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Author
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Topic: Astronaut Jim Halsell charged in fatal accident
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 46465
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-07-2016 09:22 AM
   
Jim Halsell, a former NASA space shuttle astronaut, was charged with murder in a predawn crash Monday (June 6) that killed two young sisters, reports the Huntsville Times. James Donald Halsell Jr., a five-flight veteran who was selected by NASA in 1991 to become an astronaut, was arrested Monday in the deaths of Niomi Deona James, 11, and Jayla Latrice Parler, 13.He was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail at 11 a.m. Monday and released at 6:30 p.m. after posting $150,000 bond. ...the accident happened at 2:50 a.m. Monday on U.S. 82 near the 65 mile marker, 10 miles east of Tuscaloosa, said Senior Trooper Reginal King. Niomi and Jayla, both of Brent, were passengers in a 2015 Ford Fiesta. The Fiesta was struck by a 2015 Chrysler 300 driven by Halsell. King said neither of the girls were wearing seatbelts and were thrown from the vehicle. Niomi was pronounced dead on the scene. Jayla was taken to DCH Regional Medical Center where she was also pronounced dead. The driver of the Ford, 37-year-old Pernell Deon James and another passenger, 25-year-old Shontel Latriva Cutts, were also taken to the hospital for their injuries. Authorities said James was the father of both girls, who were half-sisters. King said Halsell was arrested and charged with murder after the preliminary investigation showed that alcohol and speed may have been factors in the crash. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6258
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 06-07-2016 10:06 AM
What a sad story. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1327
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 06-07-2016 11:21 AM
Astronauts — or pilots, military officers and combat veterans — are all too human and fallible just like the rest of us. They may achieve great things, but the hardest part is in the smallest routines of everyday life, and the choices made. The tragedy is the children killed were just beginning their journey in life, and parents who will never experience that with them. So sad. |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 836
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 06-07-2016 03:51 PM
It's also very sad that the parents didn't have their children wearing seat belts. They'll have to live with that as well. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 46465
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-07-2016 04:43 PM
Alabama state law requires seat belts in the back seat for children under 15 years. So both girls (11 and 13 years old), by law, should have been wearing a seat belt.The News Star (part of the USA Today network) has more details: According to court documents, Halsell told troopers he was traveling to West Monroe to get his son and thought he was traveling on I-20.The wreck happened at 2:50 a.m. on U.S. 82, a rural highway east of Tuscaloosa. Troopers said a Chrysler 300 driven by Halsell collided with a Ford Fiesta in which the girls were passengers. Halsell's car was traveling eastbound in the right lane of U.S. 82 early Monday morning when it struck the car. The Fiesta's driver told troopers Halsell was driving at a high rate of speed and struck his vehicle from behind. The car was crushed and pushed sideways across the left eastbound lane into the median and flipped at least twice before landing in the left westbound lane. Troopers reported physical evidence at the scene was consistent with the driver's account. Halsell reportedly told troopers he got a room at the Motel 6 in Tuscaloosa and did not remember leaving. According to court records, he also asked to see the victim's bodies and attempted to take the vehicle of a man who stopped to help at the crash site. During a search of the hotel room, troopers reported locating an empty wine bottle and an empty package of 10 sleeping pills. Halsell reportedly told troopers at the scene he had drank three glasses of wine earlier in the evening. Court documents also report Halsell told officers he attempted to flee the scene by taking the truck. He also made several nonsensical statements around 5 a.m., which troopers said indicated he was very intoxicated. |
p51
Member Posts: 1719
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 06-07-2016 06:46 PM
Like many of you, I've always been interested in how a former astronaut copes with the day-to-day life the rest of us have always lived. I know it was tough for me to go from being in charge of a large Army unit and having all that responsibility to being in charge of nothing more than taking care of the household chores on the weekend. I couldn't imagine how it would be to go from crewing any spacecraft several times and dealing with all the trapping of being an astronaut, to standing on the side of the road in cuffs, wondering how the heck you got there.
quote:
Originally posted by onesmallstep:
Astronauts — or pilots, military officers and combat veterans — are all too human and fallible just like the rest of us.
True, I've seen some of the dumbest moves made by former Green Berets and special operations vets.I could easily see a certain type of (though, of course, not ANY) astronaut strapping into a car after having a few too many, letting their ego get the best of them and deciding they can handle it, and pressing on. "Hey," some of them might reason, "I landed an orbiter. Going home from this bar will be a snap, after that!" |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3452
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-07-2016 06:46 PM
From AP: In Brent, the mayor said City Hall is collecting monetary donations to help the girls' family with funeral expenses and other needs. |
issman1
Member Posts: 1082
From: UK
Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 06-08-2016 05:15 AM
Only Mr. Halsell will ever know what was in his mind, but it is an utter tragedy for the affected family. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3452
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-08-2016 11:27 AM
This video from the scene underscores just how horrific this was.I also heard from Brent Mayor Dennis Stripling: We are currently accepting donations by mail. City of Brent
c/o Parnell James Family
P. O. Box 220
Brent, Al. 35034 Make your check payable to Parnell James Family. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6258
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 06-08-2016 12:36 PM
Is it current in the U.S. to be charged with murder for a car accident? Murder would imply intent, no? |
Michael Davis
Member Posts: 542
From: Houston, Texas
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 06-08-2016 12:52 PM
There are various "degrees" or levels of murder charges. The exact elements for the charges of each degree vary from state to state. But in general the charge is that driving while intoxicated was willful, the consequences of the decision to drive were dangerous to life, and that the driver knowingly acted with conscious disregard of that danger. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 46465
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-08-2016 12:58 PM
More specifically, per Alabama state law: A person commits the crime of murder if he or she does any of the following...Under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life, he or she recklessly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to a person other than himself or herself, and thereby causes the death of another person. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3452
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-08-2016 01:00 PM
It's not just a "car accident." Someone died. At the very least that's vehicular manslaughter. |
OV-105
Member Posts: 858
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 06-08-2016 01:19 PM
Each state can be different especially when it comes to DUIs, when anyone is injured or killed. They might start out with a charge of murder and once all of the investigations are done the charges could be changed or added too, vehicular manslaughter.
Not making excuses for Halsell, but some people cannot take sleeping pills. Add in the alcohol can make it even worse. It will be interesting to find out if he checked out of the Motel 6 or if he just left. That will be something that will come out later. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6258
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 06-08-2016 01:22 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
More specifically, per Alabama state law...
So if the car accident originated in a dramatic car failure leaving the car uncontrollable, you wouldn't be charged with murder? (Okay, one could then argue that the car has not been maintained as required by the manufacturer's operating manual...) |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 46465
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-08-2016 01:29 PM
The intent of the law seems to be that if you knowingly engage in an activity that then directly results in putting other lives at risk, you can be charged with murder.In this case, the state troopers arrested Halsell for murder because "alcohol and speed" may have been factors in the accident. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1327
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 06-08-2016 01:32 PM
Like it or not, "mitigating" circumstances or not, you take medication and mix with alcohol (at or above the legal limit) and get into a vehicle, you put yourself and others at risk on the road (or sidewalk). As good as putting a bullet round into a gun chamber. It is locked and ready to fire — the only difference being, there is no "safety." Someone will be seriously injured or killed. There is no excuse for it. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3452
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-08-2016 05:55 PM
A look into the crash: Halsell's deposition. |
Greggy_D
Member Posts: 997
From: Michigan
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 06-08-2016 06:57 PM
Not to make light of the situation, but a vastly different outcome may have occurred if the kids were buckled into their seats.All in all, the entire incident is absolutely horrible for everyone involved. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3452
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-08-2016 09:00 PM
From an article on AL.com: For its part, NASA said in response to questions that it has no formal relationships with its former astronauts, does not have formal expectations for their post-retirement behavior, and does not track or facilitate their activities after they leave the space agency. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1658
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 06-09-2016 06:31 PM
My heart goes out the the family of those two girls. How does one recover from something like that?Col. Halsell will always be one of my heroes, but that in no way mitigates what he did. I'd like to think that living every day of the rest of his life with the knowledge of what he did would be bad enough of a punishment. However, society and morality demand he face the legal consequences. If he were Jim Halsell the shoe salesman nobody would feel much sympathy for him. That's just harsh fact. I don't think anyone believes he set out to do anyone harm, or that he is a bad person. However, nothing can mitigate the death of those poor children. He and only he caused it to happen. I just hope that after paying his debt to society he will be able to put what happened to a positive use by putting his experience out as a cautionary tale. If he's young enough when he gets out of prison. Even heroes can screw up to an unbelievable degree. How tragic on every level. |
randy
Member Posts: 2447
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 06-09-2016 07:55 PM
Having had the misfortune of being hit by two drunk drivers, I have very little sympathy for Col. Halsell. He will have more rights than his victims families. Probably what will happen is that he'll get his wrists slapped and be told to not do it again. That was my experience both times. |
AstronautBrian
Member Posts: 308
From: Louisiana
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 06-09-2016 08:48 PM
I have little sympathy for drunk drivers.I've lost a relative and a good friend to drunk drivers over the years. I work in law enforcement, I see drunk drivers nearly every day. In the field I work in, the ones I deal with are felons - they are on their THIRD conviction or higher. Most have been lucky they never hurt or killed anybody. This is only the times they've been caught. Who knows how many other times they have taken their own lives and those on the road into their hands by choosing to drink and drive. In Halsell's case, he killed two people the first time (as far as I know) he got caught. Who knows how many times before he put lives at risk. I feel sorry for all involved, but immensely more for the family who lost the two girls. They should have been wearing seatbelts and the parents will have to deal with that too for the rest of their lives. |
Michael Davis
Member Posts: 542
From: Houston, Texas
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 06-09-2016 11:29 PM
Probably worth noting that "innocent until proven guilty" still applies. There has been no trial for Mr. Halsell, much less a verdict. |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1760
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 06-10-2016 08:42 AM
It would be helpful to know what type of sleeping pills he took. Some, for example, Ambien can produce bizarre behaviors. There are instances of people sleep walking, sleep cooking, and even sleep driving. In fact there is now a warning on the bottle to that effect. People have been found driving with no knowledge of it and have been involved in accidents after sleep driving and have been acquitted because of this.I am not saying this is what happened, but if it was Ambien (zolpidem) it could perhaps explain his reactions.
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cfreeze79
Member Posts: 464
From: Herndon, VA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 06-10-2016 08:46 AM
In reading this page, the lyrics to Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry" keep playing in my head.Drunk driving is, especially today, an inexcusable offense. But like the media speculating on the cause of a plane crash, we are ill-equipped to pass judgement on the matter - and we shouldn't either. That is the responsibility of the judicial system, and something Col Halsell is about to come familar with. |
MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 06-10-2016 05:19 PM
Does Jim Halsell have a family? Like, was he going through a divorce, no kids, anything? I am trying to get a feel as to what would lead him to be in the situation he was in (taking the pills, being intoxicated, being alone). |
YankeeClipper
Member Posts: 632
From: Dublin, Ireland
Registered: Mar 2011
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posted 06-14-2016 06:55 AM
Sleep deprivation/microsleep, temporal distortion, and the fact of driving a possibly unfamiliar rental car may also prove contributory to the loss of situational awareness that resulted in the collision.
quote:
Originally posted by Greggy_D:
Not to make light of the situation, but a vastly different outcome may have occurred if the kids were buckled into their seats.
Yes, sadly, vehicle ejections correlate significantly with fatal injuries. The forces involved in a high-speed rear impact with passenger compartment intrusion followed by multiple rollover, and the young ages and gender of the rear passengers may mean, however, that they suffered fatal trauma prior to ejection from the vehicle. Sometimes, restraint systems aren't enough to prevent death or life-altering serious injury, and if not fitted and/or applied correctly can even result in unintentional injury. Airbags may deploy but then deflate and may not mitigate subsequent impacts. MVCs and trauma can be tragically cruel and bizarre in nature - even seemingly small injuries can prove to be fatal. quote:
All in all, the entire incident is absolutely horrible for everyone involved.
Agreed. It's very sad. |
SkyMan1958
Member Posts: 1060
From: CA.
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 06-15-2016 12:10 AM
quote:
Originally posted by cspg:
Is it current in the U.S. to be charged with murder for a car accident? Murder would imply intent, no?
Generally in the USA, people will be charged with the highest possible misdemeanor/felony that the law enforcement officials can justify. Included may be many counts of subsidiary charges. Once the case actually works it's way through the legal system, generally some sort of a plea deal will be worked out with lower charges (sometimes significantly lower) accepted by the defendant. In essence a high formal charge is kind of the opening bid, with the plaintiff and defendant lawyers dickering out what the end cost will be. |
Glint
Member Posts: 1056
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 06-20-2016 05:31 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MrSpace86:
Does Jim Halsell have a family?
According to media reports and court documents posted here, Halsell stated that he was on his way to Louisiana to get his son. So, yes, he does apparently have at least one kid. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3452
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-24-2016 10:17 AM
A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Halsell June 20, according to WIAT.com. A court date has not been set. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3452
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-25-2016 10:04 AM
As well, Halsell is being sued for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages by Pernell James, the driver of the car that was hit (the father), reports WAAY-TV. |
dogcrew5369
Member Posts: 755
From: Statesville, NC
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 06-26-2016 08:20 PM
Very sad to see this happen. I met and talked to Halsell back in 1997 between his STS-83 and STS-94 missions at our local airshow. I have always had admiration for him. Just brings home the reality anyone can fall no matter who they are. One moment of bad judgment can ruin a life of accomplishment and achievement not to mention the lives of others. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3452
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-27-2016 11:07 AM
Tuscaloosa News gives clarification to the lawsuits filed: Pernell Deon James, the father of Niomi James, filed a civil suit in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court on Monday claiming negligence and seeking a jury trial. The suit claims that he suffered head, neck, back and leg injuries in addition to emotional distress.Latrice Parler, mother of Niomi James and Jayla Parler, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court Tuesday. The suit leaves room for whoever sold Halsell alcohol or prescribed or sold him sleeping pills to be added as defendants. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 46465
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-12-2016 08:48 PM
The Associated Press reports that a grand jury is being convened to consider the criminal charges against Halsell. Court records showed Tuesday that reckless murder charges against 59-year-old James Halsell of Huntsville are being sent to grand jurors in Tuscaloosa County.Members could indict Halsell or refuse to return charges against the one-time astronaut. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3452
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-01-2016 06:08 PM
Huntsville native and former astronaut James Halsell Jr. indicted for fatal wreck: Grand jurors decided to indict Halsell on Thursday for two counts each of reckless murder and assault. The assault charges stem from injuries sustained by the girls’ father and another passenger.Halsell is currently free on bond right now. He has not made any comment about the indictment. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3452
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-22-2016 08:31 PM
The move to take away Halsell's driver's license for two years has been delayed. He can keep his license until his case is resolved. Halsell went to court seeking a court review of the state's decision to suspend his license for two years. He claimed the department denied him a fair hearing of the decision. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3452
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 11-22-2016 09:59 PM
AP reports Halsell can drive while awaiting trial, but with restrictions. Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Bradley Almond, in a decision released Friday afternoon, ruled that former space shuttle commander James Halsell Jr. can’t consume any alcohol, illegal drugs or medication unless he has a prescription.Almond also ruled that Halsell, 60, must have a special locking device installed on his car’s ignition, and the Huntsville man must undergo twice-weekly testing. A hearing is set for Dec. 2 in which Halsell is scheduled to enter a plea in the criminal cases. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 46465
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-30-2016 10:53 PM
James Halsell has entered a written plea of not guilty, reports the Associated Press. Authorities say they suspect alcohol was a factor. But Halsell's lawyers filed a document in a civil lawsuit blaming the other driver for failing to yield....[Halsell] is next due in court for a hearing in March. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 46465
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-13-2017 08:20 PM
A pretrial conference that had been scheduled for later this month has been continued. Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Allen W. May Jr. granted the continuance Friday afternoon. The pretrial conference, which was scheduled for March 20, is now set for June 1...Court documents filed about the continuance motion said both the defense and the prosecution are continuing their discovery efforts and are "attempting to negotiate a settlement agreement." |
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