.
HOTFOOTD@aol.com
(Editor's Note:
Okay, you win. Go stand in
the middle of any dark
highway anytime you please.
Perhaps you can be awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize for
Illegal Street Racing)
Reader Feedback
These
people were contributing
to a crime that killed 8
people. They should
definitely be charged
with some type of
criminal behavior.
ESPECIALLY the people
that had their children
there. They should be
charged with child
endangerment.
Kim
Read these viewer
comments from ABC 7
The police don't get
it...races continue all the
time, the morons who
speed and watch the races
don't get, but the public
sure does
Read
these comments sent to NBC 4
Read view comments to
WUSA 9
2005: Maryland
State Trooper Mark McLean
hands a ticket worth $523
for speeding, complete with
5 points on his drivers
license to Robert Edward
Bradock, of Hollywood, with
another ticket for drag
racing for $275 and another
5 points for drag racing to
this screwball operating
this Mustang with the
letters "Masked Bandit"
emblazoned across his back
window. His tag number is
also visible, in case this
idiot is an employee of your
firm, operates a company
vehicle or is a member of
your family. Drag racers
frequently run other
motorists off the road and
hit other vehicles head-on.
ST. MARY'S TODAY photo
Lock 'em up and take the
cars
