I've been watching for the release of the CHP accident report which had been promised for last December, and it appears that report is now out but. It has been released to attorneys of family members, but can't be released to the general public except by them. An interested reader sends me a story indicating that the family is exploring a lawsuit against CalTrans:
I really hope for the sake of Laurie's reputation they don't file a suit. Once they do that CHP report will become part of the record and the information will be release, and I predict it won't be pretty. From early reports Laurie was driving alone in the carpool lane (something for which he'd been previously cited), was driving at an excessive rate of speed (something else he had been previously cited for), and was possibly using his cellphone at the time of the crash (a distraction and also a violation of State law). An attorney representing the family of a prominent Southern California pastor's son killed in a crash with a state vehicle said he will research whether to file suit against Caltrans.
Riverside attorney Ted Stream, who is representing the family of Christopher Laurie, received a copy of the California Highway Patrol report on the crash Thursday but said he had not yet fully reviewed it.
He filed a wrongful death claim against Caltrans but said he has not decided whether to file a lawsuit.
The claim had to be filed within six months to preserve the family's right to sue in the future, he said.
"We have some real concerns about how and when and where Caltrans was doing its work," he said.
Laurie, son of Harvest Christian Fellowship pastor Greg Laurie, died one year ago today after crashing into the rear truck of a Caltrans train of street-sweeping vehicles.
The California Highway Patrol said this week that Laurie was driving too fast for conditions while he traveled east in the carpool lane on Highway 91 east of Highway 71 at 9 a.m.
The dump truck was traveling at about 15 mph, according to reports at the time.
Laurie was traveling alone.
It's hard to imagine how one could place much blame on CalTrans for this accident given the fact that had Laurie obeyed either the carpool laws or speed laws (and preferably both) he probably wouldn't have been in a position to hit the CalTrans truck. When you take those kind of chances with your life, you might lose and even God himself might not decide to save your neck.
This is one of those times when I think it would be better to use this story as the cautionary tale it is, rather than try to shift blame from somebody who clearly made a series of mistakes, risked it all, and lost.
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8 comments:
It's ironic they're considering a lawsuit, given that Greg Laurie just told the Christian Post that he chose not 'to react emotionally' and to 'listen to what the Bible says about this' (unfortunate accident).
What if it had been the other way around--Christopher had lived, and the Cal Trans employee had been killed instead?
Visit the Cal Trans "Slow for the Cone Zone" campaign and see photos of workers with their children, who plead that the public "give them a brake." It's heartwrenching.
In another scenario, what if it had been a mom with three kids, driving at the speed limit, and they had been killed by the Caltrans vehicle. Since the report has not been released, why judge the victim and assume this was the full cause of the accident? The full truth needs to be weighed, and that is what I am sure the family is doing. Since Caltrans is reviewing this incident, hopefully someone's life in the future may be saved. Thankfully God offers grace and compassion as we are all sinners, and I am sure the famiy is consulting Him first as well as the attorney in their decision, whatever it might be.
What if it had been someone other than Greg Laurie's son who was speeding and hit Cal Trans? I think people wouldn't be so "protective" of the truth. I am surprised that this Christian family and their Christian attorneys would even think of suing Cal Trans. He was speeding at an excessive speed on the freeway - this wasn't the first time. Let's be glad no one was hurt by him or his family would most likely be in the middle of a lawsuit against them.
If what I am hearing about his previous traffic violations is true then the Laurie family should just leave it alone.
I grew up with Christopher Laurie and one thing I think all of his childhood friends would agree on is that he was a wild one. taking responsibility and/or respecting other peoples property wasn't ever a strong suit of his.
Granted, I knew him early on in life and by the time we graduated HS I hardly ever saw him, so in fairness I have no idea what he was like as an adult and lord knows I myself did quite a bit of growing up but this accident kind of fit the topher i grew up with. I know, hurtful to say, right? I didn't bother sharing any of my opinions after this happened with any friends etc because whats the point but now, purely by accident I come across articles indicating the family is leaving the option for lawsuit open?
ugh, that just irritates the heck out of me, take responsibility! turn it into a tool to teach young people to respect the amount of power you wield just by driving a modern car and just how easily you can end a life, whether it be your own or anothers.
even thinking about placing the blame on caltrans for operating a cleaning crew during daylight hours on a weekend with all the appropriate safety equipment is just plain infuriating.
It is good that they are suing, it is dangerous to have those cal trans vehicles out there and I too have almost crashed into them. They move along very slow and then they move slowly out of the fast lane into the other lanes on the right. In fact I am going to contact Greg Laurie to see if I can be a witness as I can attest to the idiocy of cal trans
The young man was speeding ALONE in the carpool lane, and had a history of multiple traffic violations. MULTiPLE meaning this style of driving was a habit. 18 traffic violations— and those were only the times he got caught!! What a fine example for a pastor's son to set for his peers.
CalTrans was only doing their job. If Christopher had not been breaking the law by speeding and/or driving solo in the carpool lane while (allegedly) talking on his cell phone, this tragedy could have been avoided.
How was CalTrans negligent for this? His family really has no business filing a complaint, much less a lawsuit. It will only draw attention to the hypocrisy, and cost the taxpayers money.
He recklessly and repeatedly endangered the lives of mothers with children in carpools, fathers on their way to or from work, families on vacation, and the rest of us who responsibly use those same roads.
It's sad Christopher made these terribly unChrist-like and very selfish decisions to break the law and endanger the lives of others, but praise God no one else was hurt, maimed, paralyzed or killed by his irresponsible choices or utter lack of repentance.
Although I feel sorry for the Laurie family and their loss, but they have no business faulting anyone other than Christopher for his own poor decisions and irresponsible, illegal actions. Not even CalTrans.
Taking it out on the tax payers is not right. Chris was breaking the law on at least two counts with a long history of repeatedly endangering the lives of others. CalTrans were simply doing their job. Only a money-grubbing attorney could make any more of it.
RIP Christopher. While I feel for your family's loss, YOU and you alone were responsible for what happened. Not CalTrans. Mr. Laurie's playing fast and loose with the traffic laws that impact us all was his decision. Not theirs. As to whether or not he is in heaven or hell is simply not ours to decide ...
I have seen those CalTrans workers and there should have been cones WAY before the truck that Christopher would have had to barrel through prior to reaching the truck and I have a hard time believing that was the case. If I hit a dozen cones, I'm pretty sure I would notice and slow down or move out of the lane...even if I was speeding (and I'm probably in the 2% of California drivers who actually drive the speed limit..so chances are, those of you pointing fingers, speed yourself.)
How about all of you stop assuming and wagging your fingers? How dare you decide who or what constitutes a Christian. If you think driving in the car pool lane or driving faster than one should makes someone unChristian..you might want to pick up your Bible and learn a thing or two.
How unChristian of you to say such hurtful things towards a family that is suffering.
RIP Christopher. You were loved and continue to be missed.
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