Please pardon this slight editorial and rant, but this question is actually being asked in certain legal circles. So far I’ve seen two separate articles on the subject; one via IBTimes NY, and the other via a site called Today’s News. While I’m loath to send either site traffic, I’ve linked to them at the bottom of this article so you can read for yourself.
The Facts as They Have Been Reported
This story has been all over the web, but in case you’ve missed it here are the known “facts”:
- Dunn tweeted a picture of himself and his friends drinking at a bar just prior to the crash.
- Dunn’s blood alcohol content was reportedly .0192. That’s more than twice the legal limit.
- Dunn was driving his 2007 Porsche GT3 at speeds in excess of 130 mph while legally drunk.
- Dunn lost control or missed a turn and his Porsche crashed through a guardrail, flying 40 yard before crashing into a tree and bursting into flames killing both Dunn and his passenger.
What is Happening to Personal Responsibility in This Country?
Looking at what we know about the circumstances, and legal precedent aside, why would anyone even suggest that Porsche might be responsible? In my opinion, one of the articles seems to be little more than an attempt at publicity and search engine optimization manipulation (look at the words used to link to the attorney’s website), while the other is just outright foolish. In fact, it seems to suggest that Porsche should have anticipated someone driving drunk, at close to 140 mph and crashing head-on into a tree and designed systems to keep them safe. At least the bar he was drinking at has already been cleared.
What happened to Ryan Dunn is tragic; even more so in that it was probably preventable. At this point, let’s stop trying to place blame and point fingers, especially at Porsche. What would they be sued for, making a sports car that goes too fast? There is only one person to blame in this horrible accident and he’s already payed the ultimate price. Let the story rest and let friends and family grieve.
[Factual Sources: IBTimes NY and Today’s News, Photo Source: dailymail.co.uk]
