Crash kills 4-year-old, injures 2

A highly regarded Soledad clinic doctor suffered major injuries and her 4-year-old son died Sunday when their car was hit by a truck driven by a San Luis Obispo man who was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

[So here it is]

Here's the thing. This article is calling this woman a saint. Ok, I have a problem with that. This man whoe caused the accident undoubtedly should not have been driving drunk, but the assume that he is completely at fault without completing the invetigation is simply unfair. This woman was for some god only knows reason stopped in the slow lane for god sakes. So, there are MANY details that are left untold at this point.
Is it tragic, absolutely. But to paint this chick as a MODEL CITIZEN..."worked with mother Theresa" COME ON! This is entirely unfair to the other parties of this accident. And that's what it is - an accident. It's not like this man pursposely ran them down.
So, let's just CALM down and stop praising these people. Do they need our prayers and love right now absolutely, but don't act like they are above and beyond the rest of us just because they were involved in the church.

[So here it is]

Sorry about the typos, I know it's annoying to read, my fingers can't keep up sometimes. :)

[David Balch]

My wife was stopped in the right lane because THERE WAS A RED LIGHT. Before you write so flippantly about my wife, who is in the ICU, and my four year old, who is in the coroner's office, please get all of the facts.

[Friend]

So here it is wrote:

Here's the thing. This article is calling this woman a saint. Ok, I have a problem with that. This man whoe caused the accident undoubtedly should not have been driving drunk, but the assume that he is completely at fault without completing the invetigation is simply unfair. This woman was for some god only knows reason stopped in the slow lane for god sakes. So, there are MANY details that are left untold at this point.
Is it tragic, absolutely. But to paint this chick as a MODEL CITIZEN..."worked with mother Theresa" COME ON! This is entirely unfair to the other parties of this accident. And that's what it is - an accident. It's not like this man pursposely ran them down.
So, let's just CALM down and stop praising these people. Do they need our prayers and love right now absolutely, but don't act like they are above and beyond the rest of us just because they were involved in the church.

What the paper doesn't indicate is that she was stopped at a RED LIGHT on River Road and Las Palmas Parkway. Hold your criticism until you know the full story.

How insensitive can you be, Seriously?

[So here it is]

I am very sorry for your loss. I am terribly sorry for everyone involved here. This is an extreme tragedy, no child or family should ever have to experience. I understand what your saying, It was arrogant to write these things without truly knowing. I feel for everyone involved here. Even Dion.

[So here it is]

Friend wrote:

<quoted text>
What the paper doesn't indicate is that she was stopped at a RED LIGHT on River Road and Las Palmas Parkway. Hold your criticism until you know the full story.
How insensitive can you be, Seriously?

It was insensitive and I am very sorry. It really hit home to how they were trying to make the man out to be such a horrible person. I feel for all of them and became defensive.

[Best Wishes to Family]

What a tragedy for the family and the entire community. I wish the family well. I, also, was confused as to why she was stopped in the road for no apparent reason, though. It goes to show that just because you read it in the paper doesn't mean you know the whole story. What a key point for the paper to omit.

[Las Palmas mom]

My heart aches for this family and my prayers are with them. It sounds like they are good people and deserve all the props people give them. Very few people give their time and talent so selflessly to others and it is so sad to hear about tragedy especially when it happens to good people. Losing a child is the worst thing that could ever happen and I hope this loser pays for his irresponsibility that cost an innocent child his life and destroyed a family. I'm so sorry for your loss Mr. and Dr. Balch and I will pray for you that you will find strength and healing and forgiveness.

[Frank]

You really should be very ashamed of yourself. For one, you obviously have no respect for others in their time of tragedy and grief, and you do not respect God, as demonstrated by your use of His name in vain, and not capitalizing his name when you spelled it out. As for the suspect in this case, he was drunk! If a vehicle is stopped in the road for whatever reason i.e. mechanical reasons, etc. a sober responsible driver would know to have slowed down because they would have their attention on the road ahead and properly have gauged the circumstances. You're a piece of work buddy!

So here it is wrote:

Here's the thing. This article is calling this woman a saint. Ok, I have a problem with that. This man whoe caused the accident undoubtedly should not have been driving drunk, but the assume that he is completely at fault without completing the invetigation is simply unfair. This woman was for some god only knows reason stopped in the slow lane for god sakes. So, there are MANY details that are left untold at this point.
Is it tragic, absolutely. But to paint this chick as a MODEL CITIZEN..."worked with mother Theresa" COME ON! This is entirely unfair to the other parties of this accident. And that's what it is - an accident. It's not like this man pursposely ran them down.
So, let's just CALM down and stop praising these people. Do they need our prayers and love right now absolutely, but don't act like they are above and beyond the rest of us just because they were involved in the church.

[Thomas Gowing]

What is with this Gussner guy being able to post a bond to get out of jail. Make the bail so high he can not get out. Now he is out drinking and driving.
Where is the courts responsiblity to the community it is to serve and protect.

[Anti-Lynch Mob]

Thomas Gowing wrote:

What is with this Gussner guy being able to post a bond to get out of jail. Make the bail so high he can not get out. Now he is out drinking and driving.
Where is the courts responsiblity to the community it is to serve and protect.

The law has to be followed, otherwise we would just be a lynch mob society. He'll have his day in court. That's how the criminal justice system works.

[again]

The drunk guy gets bail because the judge deemed it highly unlikely that he will be endangering anyone else before trial.

This is bad reporting by the Herald. The original story said the victim's car was stopped in the slow lane - no mention that she was at a red light! My assumption on first reading was that the car was just halted in the midst of flowing traffic.

[Hockeypunk]

I do not know any of the people involved. Stories like this break my heart. To the Balch family- my most sincere sympathy. I cannot imagine the heartache you are going through. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

To the driver- you are also in my thoughts and prayers. I cannot imagine the pain that must be on your heart.

To everyone else- hopefully we all take home the lesson that we have to live with the consequences of our actions. Maybe we will all think about that second drink or hand off our keys to someone who has had none. Go home tonight and hug your children. They are so precious

[Moss Landing]

In the Herald article,It was written as though Dr.Balch had not survived. Did she and how is she doing if so? I am so sorry for this terrible tragedy. This man should NOT have been released. I wonder how many other DUI's he may have had. I hope it gets looked into.

[David Balch]

Thank you for all the support. In response to the last post, Christa is still in the hospital, but she is doing better. Thank you again for all your support.

[Heidi]

Really, we are going to defend someone who got arrested at the scene because a 4 yr old was killed by him. And yeh she really was that kinda person. There are many details about her that were left out and they are true. It doesn't matter if she was a maid at the Holiday Inn, someone crashed in to her family that was influenced by alcohol and it has left us all heartbroken. So play devil's advocate somewhere else please and allow us to grieve.

[Sad]

I do know him. This is horrible. Dion made a very bad choice, but that doesn't mean we should judge, that is why we have a judicial system. He is the type of person who would help your grandmother load her groceries just because he noticed she was having a hard time. Don't think for one moment that he isn't absolutely devistated by what he has done. I'm sure the time he would have and possibly will spend in jail is not even close to as how horrified he is with his actions. So, let's just let the courts deal with bail or no bail.

This is a horrible tragedy. I wish the best for this family.

[Compassion]

I'm so, so sorry for the family. This is a tragedy of the worst kind and I can only wish the best for them. But, I also have compassion for Dion. He is a good person who made a bad choice. Feeling compassion for Dion should in no way minimize the family's loss and suffering, though. There should be compassion enough for all concerned in this most tragic of circumstances.

[Marla]

Excuse me if I can't muster up enough compassion to feel sorry for a murderer. His bad choice cost a little boy his life. In my opinion, a lifetime of him being a "good guy" is erased in that instant when he decided to drink and drive. Good guys don't drink and drive and put other people in danger and kill innocent little kids!

[Sad]

Marla wrote:

Excuse me if I can't muster up enough compassion to feel sorry for a murderer. His bad choice cost a little boy his life. In my opinion, a lifetime of him being a "good guy" is erased in that instant when he decided to drink and drive. Good guys don't drink and drive and put other people in danger and kill innocent little kids!

No worries. I do compeltely understand your anger and I am angry too. This poor child and the family. No one should have to suffer through this. I in no way was incinuating that it should erase what he has done. We are all just people. This is an extremely horrible event. It's between God and Dion to deal with that. The judicial system will handle it on their end. Like one of the other posts said, let's let the family grieve.