Fatal crash's trio of license lapses

All three drivers involved in the crash that left four Santa Fe teenagers dead late last month were technically violating the terms of their driver's licenses at the time, Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano said Thursday.

[Daniel]

I hope Scott Owens gets life in prison for what he did. Driving drunk is inexcusable.

As far as Avree Kaufman and Taylor Johnson as a lesson to teen drivers, I believe they should also be cited for what they did. Violating the conditions of a provisional license is still a crime. Granted it is a minor crime compared to what Scott Owens did....but nonetheless the teens broke the law too.

I think they should be fined $100 each and be given driving points on their license. They should also be required to attend drivers school and refresh their memory on what a "provisional" license means.

[SF Comment]

Where are the parents of the teenagers? Don't they set a curfew time on their teens? I think the authorities should make these teenagers the example. This entire accident could have been avoided completely!

[Jerry]

You late night jerks are stupid. Keep on talking like critics from the comfort of your computer chair. Bunch of judgemental losers with nothing better to do. Its unbelievable that you'd pat yourself on the back through actual pain and suffering to voice your 5 second rant which is utter nonsense and then have the balls to act like anyone cares. You people are pathetic little am critics that don't matter to anyone including yourself. Without a computer NO one would ever hear a word you say you pitifull trolls.

[E Z does it]

OK Judge Jerry (or is it Judy?) what's the difference between "late night" or "early" morning? Sounds like you care...or you wouldn't have responded and only 3-5 minutes from the previous two posts...chill dude...everyone is entitled to an opinion whether or not YOU think they or their opinions matter. Sounds like you got the hate going on. Don't spread it...kill it! that's the right thing to do.....

[Pecos]

(Jerry) I believe you need mental evaluation, you are way off the subject. I am a parent of a fourteen yr. old and there is such a thing as curfew. Kid's do not need to be out that late trailing along to a party as well that is totally WRONG... Yes, Mr. Owens was drunk that is wrong too but you know he well answer one way or another for the lifes that were taken. The answer to this is they were both at fault..............

[Geeze]

Jerry wrote:

I would also wager that none of you lil biatches have kids!! You're just late nite hit and run punks and your opinion don't mean squat!!!! Go kill yourself! Do the right thing!

The fact that you might have kids is a really frightening thought.

[gal]

why why cant you people let this rest. fact of the matter is that a man who was drunk killed 4 teens who had their whole lives ahead of them. tell me, when you all were that age you did not brake a curfew. OR DID YOU LIVE IN A BUBBLE. Stop pointing fingers, and maybe put your empty heads together to resolve this issue that is in the shawdows, and when it does appear it is deadly......

[Doinky]

Everyone shares some of the responsibility for what happened. The provisional license is supposed to protect kids against this kind of thing.

Hint to parents: TAKE AWAY KEYS, PLEASE

Hint to Everyone: YOU DRINK, You drive WE LOSE

[Safeco]

It sounds like the parents are going to have car insurance problems with this new evidence. The parents are just as guilty as Owens. So much for having sympathy for those hurt/killed in the accident.

[But everyone is always]

a victim. No one takes responsibility. It's always someone else's fault. There is no way I will blame a 15-year old, but the parent/guardian of a 15-year old, of course.

[Dogwatch]

The problem with a story like this is that it's hard to acknowledge the periphery issues without sounding like an insensitive toad.

We all agree that what happened here was a tragedy. But we must also agree that driver's who are drunk, as well as most teens--particularly at night--are disasters waiting to happen on the road.

Whenever someone uses the word 'parents' when resonding to this story, the wrath of the Internet police come down. In truth, though, this story is a wake-up call for all parents of teens with driver's licenses and cars.

Since statistics show that upwards of 50% of adults on the road are at least slightly intoxicated after 10:00 PM, few kids, if any, should be out driving. And yes, parents need to know the laws regarding licenses, number/ages of passengers allowed , etc.

[Joonie B Jones]

Typical El Dorado area rich kids. Mom and Dad don't care how late they stay out at night. Mom and Dad don't care if their kids licenses are provisional, and that they are in a 'party train' of cars on their way to a party at 1 in the morning. You really think these kids were on their way to a party where one of their parents was going to supervise it and the only thing that was going to happen was some dancing, listening to music and drinking soda? Maybe some spin the bottle!! These kids parents share some of the responsibility.

[advocate for curfews]

to "everyone is a victim"... you can't blame a 15 yr old? a 15 yr old that is out at 1 a.m., that is driving, that is out planting flowers at 3 in am... you mean to tell me a 15 yr old doesn’t know better and doesn't have a grasp on rules and regulations, oh, I forgot, they still drink their milk out of a sippy cup.... c'mon now; they're just as responsible for disobeying the law as is their parents.

[give it]

Joonie B Jones wrote:

Typical El Dorado area rich kids. Mom and Dad don't care how late they stay out at night. Mom and Dad don't care if their kids licenses are provisional, and that they are in a 'party train' of cars on their way to a party at 1 in the morning. You really think these kids were on their way to a party where one of their parents was going to supervise it and the only thing that was going to happen was some dancing, listening to music and drinking soda? Maybe some spin the bottle!! These kids parents share some of the responsibility.

up this has been hashed out before.

[You need]

Daniel wrote:

I hope Scott Owens gets life in prison for what he did. Driving drunk is inexcusable.
As far as Avree Kaufman and Taylor Johnson as a lesson to teen drivers, I believe they should also be cited for what they did. Violating the conditions of a provisional license is still a crime. Granted it is a minor crime compared to what Scott Owens did....but nonetheless the teens broke the law too.
I think they should be fined $100 each and be given driving points on their license. They should also be required to attend drivers school and refresh their memory on what a "provisional" license means.

to come back to the real world.

The penalty for homicide by vehicle is 6 years per offense, which one might think means 24 years.

The time will probably be run concurrently, which means 6 years total, half off for good behavior.

It will take three years for this case to resolve, at which time Owens will be sentenced to time served and be released.

[you consider]

Joonie B Jones wrote:

Typical El Dorado area rich kids. Mom and Dad don't care how late they stay out at night. Mom and Dad don't care if their kids licenses are provisional, and that they are in a 'party train' of cars on their way to a party at 1 in the morning. You really think these kids were on their way to a party where one of their parents was going to supervise it and the only thing that was going to happen was some dancing, listening to music and drinking soda? Maybe some spin the bottle!! These kids parents share some of the responsibility.

Eldorado a rich area? And why do you care?

[Doesnt matter]

what those kids were headed out to El Dorado to do - they hadn't done it yet. That doesn't make them any different from most teenagers, now or in years past. Some of their parents might not have even known what they were up to. That being said, the provisional license exists for the reason. Teenagers (heck, lots of adults!) don't have the driving skills or experience to handle adverse situations. Keeping them off of the road at more dangerous times helps to let them live long enough to get experience. Also, they need better driver's education. For example, I bet nobody ever told Avree when faced with an oncoming carin your lane,_always_ swerve to the right, even if there's a stationary object in the way - better than hitting the approaching car.

[no we have]

Jerry wrote:

I would also wager that none of you lil biatches have kids!! You're just late nite hit and run punks and your opinion don't mean squat!!!! Go kill yourself! Do the right thing!

have kids. We make sure they follow their provisions so that we will still have kids.

[Lucia Valdez]

TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, WHAT PURPOSE DOES THAT SERVE? There has already been enough damage. Where is the Sheriff's Department patroling? I work in Eldorado regularily and have NEVER seen a patrol unit there (in 5 years). I travel in an out of Rancho Viejo, have NEVER seen a patrol unit there. I know Santa Fe is a large county, but locally they are only visible on Airport Road, and then you see them in droves. Knowing that the Old Las Vegas Highway is so dangerous why is there not a patrol unit in that area? Where are you Greg?

[dpb]

You judgmental fools are something to see. Drunken idiots such as Owens are to blame for these actions, not the children. Yes, they should have used better sense; however, a lapse in good sense doesn't make them at fault. The entire fault lies with the drunken fool -- apparently some of you are just as foolish and probably just as drunk a good deal of the time.