Michael Hastings' accident

[malaise]

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-michael-hastings-death-remains-under-investigation-20130618,0,3250908.story?track=rss
<snip>
Authorities are continuing to sort out the details of an auto accident that apparently claimed the life of award-winning journalist Michael Hastings.

The death of the 33-year-old Hastings was announced by his employer, BuzzFeed, which said he died in a Los Angeles car accident.

But the Los Angeles county coroner's office had yet to determine Tuesday night whether a body recovered from a fiery car crash was that of Hastings.

The body was badly charred and identified only as "John Doe 117," law enforcement authorities told the Los Angeles Times.

Coroner's officials were attempting to match dental records to help make a positive identification, according to authorities.

Hastings' stories, though, were not easily forgotten. Rolling Stone noted Tuesday the breadth of his coverage, despite his youth: an expose of American drone attacks, an exclusive interview with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and a look at the Army's use of "psychological operations" to influence sitting senators. He also reported on the presidential campaigns of 2008 and 2012.
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[stopbush]

1. Accidents happen. You seem to be suggesting that there's something nefarious going on here.

The police are simply following what would seem to be a rational procedure, ie: don't say you've identified the body until you've gone through the same ID process you'd go through for anybody else found in such a condition.

[malaise]

2. I posted a report from the LA Times n/t

[stopbush]

3. Yes, but you highlighted parts of the article, which I'm sure the LAT hadn't highlighted.

Why?

[Berlum]

5. Stuff like this in times like these warrants hard skepticism

Hastings would have brought the same skeptical rigor to the situation. Youbetcha.

[stopbush]

6. Yawn! Every shadow isn't a mugger, youbetcha.

[reformist2]

13. That's right. Yawn. Go back to sleep.

[Berlum]

17. But only a damn fool would FAIL to peer into the shadow to discern the truth

Some shadows are indeed benign or accidents. Some are not. To FAIL ask questions in this case, in my view, would be a clear and dangerous dereliction of journalistic responsibility.

[monmouth3]

4. From the same article.

His 2010 Rolling Stone profile of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, "The Runaway General," exposed the general and his staff's disdain for their superiors, including National Security Advisor James L. Jones, Vice President Joe Biden and President Obama.

While other reporters had been charmed by McChrystal's locker-room-style banter, Hastings believed the chatter had a darker edge. The reporter had the good fortune of being hunkered down for more than a week with the commander and his staff in Europe as they waited out air traffic delays caused by a volcano eruption in Iceland.

During the delay, Hastings recorded the officers deriding Biden as "Bite Me," belittling America's French allies as "gay," and calling Jones, a retired four-star general, a "clown."

McChrystal had previously antagonized the Obama administration by using the media to promote a troop build-up in Afghanistan. The Rolling Stone article proved one breach too many for Obama. The president recalled the general to Washington, where McChrystal offered his resignation.

My own note: Being burned beyond recognition and being alone does raise questions.

[stopbush]

7. Because SOP in this country for a journalist exposing military people calling Biden "Bite me"

is assassination in a burning car?

[monmouth3]

9. I posted part of an article in the LA Times...n/t

[KamaAina]

14. I doubt it was revenge for the McChrystal story

but he may well have been working on something even more inflammatory.

[sabrina 1]

22. No, everyone knows that SOP for the murder of inconvenient people include:

Shooting themselves twice or three times in the back of the head, dead after the first shot.

Flying on small planes.

Killed by friendly fire in a war zone.

Falling out of windows. That one isn't used too often.

Slamming into trees at race car driver speeds? It would be a first I think.

[malaise]

10. That simple

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. His Ford Pinto tank exploded

throwing the motor 30 feet.



Oh, wait it was a Mercedes


Never mind.

[Malik Agar]

11. The more you go against elites...

...the more likely an accident is going to happen to you.

[KamaAina]

12. What was he working on?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[malaise]

15. I do wonder if he was working on surveillance

Rolling Stone noted Tuesday the breadth of his coverage, despite his youth: an expose of American drone attacks, an exclusive interview with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and a look at the Army's use of "psychological operations" to influence sitting senators. He also reported on the presidential campaigns of 2008 and 2012.

From the LA Times article
----------------------------
Hopefully we'll find out what happened here - could be a clear warning to others - something doesn't add up.

[KamaAina]

16. DING DING DING!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023047899

[malaise]

18. More here

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=9143088



http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-melrose-collision-20130618,0,7080273.story


The solo-vehicle crash happened near the intersection of Highland and Melrose avenues around 4:15 a.m., according to the LAPD.

Hastings’ Mercedes-Benz slammed into a tree and caught fire.

“I was just coming northbound on Highland and I seen a car going really fast, and all of a sudden I seen it jackknife,” said Luis Cortez, who witnessed the wreck.

“I just seen parts fly everywhere and I slammed on my brakes and stopped and tried to call 911,” Cortez added.

The engine of the vehicle was found in a yard about 100 feet away.

Read more: http://ktla.com/2013/06/19/driver-killed-in-fiery-car-crash-in-hollywood/#ixzz2Wh0PjuRF

[librechik]

20. tell me this is normal for exploding car to shoot engine 100 feet away

on gasoline power alone. Please.

[Ichingcarpenter]

21. Mercedes' engines are known to

blow out and hurl 100 feet after hitting a tree....


BTW... local resident said it sounded like an explosion the house shook his windows rattled.

&feature=youtu.be&t=48s

[closeupready]

19. If he was speeding, I'm curious what his driving record was like.

That is, was he generally a reckless driver, or was he as diligent in his driving responsibilities as he was with his journalism?