Galveston: One killed in car-horse carriage crash

[seamusTX]

In Galveston late Saturday night one person was killed and four were injured when a car driven by an alleged drunk driver struck a horse-drawn carriage on 21st Street near Avenue L.

The 21-year-old white male driver from Conroe attempted to flee but was restrained by witnesses.

The suspect was charged with three counts of intoxication assault and one count of intoxicated manslaughter. He was in jail on $250,000 bond.

The horse was slightly injured but released to a responsible party. The carriage was mostly reduced to splinters.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/329546" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Usually the carriage drivers circulate in the Strand area, though they can go anywhere in the city. Sometimes people hire them to go to hotels on the Seawall, which reportedly was the case in this incident. Generally 21st Street is not much traveled. There is no tourist destination on 21st south of Broadway.

The mug shot can be seen here. You need to search for Grayson.
http://p2c.co.galveston.tx.us/p2c/dailybulletin.aspx#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's unusual for a manslaughter charge to be filed that quickly. The DA must have been on call.

- Jim

[ffemt300]

We've had a rash of these over the last few months. The couple I've worked were pretty serious. The carts naturally dont hold up well to high speed things hitting them.

[seamusTX]

Unfortunately human- or animal-powered vehicles don't fare well when hit by a motor vehicle.

I used to drive horses. These old carriages are built out of seasoned wood. They are pretty tough. You can still find carriages that are over 100 years old.

What I don't know is whether the carriages that are used in town are really antiques or some kind of knock-off.

- Jim

[ffemt300]

Unfortunately human- or animal-powered vehicles don't fare well when hit by a motor vehicle.

I used to drive horses. These old carriages are built out of seasoned wood. They are pretty tough. You can still find carriages that are over 100 years old.

What I don't know is whether the carriages that are used in town are really antiques or some kind of knock-off.

- Jim

I wouldnt know about the carriages. I do know that those horses are pretty tough. They usually dont flinch when I ease past them in the fire truck.

[seamusTX]

Yeah, the phrase "enough ___ to kill a horse" is pretty apt.

- Jim

[philip964]

Really very sad. Couple being romantic. Enjoying life for a few moments. Carriage driver, trying to make a little money, maybe a second job.

Dumb drunk kid ends it all.

My son said yesterday, he is worried about the world and it's future.

I thought it was just me worried about that.

[seamusTX]

This kind of incident is a sobering reminder that anyone's cozy world can be smashed into smithereens in an instant. See Luke 12:19-20.

Probably more people are killed and injured by drunk drivers than by criminals who set out to commit murder or robbery.

Most sane people worry about the future.

- Jim

[Jim Beaux]

Unfortunately human- or animal-powered vehicles don't fare well when hit by a motor vehicle.

I used to drive horses. These old carriages are built out of seasoned wood. They are pretty tough. You can still find carriages that are over 100 years old.

What I don't know is whether the carriages that are used in town are really antiques or some kind of knock-off.

- Jim

Another article with better pics. Youre right, the carriage didnt fair very well. The horse suffered a cut leg & is home.

Suspected drunk driver strikes horse-drawn carriage, killing one and injuring four others--http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... -1.1120152

[seamusTX]

Wow. It's national news now.

- Jim

[Oldgringo]

Wow. It's national news now.

- Jim

As it should be! Let's ban drunk driving!

[seamusTX]

Let's ban drunk driving!

I'll bet no one ever thought of that.

We need a one-drink-a-month law. Nobody needs to drink 15 beers in one evening.

- Jim

[Oldgringo]

Let's ban drunk driving!

I'll bet no one ever thought of that.

We need a one-drink-a-month law. Nobody needs to drink 15 beers in one evening.

- Jim

Not a bad idea, Jim. If I was limited to one drink a month, I could be rich and maybe attend one of those Dale Carnegie courses I've heard so much about. You know, the one where they teach you to, "Win Friends and Influence People" without havin' to shoot 'em first.

Somebody help me, please....

[pcernuch]

i guess we will skip the carriage ride next month after we spend an hour in Col. Bubbies. Jr will be sad. he likes horses!

god bless.

[seamusTX]

The suspect in this case was driving a 2006 Infinity G35. Would a 21-year-old body-art enthusiast typically drive such a vehicle?

Also the carriage driver and two surviving passengers are still in the hospital. The wife of the deceased man is in fair condition.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/329758" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The media tend to report X number of people dead and Y injured, without going into detail on the injuries. These victims, whether of a crime or accident, sometimes are disabled for life or die prematurely.

- Jim

[seamusTX]

i guess we will skip the carriage ride next month ...

Only you can assess the risks that you are willing to take, but these carriages have a good safety record. Even the few times they have had "fender benders" no one was injured.

This case had a stack-up of risk factors. The carriage was outside the Strand area on a through street at 11 p.m. on Saturday—the worst time for drunk-driving crashes.

- Jim