Truck crash in my yard

[Kiwi Phil]

2 hrs back...screech-thump, and this is what we found at our front gate.
Kid (20 y/o apprentice) was ok, thank god, but really worried when I told him I was calling the cops.
Stunk of booze.
Tried to talk me out of it.

Uncle tried (on phone) to get me to cancel the cops...."we will fix everything up tomorrow, no worries, we keep everything in the family". I hung up.

Cops turn up,he blows in the bag....over the limit!! and away they go.

Parents turn up. Father is a good guy, Mother frantic going on about how it has ruined him and is my fault.

Hour later Father and 2 uncles come to collect truck.
Father is good. Others want to get into me for ruining the kids life etc etc.
Stood my ground.
Had 6 smashes in street in past 3 years (come around top corner and race down hill with curve in it...and loose it) Someone is going to get killed one day.
Father seemed to understand....others didn't.

Anyway, got the truck out with another (F350), but it don't sound good. I reckon it's hurt bad. Gearbox..diff...

Sitting on Anita's prize pony-tail palm, 6' across the base, beautiful specimen....absolutely....or was....trunk was maybe 2' thru, and it was only 9' tall. It is turned over, trunk clean broken off. She has nursed it for 18yrs!!

The running board at least 5' off the ground....maybe more.

Not an issue, only a plant.

Kids ok and no one else hurt, so guess we have to keep our mind on what is really important.

Oh, I have zero tolerance for drivers who drink. They kill people.
Cheers
Phillip

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

You did the right thing Phil

 

[j_martin]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

I distinctly remember, as a 17 year old, sitting in court when the judge pronounced "I think you need to walk for awhile" and my dad replied, "I think you're right."

If you mollycoddle the kid, he'll keep mis-behaving. If he pays for his misdeeds, it'll encourage him to change his ways. Funny how that works.

You, Phil, are the one that's doing the kid a favor. It would help further if you made him pay for the damage. If it works out, you could arrange for him to help personally, like perhaps helping with the gardening, and develop a relationship that nurtures him a bit.

Or am I stuck in the 60's?

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

....beautiful specimen....absolutely....or was.... She has nursed it for 18yrs!!...
Not an issue, only a plant.

Next time it might not be only a plant...

 

[dlindeblad]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

Pretty sure you did not ruin his life Phil. He made that decision on his own when he did not have a designated driver. It really pees me off the way people these days have to blame their own misdeeds on someone else.

BTW Italy now has a zero tolerance for anyone 21 and younger for breathalyzer and .05 for those above.

 

[98Shabah]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

I think you did the right thing.

Last summer the wife and I were inside having lunch with the kids, I hear a loud thump, and less than a minute later I hear the neighbor across the street fire up his motorcycle and blast off.. I look out the front window and the neighbor's mailbox is laying in his yard. The neighbors wife is outside and tells me someone just ran over their mailbox and kept driving, her husband went after him.

I hopped in my car and went to investigate, it turns out it was a drunk neighbor who lives just a few houses up the street, he was on his way home from a bar and ran down the neighbor's mailbox while the neighbor was in his driveway washing his motorcycle.

This is a residential street with a 20mph speed limit, and TONS of young families with kids, us included. After running down the mailbox, this guy had quickly pulled into the garage and closed the garage door. The neighbor and I beat on his garage door for a few minutes until he finally got the message and came outside. We should have called the police, but instead he got an ***** chewing and paid for a new mailbox.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

All i can say is GOOD For you Phil! You did the right thing!
Shame on the kid's family for blaming anything on you!

I feel sorry for the tree...

 

[dolluper]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

You didn't wreak his life you did him a favor..before he killed himself or someone else...but hang on we don't know maybe you did wreak his life ...you poured the drinks and forced them down his thoat then you are bad making him destroy your lawn on the way home and making him drive bad bad LOL'S

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

You did the right thing. Drinking and Driving is illegal for a good reaosn. I love how people don't want to accept the responsibility...espeically parents these days. The mom knew damn well her kid was to blame but than she turns the anger she has towards her son at you and try to make you feel blame, shame and guilt. Lock the mom up for being a "contributing factor".

 

[JB]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

His Mom's behavior (and the Uncles, too) offers a strong clue as to why he might have felt free to drive drunk. "Whatever happens is someone else's fault."

 

[badkins50]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

You did the right thing. Drinking and Driving is illegal for a good reaosn. I love how people don't want to accept the responsibility...espeically parents these days. The mom knew damn well her kid was to blame but than she turns the anger she has towards her son at you and try to make you feel blame, shame and guilt. Lock the mom up for being a "contributing factor".

+1, suffer the consequences. As for the mom, she will be the one on the news crying saying "he was such a great kid that never did anything wrong" after he has killed an innosent person or family.

drinking is ok, if it is your thing - JUST DO IT AT HOME or get a taxi.

 

[rbh]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

1 is pizz poor judgement for a young man, 6 - it is time for an attitude adjustment.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

May not be the first time this happened to him. Maybe this time he actually goes to jail.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

Phil,

You did the right thing, maybe he will learn his lesson. Parents/ family getting nasty with you? Hmmmm, gotta say that would ruffle my feathers.

It sounds like the dad is the one with the cool head, and would be the person to keep in touch with regarding the restoration of your property.

Hopefully the palm gets replaced, and your yard cleaned up.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

You did what I would have done, Phil. Kudos to you. The kid needs to learn a lesson before he REALLY messes up his life and others, also.

 

[skargo]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

You absolutely did the right thing.
The mother and uncle are enablers, they are the true authors of this kid's life's ruination.

 

[stic88]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

sounds like the dad has had enough of his sons antics, hopefully the young one learns from this and glad to hear he didnt end up in your house and what a shame about the tree. 18 years taking care of anything and you will be attatched to the thing.

 

[muskyone]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

sounds like he called his uncle and not his dad.
hmmmm say me whats up with that

 

[Beefer]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

I don't think you did the right thing. I KNOW you did the right thing.

Drinking and driving with an accident at that age should result in a minimum 5 yr suspension of the DL. Personally, I think a little more jail time (other than his overnight) wouldn't hurt.

That's just me, though....

 

[JustJason]

Re: Truck crash in my yard

You definitely did the right thing Phil. I got a DWI 5 years ago. Really was the best thing that ever happened to me. Straightened my arse right out.