Illegal Drag Race Kills Eight

[ashfire]

This happen in my county in a neighboring fire company's area at 3 AM this morning. This was not a bunch of kids that were involved. There were children and parents and grandparents involved standing on the side of highway watching two cars burnout side by side.
The cars took off leaving the crowd in the thick smoke. The crowd then stepped out into the roadway.
A car came up from behind running into the crowd. Bodies were thrown or drug over a hundred feet or more. Clothing and body parts were were left in the trail.
A tractor trailer cameup and had also struck one of the bodies.
One body was thrown into the inside of striking car.
This has made it to national news today.
I can remember the number of accidents this highway has had over the years and also know of the many drag races that have taken place on this highway.
This highway runs North and South from Washington DC to Indian Head Navy Base in Charles County, Maryland.
I don't know if I can feel sorry for those that did such a stupid act and endanger their own family members to something so dangerous.
I think of the carnage and grief and counseling that the families and rescue workers will have to go through after viewing this.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080217/ap_on_re_us/drag_racing_deaths

[ashfire]

The names of the dead are now being released by the media and the roadside memorials have been placed.
The two drivers involved in the race have not come forward or been caught by the police.
Info on the driver that struck the people is that he is due in court for suspension of their driver license from another time. The states attorney wants more of those who were there to come forward and tell their side of the story. They 300 people were there.
One of the local news stations has video of the race that was provided by someone there. The media interviewed one of the first EMS personnel to arrive and what they experienced when they got there.
The one said when they arrived there was no yelling or screaming just silence.
Everyone on the rescue teams have been contacted for counseling to prevent problems for them.
They say it will take months for all of the info to come out.
The people complain that the police have been called many times when races have taken place.
So many things have been said so far and shown since this has taken place.

[termyt]

I'm stunned. Participating in an illegal street race is a fairly stupid thing to do, but I can only imagine what posessed them to walk out onto a smoke-filled public highway after the cars took off.