Edwards' daughter Cate hit by drunk driver in "minor" accident

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Democrat John Edwards said Monday his daughter Cate is doing fine after she was involved in a car accident over the weekend that was reportedly caused by a drunk driver.

"I talked to Cate last night, she was hit from behind, I think by a drunk driver, and any other details, they'll have to tell you," Edwards said while campaigning in South Carolina. "I don't know much more beyond that. But she's doing fine."

According to CNN affiliate WTVD, Cate Edwards's car was struck from behind in Chapel Hill, North Carolina Friday afternoon by a man who was driving at twice the legal blood-alcohol limit. More than $2,000 worth of damage was caused to Edwards' 2007 Ford.

John Edwards is currently in a campaign swing through South Carolina ahead of that state's January 26 Democratic primary.

Edwards' campaign described the accident as "minor."


Cate Edwards was involved in a car accident Friday.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/14/edwards-daughter-hit-by-drunk-driver/

[CottonBear]

1. I'm so glad she's OK.

My sister is very lucky to be here after having her car struck from behind by a drunk driver.

[cboy4]

2. He must want to throw up considering his little boy was

killed in a car crash.

[Missy M]

3. I'm glad it was only a minor accident....

and she wasn't injured.

[Faygo Kid]

4. That must have sent a chill through them.

May they never, ever hear of another one of their children being involved in a traffic accident, no matter how minor.

[AnneD]

9. How scary for them....

I recently read the NY Times piece about Wade's death and hoop it affected them. That is the last thing this family needs to happen.

[midnight]

22. I agree!!!

[brentspeak]

5. Dupe

[Happyhippychick]

6. How horrifying for that family. They must still have post traumatic stress disorder

from their son's accident.

Thank goddess she is okay.

[Hulk]

7. Sure it wasn't one of the bush litter?

[bluestateguy]

8. Drunk drivers need to be permanently banned from driving

I don't know why we don't do that in this country. A driver's license is a privilege, not a right.

[Tunkamerica]

10. And in most places a necessity

...taking away a license for some equals no job, then no home. Not sticking up for drunk drivers (though 2 of my friends have gone through the interloc year) just pointing out the reality that cars are neccessary in most places.

[bluestateguy]

11. well, that's something people need to think about before they drive drunk

And maybe when they are homeless and jobless they will think about the consequences of drunk driving.

[Mithreal]

14. I wouldn't wish homelessness or joblessness on anyone

That said, I agree that we are way too lenient with the offenders. Cheney and Bush are both multiple time offenders. Certain crimes like DUI should prevent people from holding the highest offices, shows very reckless judgment.

[Tunkamerica]

19. Yeah, good plan

and the 45 yr old who made a bad decision at 21 should pay for the rest of their life?

Also, homelessness and joblessness tends to make people more prone to alcoholism, and all the associated ills that go along with it.

A measured approach is the best, with the penalty fitting the circumstances of the case. Is the person driving at 0.09 the same as someone at 0.30? Would taking licenses only apply to alcohol? What about pills? There's no roadside test for that.

These simplistic "let's take their license away" answers would never work in the real world. And the unintended consequences would be numerous.

[aquart]

16. And drunk drivers provide income for the funeral industry.

So they're important to the local economy.

[Ilsa]

17. They should to be made to purchase the ignition breathylizer.

My sister in law wants to get her license back, but the $10,000 fee to restore it is impossible for her to pay. She can afford the breathylizer. She's been sober for three years now, and very productive. I admire her attitude and her strength in recovering.

[Debi]

13. States try

but there is no physical way to keep a person from getting into a car and driving (unless they are in jail). Revoking driver's licenses doesn't work, they just keep driving and eventually keep drinking and driving. x(

[OhioChick]

12. Glad to Hear That She's Doing Fine....

This Family has been through too much trauma.

[flasoapbox]

15. Good lord

I'm glad she wasn't hurt. You'd think Elizabeth having cancer would
be enough to deal with on its own...

[GETPLANING]

18. Mandatory jail time for DWI conviction, 1st offense.

Keep doubling the jail time for subsequent offenses. DWI would cease to plague us overnight.
Australia did it, and their emergency rooms were able to cut back on staff by 50%.

[depakid]

20. I think you might want to review Australian state laws

and health care policy... cause that's just not true.

While Ozzie drink driving laws tend to tougher than many US states (and there are breathalizer stops- like at 8:00 in the morning after New Years' day) there's still plenty of drink driving.

And plenty of non-alcohol related accidents... even though general taffic laws are also much tougher than what one sees in the states, and in NSW, they're often enforced by speed and light cameras!

[Raine]

21. Fucking drunk drivers

I hate them, my boyfriend's sister was killed by a lousy drunk driver. :mad: :cry:

[DeepModem Mom]

24. How tragic -- I'm so sorry, Raine. nt

[Infinite Hope]

23. I wonder where. I stayed in Chapel Hill for about 8 months last year and got to know the area well.

...probably near UNC, an enormous campus with many bars along its edge.

[NastyRiffraff]

25. Thank God she's okay!

That had to shake up John and Elizabeth for a moment, though.

Cate is a beautiful young woman, physically and spiritually.

[Occulus]

26. I'm glad to hear she's OK

I wasn't drunk, but one night when I was 19 or 20 I was driving home after being up for over 24 hours (yes, I know, stupid stupid stupid), I fell asleep at the wheel and hit a box planter in front of someone's house, blew both passenger side tires, snapped the guywire of a telephone pole, and came within six inches of wrapping my truck around the pole itself. Thankfully, I was unhurt.

Another time, I was on my way to work in icy conditions and hit a patch of completely invisible black ice as I turned onto the road the factory was on. I fishtailed for about a quarter of a mile, trying to regain control, before I went into a ditch and hit a tree. I was only going about 25 mph, and so the only thing that died was the car (it was an old junker anyway).

Nothing alcohol-related, though.

As an aside: how is it that some people manage to look just fabulous wearing no real makeup and out-'n-'bout clothing? With an $.89 cup of joe from the local Stop 'n Rob, even?

(only half :sarcasm: because she really does look nice in that pic)

[BreweryYardRat]

27. I swear, I'm getting paranoid.

With a post title like that, you can probably guess what the first thought that went through my mind was.

(Thanks for the fearful, paranoid upbringing, Mom, you pathetic old bitch.)