OT: Chris Berman's wife dies in car accident

[Kontradiction]

In this case, before you clicked and suggested that the primary responsibility might lie with Mrs. Berman, you might have done some research that showed that the car in front of her was driven by a guy in his 80's who had just visited his wife's grave and could well have experienced anything from a panic attack to a heart attack or stroke.

I think at this stage condolences and empathy are the order of the day; responsibility and accountability can come at the appropriate time and from appropriate places, not gossip spread on an internet chat site.

Let's get back to the Patriots.

He supposedly (from what I've read) crashed into a utility pole and his car had stopped in the middle of the lane. The two most likely circumstances that one can think of are either loss of attention from the second driver (Mrs. Berman) or the second driver being incapacitated. Further, given the statistics on cell phones and crashes in this decade, it seemed like a safe assumption to make. We'll see if that's the case going forward. Either way, the circumstances are horrible for the Berman family.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I'm somewhat skeptical about hands free phone calls being distracting. Don't drivers talk with passengers?
That said, although I never texted or emailed while driving, I notice that playing with the GPS or the radio can distract me.
It's heresy, but I'll take a slowed reaction time loser with .08 alcohol over a texting bozo who isn't even looking any time.

As someone else pointed out, handsfree cell phone usage is now shown to be as distracting as holding the phone in your hand; some argue that it's even more distracting. I was once with a guy having a handsfree conversation on the phone who was so distracted that he missed two exits on the highway, on the way to his home to which he had driven dozens of times.

As for DUI. I won't "take" it ever. Under any circumstances.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

He supposedly (from what I've read) crashed into a utility pole and his car had stopped in the middle of the lane. The two most likely circumstances that one can think of are either loss of attention from the second driver (Mrs. Berman) or the second driver being incapacitated. Further, given the statistics on cell phones and crashes in this decade, it seemed like a safe assumption to make. We'll see if that's the case going forward. Either way, the circumstances are horrible for the Berman family.

There are myriad other explanations, including that the guy in front of her abruptly changed lanes after having some sort of medical event, and crashed into the pole without giving the car behind his any time to react...I could list at least a dozen more reasons why a car would abruptly change lanes, some not culpable (like avoiding debris on the road)...some culpable (lack of attention)...

I wasn't there. You weren't there. Can't we just let law enforcement sort out this tragic, fatal accident without guessing what might have happened?

But, don't you see that your comment started a whole debate over cell phone usage while driving when we don't even know if Mrs. Berman even had a cell phone on her person or out of a handbag???

 

[Kontradiction]

There are myriad other explanations, including that the guy in front of her abruptly changed lanes after having some sort of medical event, and crashed into the pole without giving the car behind his any time to react...I could list at least a dozen more reasons why a car would abruptly change lanes, some not culpable (like avoiding debris on the road)...some culpable (lack of attention)...

I wasn't there. You weren't there. Can't we just let law enforcement sort out this tragic, fatal accident without guessing what might have happened?

But, don't you see that your comment started a whole debate over cell phone usage while driving when we don't even know if Mrs. Berman even had a cell phone on her person or out of a handbag???

Of course. You're free to come up with your various theories (which you pretty much have) as am I. Further, the only "debate" about cell phone related to Mrs. Berman is between you and I. Everyone else is speaking about cell phone use while driving in general. I don't understand what the big deal here is. It's not like there is a plethora of Patriots or even NFL-related news to break down.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Of course. You're free to come up with your various theories (which you pretty much have) as am I. Further, the only "debate" about cell phone related to Mrs. Berman is between you and I. Everyone else is speaking about cell phone use while driving in general. I don't understand what the big deal here is. It's not like there is a plethora of Patriots or even NFL-related news to break down.

Someone died.
You speculated that it might be due to distracted driving when there was no evidence that such was the case.
I suggested we should wait until the police have decided what caused the accident and suggested many alternative explanations to distracted driving.
Let's just drop this.

 

[Dr Pain]

According to the article posted earlier she was driving a 2003 Lexus SC 430 which would not have had a feature like that. Strange that a guy like Boomer's wife is driving a 14 year-old car. I'm not judging as my wife drives a 2003 Lexus as well. It's just that I don't make the kind of bank that I would expect Chris to make.

Those are great cars and usually low mileage nice weather only cars so I am not surprised. I have such a car that gets driven only 2k miles a year only in nice weather

 

[Dr Pain]

In this case, before you clicked and suggested that the primary responsibility might lie with Mrs. Berman, you might have done some research that showed that the car in front of her was driven by a guy in his 80's who had just visited his wife's grave and could well have experienced anything from a panic attack to a heart attack or stroke and stopped suddenly.

I think at this stage condolences and empathy are the order of the day; responsibility and accountability can come at the appropriate time and from appropriate places, not gossip spread on an internet chat site.

Let's get back to the Patriots.

She hit him from behind so unless he was backing up on the road it is her fault.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

She hit him from behind so unless he was backing up on the road it is her fault.

let's just allow law enforcement to take a view on what or who was responsible for this tragic event.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Thank God you were not seriously hurt. It is horrible how many people are on their phones while driving. Here in NH we have to be hands-free, and I guess that helps a little as you are able to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel, but I have also read stories that it doesn't help that much if you are focused on a conversation. The best thing of course, would be to ban all cell phone use while driving, but we've all become so used to doing it.

Chris is one person whom I've not heard going along with Patriots denigration, and I've always liked him, the funny nicknames he gives players and his genuine enthusiasm for football and playful, honorable Cosell impersonations while describing highlights. He is in a very small minority at BSPN.

The fact that apparently so many people hate him tells me, I'm perfectely OK with being despised by so many people, because it says everything about them.