Cory Gloe (left) is facing a somewhat novel charge in New York’s Nassau County for his involvement in a tragic crash that killed five teenagers and injured two other people. Gloe, 18, was not in any of the cars that crashed. Rather, he is facing manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for allegedly goaded another driver into participating in a street race.
Tristan Reichle, 17, appears the most responsible for the crash. Reichle (right) died with his four passengers when he veered across the median and struck an oncoming SUV. Two people in the SUV were injured. Court records show Reichle was legally impaired at the time with a blood-alcohol level of 0.07.
Gloe’s lawyer insists that there is no evidence that his client was participating in a drag race. The question could become whether goading is enough as the foundation for such serious felony charges. However, police insist that Gloe stopped at a red light in the lane next to Reichle and challenged him to a race several times. A race then ensued with Reichle losing control of his 2001 Nissan. He was killed in the crash along with Jesse Romero, 18; Carly Lonborg, 14; Noah Francis, 15; and Cody Talanian, 17, was died later.
There is also the possibility of civil liability against Gloe though the plaintiff conduct issues in such a case would be extremely difficult to overcome for the families of the dead teenagers. The senseless loss for these families is obviously incredible. On one hand, if Gloe was the instigator of the drag race, it would seem that charges are appropriate, though some would argue that reckless driving and lower charges would be more appropriate. What strikes me as difficult in unraveling the issue of who instigated the race in such a circumstance. It is not clear who the surviving witnesses are. The police clearly have some basis to alleged that Gloe repeatedly challenged Reichle. Teenagers are known to act in stupid ways, including drag racing. In this case, it appears that does drivers acted stupidly. However, at what point does the other teen become criminal liable for murder?
Do you think that the teenager should face a murder (manslaughter) charge in such a case?
I dared Obutthead to nuke Moscow. Am I now responsible for WWIII?
@vad This is just my (uninformed) opinion and I am only speculating based on the limited description of events given by the article. I am concerned as this seems like a case of “punishment that does not fit the crime”, or a case of the prosecution proceeding on some false premise leading to an unjust punishment. Perhaps I missed something?
My speculation is that two kids were waiting at a red light, one revved his motor and both drivers decided on a whim and bad judgement to go ahead with the plan.
Immature kids who have been brought up watching movies that have glamorized drag racing, thought they could pull this off. (of course the movie says ‘don’t try this at home’. There are disclaimers on everything). One could say “Don’t try this (wink, wink)” or even ” I am not allowed to advise you about this matter, but if I drop a piece paper and walk out the room for a confidential but absolutely urgent call on my cell, you may not read it” (nudge nudge)
The passengers would probably have given their input on the decision to race or not. If the adjacent car is revving its motor, everyone would have known what was up. They may have said, “no, don’t race” or “yeah lets beat this guy”
What I meant was that (IMHO) this wasn’t organized. Something like, they weren’t regular racers deciding on using a public road to facilitate their hobby. They weren’t even casual strangers walking toward their cars, then entertaining the idea of a race on a public road.
There wasn’t a pre-agreed ‘conspiracy’ or plan between them. No money.
Also it wasn’t like Cory influenced the dead driver in a coercive manner. The dead driver in reality had nothing to gain, and nothing to lose. It was a decision on a whim, something more of bad judgement rather than intent to do anything.
Hypnosis is of course unlikely, but was a stupid extreme. The dead driver was well aware of his actions, only that he thought he could get away with a small victimless fun.
Who really instigated the race? I am not sure, but if, hypothetically, Cory pulled up at the red light and revved his motor as a joke, just as a sarcastic innuendo that he was a “racer”, then was going to laugh and say “no, not really, I was only kidding”. But the now dead driver of the other vehicle, displayed an intent to race and that |he| was absolutely serious about the idea. And then the worried Cory started feeling more and more pressurized to participate, regretting what he had got himself into (just as hypothetical lemma).
Of course this was unlikely, but when I think about it like that, then it seems obvious that both parties escalated from entertaining an idea into an active decision to do it in reality. If the deceased had simply declined then this wouldn’t have started.
I am not sure about holding someone else’s bad driving, negligence and bad decisions on Cory.
This guy was 17, meaning he was not allowed to drink either. In South Africa the age is 18, but I think in New York the allowed age is 21. They could say the supplier of alcohol is also to blame and also committed a criminal act of either supplying or selling alcohol to him.
That would seem just as extreme. Should that person be charged with the alcohol infraction or the whole murder charge like Cory.
Maybe my opinion should have been this hypothetical case of including the alcohol supplier : After the fact, both of them would agree they made mistakes and stupid decisions. What they won’t agree to is going to the extreme of feeling guilty of murder, because that is ridiculous.
If the the case was that drugs were in the system of the dead driver, the police would possibly even have tried holding the dealer on the same charge.
I just hope that a fair trial takes place, and that in the end Coryt ends up getting a verdict that is fair.
I never watched Jackass.
My take on this is that the prosecution is way overblown. Take away his drivers license for a year. Then only let him drive a golf cart for another year.
Parents need to advise their brats not to drag race. They need to advise them not to smoke tobacco or do drugs. When things fail dont blame others. Dont blame yourself but dont blame others.
Squeek, The Fast and Furious producers probably have the phrase, “Don’t try this @ home, kids” in the credits. I’m guessing some folks here have never watched, Jackass.
Well, I think they ought to arrest Vin Diesel, and the whole Fast & Furious cast, crew, and production company. Then, Apple and Amazon ought to stop selling copies of the movies, and take off any apps they sell which show drag racing!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Bam bam
I forgot to mention there were signs posted ‘No Swimming’.