The additude of the cagers out there is very scary be carefull out there cause no one gives a flying ****** ......

Help sought in hit-and-run 'outbreak'

By PATRICIO G. BALONA
Staff Writer
ORLANDO -- In the final chapter of their lives, John Eaton and Kevin Hill shared something in common.

Both motorcyclists died tragic deaths in separate crashes when, after an initial wreck, a second motorist in each case ran them over and left them to die.

Eaton, 46, of DeLand, and Hill, 47, of Sanford, are two of five people killed in the last month in what Florida Highway Patrol officials called an "outbreak" of fatal hit-and-run crashes this year. There have been 13 fatalities from hit-and-runs in Central Florida this year and troopers have only solved three, FHP Sgt. Kim Montes said at a press conference Thursday.

Three of those fatalities occurred in Volusia County.

Families of the victims gathered at the FHP headquarters in Orlando to support troopers' efforts in asking the public's help to solve these crimes.

"These are people . . . left to die on the side of the roads by cowards," Montes said. "They are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters. They are people with families."

On Wednesday alone, troopers worked 19 nonfatal hit-and-run accidents and these cases show the number of this type of crash is on the rise, Montes said.

On Nov. 1, Eaton was with friends at the Brass Rail Lounge in DeLeon Springs the night after celebrating his first wedding anniversary, said his widow, Melody Eaton.

As he was leaving the bar, his motorcycle was hit from behind by a pickup and he was thrown in the northbound lanes of U.S. 17, near Millis Road. As others tried to help her husband off the road, a second vehicle ran him over. The driver of that second pickup did not stop and troopers haven't found that person.

"He was uncaring," Melody Eaton said. "He struck my husband as his friends were trying to help him off the road. We need to find him and make him pay for what he did."

Troopers have received tips about the pickup that killed Eaton but so far none of them has panned out. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is helping FHP try to locate the vehicle, Montes said.

Similarly, Hill was out riding his motorcycle when he was struck on State Road 415 and Reed Ellis Road in Osteen at 1 a.m. Oct. 24. Troopers said his motorcycle was struck head-on by a vehicle that was overtaking another vehicle.

Hill was thrown onto the northbound lanes of S.R. 415. He was conscious and sitting up. As other motorists tried to get him off the road, Susan Norman, 40, struck Hill, troopers said. Norman did not stop despite warnings from the witnesses, according to reports. Deputies later found her three miles from the crash scene with a disabled car.

Charges are still pending against Norman, Montes said.

"I just don't get it," Hill's son, Brian, said Thursday, unable to explain why Norman left his father to die and doesn't understand why she didn't stop when she approached the crash scene.

"If this woman would have been less impatient, my dad would still be here," Brian Hill said.

Brian Hill's attorney, Eben Self, said it is unfathomable that drivers leave people to die after hurting them.

"The only reason she stopped was because her (Norman) car broke down," Self said. "You don't drive three miles and then claim you were planning to come back to the scene."

Lucie Teeters of Daytona Beach is angry about the driver who sped away after hitting and injuring her son.

Her son, Brian Teeters, 24, was struck at Clyde Morris Boulevard and Coquina Road as he rode his motorcycle to meet his brother and father for dinner Nov. 12. He suffered a broken leg and Teeters hopes the driver that hit him would have the courage to turn himself or herself in.

Hit-and-run crashes have left mostly pedestrians dead but motorcyclists, bicyclists, vehicle drivers and passengers have also been killed, Montes said.

Drivers that run most likely are under the influence of alcohol and drugs, have suspended driver's licenses or are wanted for other crimes, she said. These are not valid excuses to leave somebody on the side of the road, Montes said.

Jamie McWilliams, whose 20-year-old son was killed by a hit-and-run driver on private property seven years ago, agreed.

"There is no excuse to leave someone out like they were last week's trash," said McWilliams, who lives in the Orlando area.

Montes said someone might have information they may consider unimportant, but it can be the information they need to "complete the puzzle" of evidence to catch criminals.

"For some of these cases we need the public's help so these families can have closure," Montes said.

 

Man, I ride almost 50 miles on I-95 in Richmond Va everyday and I can tell you people just don't give sh*T anymore. More than a few times if I wasn't closely watching what other people were doing out there I would be dead right now and they just speed on by like it ain't nothin. I figure most people don't stop because they are drunk or high to begin with or have warrants and no license and insurance. They are some low life bags of sh*t.

 

come to my town RED LIGHTS what the hell are those. theres no stopping. this morning my leo friend got 10 ten in a row blowing the red light.

 

This is a hearbreaking story and it just makes me madder than he!!.
It almost sounds like there may be someone or some group out there that is actually trying to hit bikers, which is really scary.
Here in Arkansas, we've outlawed texting while driving but big whoopdee-doo about that, 'cause you still see them doing it. Then you get behind people on their cell phones and they're weaving and can't keep a steady speed. It scares me when I'm following them in my car and having to watch out for them, but when I'm on my bike it can take all the fun out of a nice ride worrying about them.
I really believe we should make hands-free phone use in the cars mandatory, with harsher fines if you're caught breaking the law.
The fact of the matter is that a lot of folks really suck as drivers, but when they get a cell phone in their hands or are eating, drinking, reading, or putting makeup on, they really get bad... and downright dangerous.
New and tougher legislation is an important step in this direction and I think we should all write our state reps and congressmen/women about these issues, but the other weapon we have is alert and defensive driving on our part.
Stay safe out there.

 

it's a shame there are people in this world like that. in the past year i've had on separate occasions cars in the SAME LANE as me.. just so they can get past me on a four lane road.WTF!!!! people cant you wait and get in the other lane to pass me...make one wish you could be a vigilante and "teach" them some courtsey. would make me feel better

 

As a Central Florida Resident, I can tell you that it is just plain scary at times on the roads around here. I have to take I-4 to work, and I can't count the amount of times I have had cars just come right over into my lane like I wasn't even there. You can just see them talking away on their cell phones and not even paying attention to what is going on around them.

 

You can count on whoever hits you to leave the scene if they are able. I actually caught one who sideswiped me head on in my lane and ran me into a construction barrell, and found out why he took off. I got lucky and was able to chase him down and the cops got him. Drunk illegal "immigrant" with no license, registration papers, insurance, and a switched tag. Almost wound up killing him, after i got him stopped he started to actually try to run me down in the parking lot with a SUV. He saw the pistol aimed at him and stopped before i fired. No comprende inglis but damn well comprende pistola aimed at head. It was kind of funny because my ol lady was following me in her pickup and saw what happened. After i finally called her and told her where i was, i asked her why she didn't call 911 while this was going on. She said she thought i was going after him to kill him and didn't want to get the police to be involved. LOL

 

Using Common sense and driving defensivly, and keeping a cool head has got Me out of some pretty sticky situations.

 

Watch your back!!!

 

I was sure that that only happened down here!