this is the one from sunday:
Street racers set a horrible example
Sunday, July 27, 2008 3:37 AM
I read the story about the family of Monica Durban suffering because of the foolish, reckless, illegal and deadly behavior of highway racing ("After street-race tragedy, victim struggles to recover," Dispatch, last Sunday). I was infuriated to read that "After (George) Staton's death, some among the Columbus performance-car community conducted a memorial 'cruise-in' and raised money for his widow and kids," and that "The Durban family never got anything from Staton's fellow auto enthusiasts -- no call, no note, no money."
Some in the "Columbus performance-car community" have their wires reversed. These people are ignorant about the responsible way to determine the performance of their vehicles. Those of us who are not arrogant and are knowledgeable about such things go to the local racetrack to test our vehicles and compete.
Those who attended the cruise-in to support Staton's actions should be ashamed of themselves, for they condone foolishness that kills and maims many people each year. They show zero consideration for anyone. They and their friends are irresponsible, ignorant, arrogant, law-breaking dangers to everyone around them. These people are horrible examples to their own children, as well as younger drivers.
TIM BALL
Powell
and the one from today:
Street-racing group should be charged
Monday, July 28, 2008 2:52 AM
I am the aunt of Monica Durban, who was severely injured a car crash on I-70. I've just read The Dispatch's story about the accident. The article said there was a street drag race "perhaps just concluded," then George Staton lost control of his car and slammed into Durban's car. Staton was killed. I am appalled at the wife of Staton, who said later of the other driver in the drag race, "That boy didn't have anything" -- ignorant, stupid, heartless words. I know that no one in my niece's immediate family will say it but I will: Where are these people's souls? Where are the rights of the victim?
I can't believe the hell my niece and her family, all these families, have gone through because some flipping moron wanted to get his "goat" and have a "kill." What has happened to this society that these people put money into a car instead of an education? That a "man" in his 30s with two children goes out and does something as mindless as racing an 18-year-old? What 18-year-old has an expensive, enhanced car that is obviously meant for racing?
I'm sickened by these families' priorities and wonder what is happening to the society in which we live. Why is no one being prosecuted?
What has happened is a tragedy, but we can stop the pain and help heal by crying out, every single one of us, and asking for the investigation to be reopened and for police to be investigated and the state to take over and make a full, complete, honest investigation.
The police want to play on the semantics of whether they were racing at the time of impact into my niece's car. The police are not the judge and jury. Ohio law says anyone assisting street racers shall be charged as a participant.
Mrs. Staton and the other driver were participants in illegal street racing and should be held responsible. Nowhere in the law does it stipulate "when in the act of racing" but rather it says that racing is a violation and people participating in racing will be held accountable for their actions.
TONYA WARNKE HUNTER
Fort Wayne, Ind.
