It's sad that it took this to finally put him away.

[SupraOfDoom]

http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=1&date=4/28/2008&id=38939

The former physician accused of causing the crash that killed a pregnant school administrator, her unborn child and her 10-year-old daughter was charged with three homicide counts today and ordered held on $1 million bail.

Mark M. Benson, 55, was under the influence of several drugs when his vehicle slammed into a car driven by Jennifer Bukosky about 3:30 p.m. Friday in Oconomowoc, according to the criminal complaint filed in the case.

In setting the $1 million bail, Waukesha County Circuit Commissioner Martin Binn said Benson "is a danger to our community."

"This court will not, it cannot, allow him to play Russian roulette with the lives of the citizens of Waukesha County when he gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle when he thinks it appropriate," Binn said.

Mark Benson in court. Photo/William J. LizdasBukosky's vehicle was stopped at a traffic signal in the northbound lane of Highway 67 at Pabst Road when it was struck by the sport utility vehicle.

About 50 students from Oconomowoc High School packed the rear benches and stood at the back of the courtroom to witness Benson's initial appearance Monday.

"We wanted to show our support for Ms. Bella and her family," said sophomore Rosie Wisnefski, of the teacher and vice principal students still refer to by her name before her remarriage last year.

The students said they attended the court session after being excused from classes Monday afternoon at the request of their parents.

Bukosky, 39, of the Town of Oconomowoc, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her 10-year-old daughter, Courtney Bella, died Saturday from her injuries. Bukosky's son, Zachary Bella, 12, was released from a hospital Friday after being treated for his injuries. Another girl in Bukosky's car, whose identity has not been released, remained hospitalized.

Benson had been in court two days before the accident pleading guilty to a 2007 drunken driving conviction, his third, in Brookfield. He was ordered Wednesday to not drive and install an interlock ignition device requires that a driver blow into an instrument that measures alcohol in the breath.

Assistant District Attorney Kevin Osborne said in court today that the ignition device would not have done anything to prevent this accident because Benson had not been drinking when the accident occurred.

Benson was charged with two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of vehicle; one count of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle-unborn child; two counts of operating while intoxicated and causing injury; and one count of operating after revocation.

If convicted, he faces a prison term of about 123 years.

They NEED harsher penalties for DD /D under influence here.

 

[GrimJack]

Err... hate to be the voice of reason, but wtf? Harsher penalties? Didn't you just post that he faces 123 years? How can you get harsher than that? Strip the flesh from their bones every week of that sentence? Inject them with liquid plumber?

 

[SupraOfDoom]

Uh, for first offense ect... this was his 4TH TIME driving under the influence! If they would have been harsher the 1st three times this could have easily been avoided. It's like a messily $350 fine + a class for a DUI here, and I think even less on your second offense. You can get bigger tickets for doing stuff far less serious then this...

It took him killing 3 people and injuring 2 more to get that...

 

[suprarx7nut]

Err... hate to be the voice of reason, but wtf? Harsher penalties? Didn't you just post that he faces 123 years? How can you get harsher than that? Strip the flesh from their bones every week of that sentence? Inject them with liquid plumber?

I'd say his limbs should be torn off. If he heals from that then he can serve the 123 years in peace. If he dies then that's fantastic and we're all better off.

I dont understand why you can drive any motor vehicle after getting 2 DUI's.

That's almost as dumb as Hillary. *almost*.

First offense: $10 grand, lose license for a year and 30 days in jail.

Second offense in 5 years: lose license for AT least 10 years, up to 20, $25,000 fine.


That would stop anyone I know that thinks it's fun to drink/drive. :nono:


THERE IS NO REASON ANYONE SHOULD BE KILLED BY A DUI OFFENDER. NONE!

 

[SupraOfDoom]

Exactly how I feel about it.

 

[WhtMa71]

First offense: $10 grand, lose license for a year and 30 days in jail.

Second offense in 5 years: lose license for AT least 10 years, up to 20, $25,000 fine.

Thats just fucking silly. $10,000 for 1st offence DUI AND 30 days..lolol
Look, anyone can get a DUI..Wrong place wrong time..it can happen to anyone.
You dont have to be completely slammed fucking drunk to get a DUI..2 beers can do it. And even if you dont blow over the limit you can get a DWI if the cop is in a bad fucking mood and thinks you shouldnt be driving.
Most people learn their lesson after the 1st DUI but there are the few that dont. 1st DUI here is lose your license for 6 months+fine+classes. I believe your 2nd DUI here you lose your license for 1 year and have to pay a huge fine + classes. 3rd..no idea

 

[SupraOfDoom]

I don't really buy the wrong place at the wrong time excuse... its a proven fact that it doesn't take much alcohol to effect your driving. If you drink, you shouldn't drive. I just don't drink >.<.

 

[SupraStardom]

yeah our town has free cab rides paid by the city if your to tanked to drive. Its far cheaper for the city to pay a $15 cab ride then to hold you overnite. or charge you for dui or what not

 

[savannahashlee]

2 of my best friends were killed when i was 14 by a drunk driver.. He happened to be a pastor in the community and got off with just a fine!! Can you believe that crap?!?!? Honestly, whether you have 2 beers or 10 beers, its not hard to call a cab.. I am very sure that most bars will let your car stay there if you hail a cab.. or drink somewhere close enough to your house that you can walk.. Thats what I did, when my friend use to go drink.. i use to walk her home.. I vowed to not drink while my car is in the parking lot.. Its a very sad sad tragedy and its sad that someone can repeatedly be so irresponsible and not learn..

 

[WhtMa71]

Yea if you know you shouldnt be driving then by all means DO NOT DRIVE. I would call my dad to come pick me up before driving drunk.

 

[GrimJack]

The question is, how was he penalized the first three times? Furthermore, was he let off easy, and why? Last, but certainly not least, could he have avoided the crash if he were straight?

I'd like to know these facts before I make up my mind. I've seen the police and the local government run insurance company here crucify a drunk driver for getting in an accident - when his car was STOPPED. There was absolutely no way he could have avoided the accident, some stupid soccer mom in a minivan T-boned him because she was looking over her shoulder when leaving a parking lot, but the police didn't care. Bad breath, blow here sir, you're over the limit, get the cuffs and call the paddywagon, insurance corporation bent him over hard.

I'm not saying this is the case here, but there aren't enough facts in the article to say one way or another.

 

[SupraOfDoom]

I'm pretty sure that's rare man. How often do you think its the person that hasn't had the alky causing the accidents? I mean seriously... and even if it isn't... that's just another reason not to drink, then drive because you'll get nailed anyway.

That in this case... they were at a complete stop at a stop light and the guy hit them at full speed. I think if he had a history for getting in trouble with alcohol in cars, for ANY REASON... he should have decided not to drink and get in a car of his.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Grim:

Bukosky's vehicle was stopped at a traffic signal in the northbound lane of Highway 67 at Pabst Road when it was struck by the sport utility vehicle.

He was 100 &#37; at fault. There's no getting around it here.


Wrong place wrong time?!?!

I'm sorry, but BULL-FUCKING-SHIT!!!

I love to drink. I'm in college and I drink plenty. When I drink I KNOW I'm not driving my car ANYWHERE. It's not a difficult concept. You have to make a conscious decision to start drinking. If you make that decision, you better not need to drive anywhere.

 

[DreamerTheresa]

Since when can fetuses count as another "person" in homicide?

 

[WhtMa71]

I know a girl who got vehiclular homocide because she was drinking and turned left in front of a pregnant woman. Woman hit her in the side and she lived but her fetus died.

 

[GrimJack]

Since it makes for more sensationalist headlines. Which is why I don't trust the news guys further than I can throw them AND their trucks.

 

[upgradedsupra]

Err... hate to be the voice of reason, but wtf? Harsher penalties? Didn't you just post that he faces 123 years? How can you get harsher than that? Strip the flesh from their bones every week of that sentence? Inject them with liquid plumber?

You had me laughing my ass off with that comment Dave. I spilled cough over my desk you bastard.. :rofl:

On a serous note: I hate stories like this. People STILL don't learn that driving while intoxicated is dumb.

Duane

 

[ilikebigbutts]

Since when can fetuses count as another "person" in homicide?

thats cold.

What if she was nine months driving to hospital ready to pop it out?

what ever it is, the dude took away 3 lives.

 

[Sil]

I can't tell you how many times I've talked to people who went to court for a speeding ticket, and told me about the 3 or 4 DUI people there on more than one offense being let off real easy. I don't know what its gonna take for WI to crank up the severity of punishments, or for that matter enforcing them.

 

[SupraOfDoom]

Well, hopefully this is going to help change the laws... but I doubt it. Wisconsin has far too much influence from the Brewing companies and bars here...