Teens Are at Fault in Fatal Crash

* The twists and turns in the story of Jason Rausch’s Newport Beach fatal car crash hearing match the road he drove down.

The latest twist is that somehow these kids were victims. They were not victims; they were co-conspirators. These teenagers made choices--bad choices, but their choices nonetheless.

They chose to drink and even selected a designated driver as if to appear “responsible.” Some of the parents seem to be proud that they selected a designated driver, but I’m appalled. Designated drivers are for adult consumers of alcoholic beverages, not teenage joy riders. What were these parents thinking?

These jerks could just as easily have careened head-on into my car, killing my family that night. I for one want to see the driver sent to jail for the maximum time allowable to keep him, and by example, his kind off the roads.

And if he isn’t convicted, he will certainly find an attorney to successfully sue Newport Beach for millions since he will be another acquitted “victim” of the system. Fortunately, there were two eyewitnesses who counter his specious claim that the road was wet due to a sprinkler malfunction.

There are still hard questions to be asked about this crime that seem to have been overlooked, or worse, ignored by the press and police.

For example, why haven’t the owners of the home where the original drinking took place been arrested for aiding and abetting or contributing to the delinquency of minors? Why hasn’t the liquor store that sold these minors their second round been closed? Why haven’t the drinking teenage passengers been expelled from high school?

RONALD O. DAVIES

Laguna Hills

* I am disappointed by the excessive and pandering coverage of the automobile accident involving Amanda Arthur.

Miss Arthur as “sleeping beauty” is a compelling story that has been overdone. It is now little more than the feel-good human interest story of the year.

While tragic, moreover, the news worth of the accident and ensuing lawsuits has been grossly exaggerated. What is newsworthy about litigious families attempting to lay the blame and financial burden for an accident of teenage recklessness at the foot of public agencies? Nothing, I submit.

I do not seek to diminish this tragedy. I believe, however, The Times’ credibility as a news source is suffering because of excessive coverage of this incident.

As a Santa Ana schoolteacher, finally, I see, hear and read about greater tragedies involving the shattered lives of young people every day, but never on the front page.

JUSTIN MASSEY

Dana Point