Men Charged In 8 Drag Racing Deaths In Md.

Racing Fans Were Victims Of Vehicular Manslaughter, Authorities Say

(AP)  Two men have been indicted in the deaths of eight people who had gathered to watch an illegal street race in suburban Maryland.

Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey says 20-year-old Darren Bullock and 18-year-old Tavon Taylor were charged Tuesday with eight counts of vehicular manslaughter. They were also charged with reckless driving and street racing in the February crash.

Authorities say Bullock plowed into a group of street racing fans along an isolated stretch of road while he and Taylor were racing in the early morning darkness.

The fans had spilled into the road to watch two other cars race off when they were hit from behind. Prosecutors say Bullock and Taylor weren't part of the organized event the fans were watching.

[rhs648]

BC_Kelly - What qualifies as organized? The fact that these races are planned in advance and many people know the time and place of these races is an indication that they are organized. These races are held in the middle of the night yet dozens of people attend them. If it looks like a duck ... it must be a duck. Again, please define organized so we are on the same wave length.

[forms60_path]

RE: "Do the people standing in the street bear no responsibility for getting hit by a car in the STREET!"

ANSWER: YES. Eight of them are quite dead.

[rhs648]

Appears these Maryland Prosecutors have a unique definition of an ''''organized event''''

A crowd of folks standing in the middle of a highway watching a drag race at 4 in the morning

Yep, that sounds ''''organized'''' to me

Wonder what happens at their UN-organized events ?

Thanks
BC Kelly
Tallahassee Fla

Perhaps your definition of "organized" is flawed. Something can be organized by the autorities, a sponsoring group, or an ordinary group of people. This race was organized in that plenty of people knew both the time and place of the race and came out to see it. Granted, this may not have been a legal event. However, it is one that is repeated over and over by racers and spectators. It is neither random or unorganized. Those interested in this type of thing know when and where to go making it an organized event.

[u-r-right]

Stupid, stupid, stupid. I recall there were people of all ages attending this "event" Parents with little children out at 4 in the morning. There is something mentally wrong with all these people. Is racing at a track not good enough?

[thgdriver]

Sorry, I remember the original article on this mess.

Both races were not legal, and stupid. Just because you organize an event does not make it legal.

People standing out on a highway before dawn have to be responsible for their own stupidity.

The racers were stupid and should face prosecution but the spectators are responsible for their own foolishness. If I am on the jury I would take that into serious account.

[whiskyrokkr]

Bad day for everyone

[ebma1]

Did you not read the whole story? It says they were watching an organized event when they stepped into the street and were hit by the illegal drag racers. My husband is an avid drag racer and we take it to the track and keep it legal. This is why.

[gopack443]

Do the people standing in the street bear no responsibility for getting hit by a car in the STREET!