Lorain/Elyria, OH
Head-on crash kills 5 in Toledo
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TOLEDO — A drunken driver sped down a highway in the wrong direction for about four miles before his pickup truck slammed into a minivan carrying a family home after a holiday trip, police said.
A woman and four children in the minivan, including an 8-week-old girl, were killed in the crash that scattered toys, stuffed animals and bits of gift wrap along the edge of the road.
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| LORI KING / TOLEDO BLADE VIA AP |
| A head-on collision in Toledo on Sunday between a pickup truck going the wrong way on an interstate and a minivan killed five people in the minivan, including an infant, a fire department spokesman said. |
Tests showed that the pickup truck’s wrong-way driver had a blood-alcohol level of .254 percent, more than three times the legal limit in Ohio of .08, police said.
Michael Gagnon, 24, of Adrian, Mich., was charged Monday with aggravated vehicular homicide. His speech was slurred and he smelled of alcohol at the crash scene, according to a police report.
His truck was going north in the southbound lanes of Interstate 280 Sunday night, fire officials said.
Bethany Griffin, 36, Jordan Griffin, 10, Vadi Griffin, 8 weeks, Lacie Burkman, 7, and Haley Burkman, 10, were killed, according to police. All are from Parkville, Md.
Both drivers tried to avoid each other, but the crash ripped a side door off the minivan, throwing out some of the victims.
An infant seat wrapped with pink baby blankets landed in the roadway.
“It was among the worst I’ve seen,” assistant fire chief Luis Santiago said.
A man and two other children from the minivan were taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, Santiago said.
Danny Griffin Jr., 36, was listed in serious condition; Sidney Griffin, 8, was in critical condition; and Beu Burkman, 8, was in serious condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.
All eight had been visiting family in Michigan and were returning to Maryland.
Gagnon also was taken to a hospital, but his injuries were not as serious, Santiago said. There was no telephone listing for him or his family in Adrian.
Samuel Gagnon, Michael Gagnon’s brother, told The (Baltimore) Sun that he, his brother and their cousins were drinking at a hotel.
Their sister was supposed to drive them home, but Gagnon said his brother took off in the truck without telling anyone.
“I don’t know why he decided to leave,” Samuel Gagnon told the newspaper. “Everyone’s in shock. We’re supposed to be celebrating the New Year, but now I got to look forward to my brother in jail the rest of his life.”
When reached later by The Associated Press, Samuel Gagnon declined comment.
Michael Gagnon stopped at a fast-food restaurant in a Toledo suburb just before the crash, said Lt. Hank Everitt of the Oregon police department.
Workers at the restaurant called police, but Gagnon left before an officer arrived, Everitt said. Soon after, a 911 call came in about a wrong-way driver on the interstate.
Other drivers also alerted police just before the crash.
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His brother has to worry about his brother in jail??? A women and 4 children are dead!!! That comment sickens me.
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Yellow reporting, guts and gore, how shabby
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My prayers go out to the family of the deceased. I pray Mr. Gagnon gets what he deserves for this.
I’m a 22 year veteran of law enforcement and something more needs to be done in the way of drunk drivers. A start would be a felony charge on the first offense whether injury was involved or not. A 10 year revocation of driving priviledges on first offense and a 2 year year term in jail without any possibility of parole. Second offense, revocation of license for life and 10 years in jail regardless of no injury. Life in prison for first offense if someone is killed.
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It’s about time. It is about time when someone who is drinking and gets into a vehicle to drive needs to be charged with plain old murder if he or she kills another while drunk. The days of manslaughter and other charges for the drunk should end. To see a drunk sober and whining after killing someone while drunk must end. These people are not sick just too weak to stop drinking. This does not absolve them from their act. Drunks who kill need to be charged with murder.
That poor family and those children who will never live the life that they should. A sad story that happens too often!
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OMG… That is just tooo sad, we really need to start doing someting more about these drunk drivers, it seems to be getting worse everyday that i wont even go out anymore! Its a scary thing and justice needs to start getting more sturn with these people who dont seem to care about the lives they are putting in danger when they go to a bar or a party and decide to drive! I feel so much for that family, so many children..
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Could one be any more careless? What a sad, sad story!!!! My heart and prayers go out to both families! I believe this man should just sit in a prison cell and drink himself to death. God bless the Griffith family!! Rest in peace little ones!!!!
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I hope the driver pays dearly for there deaths FOR god sake if your gonna drink STAY OFF THE ROAD how many more people have to die because of stupid drunks that think they can drive. it makes me sick to see this story what is wrong with people , why ?i dont know the family that passed but my heart truely goes out to that family. we need a change in this world you want to take away smokers rights take away all the alcohol no one needs to drink …………….. thats the only way to keep drunks off the road after this something needs to be done PASS A LAW TO SHUT DOWN ALCOHOL MAKERS AND BE DONE WITH IT……. BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE GETS KILLED PLEASE
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Samuel Gagnon should be glad that he has to look forward to his brother in jail for the rest of his life. He will be able to communicate with him in person, writing and telephone calls. The victims however had that taken away from them all because of a drunk driver (his brother). The victims however now have suffered the losses of their loved ones for the rest of their lives and the trauma will be there forever for them. If Michael gets to go to jail for the rest of his life that would be a sentence that would fit the crime however the rest of his life probably would not be the sentence. He should have to look at pictures, video news coverage day in and day out because more than likely he was so drunk he wont remember everything about this tragedy that he caused with his own stupidity, carelessness and the choice he made was to get behind the wheel. What choice did the families impacted by this have, to be sober driving home from celebrating the holidays, following the laws, being responsible and your brother caused them to suffer for his actions. Innocent people were killed and innocent babies had their lives taken away. What would fit the crime is to be locked up forever what he did was murder people. Unfortunately he only gets charged with vehicular homicide instead of multiple counts of murder. All families involved will suffer the victims and the drunk drivers family but the big difference being the drunk drivers family can communicate. Hopefully they will communicate by showing him pictures and never letting him forget what he did but that is doubtful. How sad that they wont be able to celebrate the New Year with more drinking with him. The families of victims are starting the New Year off without a spouse, mother, brothers, sisters and cousins etc. I am sure the Gagnons will all help get him an attorney to make it as easy as possible on him. Whereas the victims families will be looking for funeral home, burial plots, help with their grief and trauma and much more. This tragedy will hopefully change your minds about drinking period let alone drinking and driving. We need tougher laws on dui’s across the United States, hopefully someday the punishment of this will fit the crime. Lastly to the victims families my thoughts and prayers will be with you.
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Anybody among those who commented above who does not consume alcohol? If the naswer is yes, you also do have a posiibility of becoming a Michael Gagnon.
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Life in prison! That is what that “boy” needs although we all know that will not be the case. Michael should have to have more punishment than what he will recieve. Oh no he cant spend New Years drinking away some more of what little brain he has! Gee thats too bad! To choose to drink until obliviously drunk is a choice, to choose to drive in that condition also a choice, all of which are ignorant and unthought out. The family whom he hit and killed members of did not have a choice to die or to be hospitalized in critical condition. All they chose was to spend the holiday with their family in a responsible manner. To go back home was an obligation and now a tragic nightmare. Micheals family should have hid the keys, should have stopped him from leaving, or at the least could have stopped serving him alcohol. He and everyone that was with him are to blame for this tragedy. It is sad that now a father and two childrens lives hang in the balance only in hopes that they may recover. But once they do recover only to find out they are the only servivors. Hearts will break that day and remain broken for a family was torn apart by the carelessness of this drunk! You always have choices in life and this is a choice i hope haunts Michael for the rest of his sad, pathetic life. Murder is was this “boy” should be charged with along with wreckless driving, driving under the influence and last but not least he should have to look the father in the face! The sad reality of the fact that he was so drunk that he most likely doesnt even remember anything that happened is sick. I state “boy” instead of man due to his lack of common sense and the need to grow up! Maybe in jail he will recieve some “special” treatment that will remain with him the rest of his life!
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Frank: Yellow journalism(the correct term)? No, just reporting a tragedy. Did the article hit a bit too close to home, maybe?
Thomas: Yes, I do drink. When we go out, I drink and my husband does not, or he drinks and I do not. If we both drink, we are at home.
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I’d like to start off by saying to both family’s what a horrible tradgedy has occured. It is almost surreal. We are all just one bad decision from a similar fate. Especially during what should be the most joyous time of the year, the holidays. Both of these family’s lives are forever altered because of alcohol. I am no Saint nor do I pass judgement on other people. Lord knows I’ve done my share of wrongs and driving drunk is one of those things. But …and it should not take a tradgedy such as this to open eyes or convert people. However for me, I vow before God never to drink and drive again….as long as I live!!! I know this type of thing happens on a daily basis…how sad it is to realize that a person can destroy so many lives in the blink of an eye and probably didn’t even realize it at the time. I pray for all of you…God bless the children. I will never question my decisions about drinking responsibly EVER again!!!!
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I would be curious to know what this “offenders” judicial history shows. I can assure you he has been charged with other acohol offenses and possible drug offenses prior to this accident. And I use the word accident while I bite my tongue. This man knew he was going to drink that night and I am sure his family was not truly surprised he left without them. A .254 blood alcohol content is almost three times the legal limit and I have put people on respirators with BAC’S less than that. I am certain that he is not an occational drinker, as anyone who has a reading that high and can actually consume that much alcohol …….does it on a regular basis. NOT just New Years Eve. I have worked in the alcohol and chemical dependency field for over 18 yrs. and sadly, I don’t see it getting any better. We attempt tp educate individuals with alcohol offenses such as DUI.DWI held at hotels .And because the Courst give them a choice, many others choose to do the 3 day jail time. They say they don’t have the money! Future offenses are highly likely. I aggree with the retired officer above. The laws need to be revised ! My heart goes out to the people who have jobs that have to tell family members who expect their loved ones to walk throgh the door, they won’t be coming home. I have had that job and you have no idea how it has affected my life. HOw does a family put their life back together after something like this? They don’t , they just thank God they made it through yesterday and struggle yet through another day. Hug your family tight because this family never expected it would be thier last time .
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Words can’t express how I feel . My heart goes out to there families. Iam so sorry & my thought & prayers are with everyone.
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I know I am going to hear alot of comments for saying this.There are alot of people in this world who make alot of mistakes.There are alot of people in this world who drink and drive.Unfortunatley.I can’t imagine how many people have done it.Men,Women,Lawyers,Doctors business people,politicians,kids.teenagers etc.I bet if everyone takes a second they can name 1 person they care about or maybe even themselves who have probably done it.The point is.There is no excuse for drinking and driving.However when you drink your decision making is not clear obviously.This boy is someones son.Their family has a loss as well.Not even close to the Griffins family.Their families will never be the same again!Everyone has their own cross to bear.This boy made a mistake that changed lives forever.Everyday he has to live with knowing what he has done.Its because of his mistake lives were lost.Can you imagine having to live with knowing you were the one responsible?I can guarantee if he could do it all over again he wouldn’t have made that decision.Let god be the one to judge him.Everyone makes mistakes in life it just so happened his killed half of a family.Remember that the next time you or anyone else around you is drinking.Get the keys!!It takes 1 mistake!
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If they would quit making alcohol and or at least shut the bars down they
would not have these problems!
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but now I got to look forward to my brother in jail the rest of his life.â€
Are you for real. No one cares about your dumb brother. You are as stupid as he is.
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My heart goes out to both famiies, but is it only that he was drinking he should be charged with murder? Should we charge those who are talk on their cell phone and not paying attention or putting on make-up, or changing radio stations with murder as well. Those too are avoidable mistakes . I have read many times of fatalities because of these MISTAKES as well and all of them can be avoided. Everytime you get in your car you take a chance on being killed by someone commiting a mistake other than drinking.
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So it is okay to kill people because you are on your phone?
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Please as Bruce did don’t take my comments in the earlier statement the wrong way.
Bruce I am not going to call you a moron or a retard, but your reply indicates that it is okay to kill someone while you are on the phone.
That accident was horrific and should never have happened but murder to me is knowingly killing someone. I and sure that Michael did not say I gonna go kill a family tonight.
Speeding is illegal. Speeding motorists have caused accidents that killed people and families. Are they murders too?
You are right, talking on your cell phone is not illegal in Ohio but it can be just as deadly. It has destroyed lives and will destroy many more I’m sure. In NY city it is illegal to have a cell phone to your ear while driving and if caught you will pay a fine. Ohio should abopt that LAW.
I’m sure he is going to spend a good many years in jail, as he should, but to labeled a murder? I’ll bet that not a day will go by the he doesn’t regret that horible night.
My point in the earlier comment was that in my opinion he should not be labeled a murder. Many stupid decisions cause death not just illegal ones.
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I cannot even begin to express the Deep Sadness I am feeling right now. This is absolutely horrific and appauling! I pray that God will comfort you in your time of need, and our prayers are with you always!
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I live in the MI and Toledo area, I have to travel 280 to go back to my home town. It is a scary road to be on, not only the drunks but the idiot drivers. This has been a terrible tradgedy and you think with all the publicity of this horrible accident that it would sink it to people. But NO, there was just another accident on 475 in Toledo 2 nights ago, where an 20 year old girl and her girlfreind did the same exact thing. How STUPID are people???? Lucky enough no one was killed this time but something needs to be done.
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