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Tragic end to young lives (Calif)
Inland Valley daily bulletin ^ | 9-04-2012 | Melissa Pinion-Whitt, Staff writer

Posted on 09/04/2012 5:11:17 PM PDT by Bullish

ONTARIO - Comments posted on a Twitter account belonging to one of five men killed in Sunday's car crash described intoxication and speeding at 120 mph about 20 minutes before the collision.

The comment, "Drunk (expletive) going 120 drifting corners" was posted at 1:19 a.m. on an account belonging to Ervin McKinness, 21, of Ontario.

The post ended with the acronym Y.O.L.O., which means "You Only Live Once."

The crash occurred at 1:41 a.m., killing McKinness, Marquell Bogan, 23, and Dylan George, 20, both of Ontario; Jonathan Waston, 21, of San Bernardino, and JaJuan Bennett, 23, of Rancho Cucamonga.

"It's a very tragic situation," said Ontario police Cpl. Bill Russell.

Police said it's possible that someone else may have had access to McKinness' account, or someone was using his cell phone at the time.

But the comments have nonetheless caught the attention of investigators looking into the cause of the crash.

"They're certainly looking at that because it will be a vital part of the investigation, but it's too early to give an opinion as to whether it was a cause or contributed to the crash," said Ontario police Sgt. David McBride.

Police say the vehicle involved in the crash has not been searched yet, so police are unsure if containers of alcohol were inside the car.

But based on statements regarding events occurring before the collision, police say there's a high likelihood that alcohol was involved.

Although McKinness' comment on Twitter made it sound as if he was behind the wheel, police say it was actually Watson who was driving.

Police said Watson was heading south on Haven Avenue in a 2005 Nissan Sentra when he ran a red light, lost control of the vehicle and struck a wall. The vehicle wound up in the back yard of a home.

Bogan died at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fontana at 2:24 a.m. The other victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

Comments regarding the crash flooded social media sites of the victims' friends.

Edward Baker commented on his Twitter page that if McKinness was with him Sunday night, he felt the crash may not have happened.

"I told him ain't (expletive) to do in the hood but get in trouble," he said.

Another friend, listed on an Instagram account as "Chillysosa" said, "Knowing when I wake up I won't be able to see y'all faces, texts, phone calls, hang with y'all hurts more then anything."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: darwin
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To: DoughtyOne
You might be surprised how many men look back and realize how lucky they were to survive their youth, and not harm anyone else in the process.

So true.

I was a reckless hothead at that age. No one could tell me anything. I thought I was invincible.

I consider it a miracle I survived my teen years. That's no exaggeration.

This story is truly tragic. Yet typical. And that's a different sort of tragedy itself.

21 posted on 09/04/2012 6:28:21 PM PDT by Flycatcher (God speaks to us, through the supernal lightness of birds, in a special type of poetry.)
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To: DoughtyOne

Very true. I did some incredibly foolish and dangerous things in my youth, but by the grace of God didn’t hurt myself or anyeone else. I feel for the families of these kids, who weren’t as fortunate.


22 posted on 09/04/2012 6:32:37 PM PDT by NittanyLion
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To: DoughtyOne
I am saddened by what took place here. My heart goes out to their family, friends, and associates.

I'm with ya there, man. You never know what the future holds for anyone and I think pretty much most of us did some pretty stupid things when we were young.

23 posted on 09/04/2012 6:53:41 PM PDT by Bullish (Liars aren't always thieves but thieves are ALWAYS liars)
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To: Steely Tom

You have to know your limitations... I was offered a Honda S2000 a couple of days ago that the previous owner had modified up to 600 HP.

I declined.


24 posted on 09/04/2012 6:57:23 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Lurker

Thanks for the response Lurker. Yes, stupid no doubt. I wouldn’t argue against that.


25 posted on 09/04/2012 7:01:31 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Americans want what Americans always wanted: Better lives for families; little government authority.)
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To: DoughtyOne

There but for the grace of God went myself. Teenagers do stupid things


26 posted on 09/04/2012 7:12:42 PM PDT by Figment
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To: stpio

How about we pray for things that are worth praying for.


27 posted on 09/04/2012 7:16:40 PM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
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To: Bullish

Obama supporters, I’m sure.


28 posted on 09/04/2012 7:17:18 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: allendale

I’ve talked to my dad about his teens, and I’ll be honest, I’m not sure things have changed. Young men detach from reality and damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.

Women are not expected to act in this manner.

Young men are trying to make their own way in life, beginning the transition from dependent to a person who makes all their own decisions. In the young man’s teens, he’s having to become ‘his own’ dominant male, as opposed to the paternal dominant male he’s moving out from under.

Young women are busy doing the equivalent in their own process moving into adulthood, but they don’t generally have to deal with a person (mom) who is as challenged by their choices, as much as fathers are by their son’s.

Women don’t generally have to show off to attract members of the opposite sex. Men generally do. At the very least, by their own perspective, men do. Popularity in their own social pool translates to young men as cool, something that will attract women to them.

This isn’t meant to infer that women don’t have to compete, but the types of things they do to appeal to men, isn’t generally as potentially physically self-destructive. Self-destructive yes, but as likely fatal, generally not.

That’s my take on it. There’s probably some things in there that others would disagree with though.


29 posted on 09/04/2012 7:18:56 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Americans want what Americans always wanted: Better lives for families; little government authority.)
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To: Flycatcher

Yes it is. I’ve tried to explain the dynamic I see as contributing to this just above. Perhaps you’ll identify with it, or not. Thanks for the response.


30 posted on 09/04/2012 7:21:43 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Americans want what Americans always wanted: Better lives for families; little government authority.)
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To: NittanyLion

Me too bud.

Youth, too soon old, too late smart.


31 posted on 09/04/2012 7:24:04 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Americans want what Americans always wanted: Better lives for families; little government authority.)
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To: Bullish

Thanks Bullish. We sure did.


32 posted on 09/04/2012 7:25:25 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Americans want what Americans always wanted: Better lives for families; little government authority.)
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To: DoughtyOne

You very seldom see headlines that say...

Tragic end as Geezers die in drunken Crash.

The crash occurred at 1:41 a.m., killing McKinness 103, Marquell Bogan, 63, and Dylan George, 57, both of Ontario; Jonathan Waston, 78, of San Bernardino, and JaJuan Bennett, 95, of Rancho Cucamonga.

Police suspect alcohol, geriatric drugs and texting may
have influenced the crash.


33 posted on 09/04/2012 7:30:36 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: tet68

Whiskey soaked Depends were also found at the scene.


34 posted on 09/04/2012 7:31:40 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Figment

Thanks Figment. You’re so right.


35 posted on 09/04/2012 7:35:58 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Americans want what Americans always wanted: Better lives for families; little government authority.)
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To: tet68

LOL, you’ve got a point there.

“Police suspect alcohol, geriatric drugs and texting may
have influenced the crash.”

How about...

“Police suspect alcohol, geriatric drugs, and memories of Ginger Lauber may have influenced the crash.”

Take care bud.


36 posted on 09/04/2012 7:40:35 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Americans want what Americans always wanted: Better lives for families; little government authority.)
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To: Bullish
... he ran a red light, lost control of the vehicle and struck a wall. The vehicle wound up in the back yard of a home.

Tragic it would have been if they had killed others in the process.

37 posted on 09/04/2012 7:46:57 PM PDT by meadsjn (Sarah 2012, or sooner)
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To: Farmer Dean

“There seems to be an emerging class of young,dumb a-holes.You Tube is filled with their idiotic stunts,everything from skateboarding to the emergency room to riding ninja bikes 120mph though the streets of Moscow.”

This is what happens when young people see no future for themselves. Here in the US young whites emulate urban blacks, as they see the same bleak future for themselves.


38 posted on 09/04/2012 8:43:20 PM PDT by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic war against white males (and therefore white families).)
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To: Bullish
Reminds me of a horrible crash very similar to this one many years ago when I worked at Kaiser Steel in almost the very same spot. Speed was also the issue, but the speeder lost control and crossed the median and hit another car head on.
39 posted on 09/04/2012 8:52:30 PM PDT by Coldwater Creek (He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will j rest in the shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91:)
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To: Lurker

“How about we pray for things that are worth praying for.”

~ ~ ~

I know what you are saying, young people do the absolute dumbest things. My own child, came home from the University for the first time last weekend. He’s a freshman, 18 years old. He had a duffel bag sitting in the kitchen Saturday evening.

I picked it up and heard something rolling in it. Inside,
a full fifth of Jack Daniels and giant bottle of some kind of 80 proof malt liquor~! I poured them out. He came into the room and saw my face...asking “what’s wrong?” I said, “nothing now.” Great parent aren’t I, no.

I shared the Divine Mercy prayer because it is powerful and I wonder, were they prepared to die and all those young men are someone’s baby, God’s too.


40 posted on 09/04/2012 8:58:52 PM PDT by stpio
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