Two Suspected Drunk Drivers Crash Into, Kill Franklin County Ma...

Last Thursday night in Franklin County, two suspected drunk drivers, one a teenager, crash into a third car killing the driver.

[Its Time to stop]

Its time to put a stop to this. All I hear is people getting off on all the charges DWI,DUI,ect. How many innocent people have to lose their lives before we make a change. I am sick of all the people getting off, driving again, and again. If you want to be a drunk, stay home. Drink until you pass out. Stay out of cars.
Stop killing innocent people and ruin family lives.

[janeqcitizen]

To the Prater Family-my sincere condolences-you are my family several years ago (killer was also 17 yr). We learned alot at a very vulnerable time. PLEASE get your own lawyer to represent YOUR rights. Family & friends want to help-there's plenty to do! Every time one of thses drunks is in a courtroom-someone who represents your family-BE THERE-get your lawyer there. Sue them to the MAX! If these jerks go to jail-get on a Victim Notification program-be notified for EVERY parole hearing, be there, too & keep them in prison the MAX. No expungement of record. You may want to forgive-in the future-AFTER they've served their time-keep them from killing again. GET with MADD-they are truly expert professionals at what you're going thru. We victims are "the other guys"-our hearts go out to you. Mike is very proud of you...

[An insider]

Just another day in Franklin County.

[victim]

guess it takes publicity to get somewhere in franklin co. i also was hit by a drunk driver in january, no charges have been filed yet.

[Tom]

The first post nailed it. We have all heard about people getting MULTIPLE DWI convictions only to do it again. There are no serious consequences to driving drunk. The laws need to be toughened up and no more plea bargaining. 1st offense, lose your license for 1 year. 2nd offense, go to jail. That might make people think twice about getting behind the wheel drunk.

[unknown]

In any manslaughte/wrongful death case you have to speak up loud and clear. If you know a few thousand people (I'm sure there is enough madd supporters) you need to contact a news crew, protest, or shut down the roads in franklin county and speak out. Contact political parties on every level (ie your state rep.). Make a big deal out of what is truely a big deal. Emotions are high as they should be, let the public hear the heart wrenching story. There are pleanty of good sober people who will support this cause. New laws need to be past at every level. Especially for repeat offenders. I'm sorry to say, but soceity has set poor examples for these teens. Punishments aren't strong enough for first offenders, second, third, or more!

[tragedy]

What a shame that this 17 year old has ruined so many lives, including her own, by making such a bad choice. I do not understand why the state feels that a 15 year old child is responsible enough to be given a permit to drive a potentially dangerous piece of equipment. As for the 36 year old, obviously he has proven several times that he should never be allowed to operate a vehicle again.

[D Man]

I will pray for this mans family. And they should take it as far as they can go, these people need to be in jail period. Why does it seem to me that the goody two shoes are more worried about us smoking than taking these (Dirty word's) off the road so they don't kill people. You are in my prayers!

[mee]

my EX-husband is one of these repeat offenders. A slap is all he ever gets. He has 3 or 4. STOP SLAPPING and start putting these people in jail!

[mee]

in fact he is in court today! we will see what happens.

[Milkman 573]

When is Missouri going to stop talking about doing something about drunk drivers and get serious about it. How many times has a police officer seen him driving and not done anything about it. You can bet if it was some politicians son all H---- would break loose. We have the laws but the JUDGES AND PROSECUTERS let them off. They should throw them in jail for doing it.

[SikUvTheRiteAgai n]

I saw this story as reported on Fox last night - only Fox turned it into "being hit by TWO drunk drivers".

It is obvious here that ONE car went over the center line, probably the drunken teenager's Pontiac. After the impact, the victim's car went spinning and was hit by the following "drunk driver". Sounds like bad luck for the second drunk driver. I fail to see how he contributed to this tradgedy. Would a sober, enlightened MADD member been able to swerve out of the way any quicker with a wrecked car spinning wildly out of control in front of them?

The second driver is why DWI deaths get exaggerated. He had nothing to do with this wreck - he himself is a victim. He had priors, he was on administrative suspension, yada yada - what we DON'T know is what ARE his priors? Just .08 twice at DWI roadblocks? Sorry, that doesn't justify being down on him so much. Now, was he regularly .30 and had three wrecks - maybe! But we don't know, do we? The EXTENT of DWI is not important (as it should be), just that he got a couple of DWI's - end of story. Well, maybe he shouldn't have gotten those, either, if he just had two beers and caused no other problems.

Will this count as TWO drunk drivers causing an accident, for the purpose of MADD's inflated statistics they use regularly? BS - this is ONE driver causing this.

Now, as for the 17-year-old drinking and crossing a center line killing somebody - HERE is a case where MADD should come down hard. This person should lose their license for LIFE - with jail time. But hardly ever happens. MADD's more concerned about prohibition and lowering the limit to .05 than it is worried about PROBLEM drinkers like this person is turning out to be.

Of course, I guess nobody is REALLY sure who actually crossed the center line, either, are we? I HOPE they are sure. It would be a shame to blame this teenager if Mr. Squeaky Clean American actually crossed the center line while texting investment info to his broker or blabbing on the cell phone. But it's happened before - the drinker gets blamed BECAUSE of the drinking, not based on causal factors. I've documented several cases. Hope that's not the case here - I am confident the State Patrol will stick to the facts of the wreck, disregarding moral issues.

Either way, rather than picking on the 36-year-old male (as usual), place the blame where it should be: The teenage alcoholic.

[BadaBing NJ]

An Insider wrote:Just another day in Franklin County.
Unfortunately not, this is happening wat to often all over the country. Something needs to be done !

[tonya]

victim wrote:

guess it takes publicity to get somewhere in franklin co. i also was hit by a drunk driver in january, no charges have been filed yet.

SHAME on you for saying that about Franklin County. I live here, and it is a wonderful plce to live. Just because there are some bad seeds around here dosn't mean anything. Anywhere you go there are bad people. I hope you phrase your words better next time. There are peopl dying every day from drunk drivers, not just around here either OBVIOUSLY! Don't leave comments if you don't know what you're talking about. You are not even from Missouri!

[justme]

its a tragedy for ALL families involved. i pray for ALL the families involved. the loss of a son/father/brother/uncle and to the parents of the teenaged girl. I can not imagine how they are feeling enduring the feelings of the horrible decision their daughter chose.
and to the person whom made a comment about franklin county. this NEVER happens in Florida, right? Maybe not because theres to many baby killers on the loose down there!!!

[Prayrs to theFamily]

As Far as the sencond Driver being a victem is so wrong from the truth. He may not of been able to swerve out of the way to avoid Mike but he shouldn't of been on the road anyway, He didn't have the correct lincese. He lost that priveledge along time ago, they have stated that he was coming from a bar now at 10:30 at night he was not the most sobber one on the road. Now for the 17 year old girl she has messed up the rest of her life. Yes if she haddn't of hit mike first the 2nd driver would not of hit him head on. The facts are the facts and now mike isn't with us anymore. Im sure the prater family will do everything they can to honor Mike and his memory. Our thoughts go out to his Family and 2 loving children.

[msfins]

SikUvTheRiteAgain:

I cannot believe your comments - the 36 year old driver is a victim!!!! Get real. The very fact that he was at that spot at that time makes him just as guilty as the other drunk driver. He was driving illegally - on two counts - being under the influence and driving with a restricted license. Even if he had been completely sober, he would still be guilty. There is a point of law that states something to the effect - "if not for the fact of - " In other words, had he been breaking the law by driving against his restricted license, his vehicle would NOT have been in that location at that time. Therefore, the second crash would not have occurred - with that pickup. And is there a chance that if the poor guy had not been hit a second time he might have lived?

Your other point that what if it was a MADD member driving. You are correct, they might have been involved, however, there is also the chance that a sober driver would have been able to react enough to at least lessen the impact.

You said that what if it was the guy that crossed the center line - again - unless he was doing something illegal at the time, it would still have been the 17 year old's fault for the first wreck - as the same principals apply to the 17 year old driver. If she had not been there by driving illegally, the accident would not have happened.

On another point, taking away someone's driver's license will not make them stop driving - this case proves that point already. If somebody wants to drive, they will drive regardless of whether or not they have a valid license. Don't let them own a car - they will talk somebody into loaning them one. Jail time or high fines might work - I don't know.

[BA Bob]

Hmmm...one wonders if these drivers will be punished? Missouri is not known for taking DWI seriously. Franklin County prosecutors have a golden opportunity to stand up for the man who was killed, his family and all Missourians. I just returned from the DWI Summit called by Governor Nixon...lets hope these two are held accountable. May God bless this man's family.

[Milkman 573]

Anyone who wants to uphold a drunk driver need to go look in the mirror at them selves. Either that or they to drive drunk and are trying to make it OK. What if someone in their family had been killed. BOY, it would have been a different story then.

[franklin county citizen]

i live in franklin county and i know this 17 year old very well... she has been given plenty of opportunites to change her ways but she never will... maybe this will do it but she got plenty of priors for way too many things including getting arrested for being in a bar not even like 4 months ago... I hope she finally learns her lesson but unfortunately is coming at the price of an innocent man's life.. may God rest his soul and also find a suitable punishment for her!