Gerbil blamed for teen's car crash

i can totally identify with this! i once was taking my gerbil to the vet when she jumped out of the kleenex box i had her in. i reached down to grab her and she bit me so hard that i literally jerked the wheel and ran off the side of the road at about 50 miles per hour. i did get her back in the box, and luckily there wasn't anything in my way when i veered off track...

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I'm inclined to believe that, with Driver's Education now mandatory in most, if not all, states, teenagers are much more aware of the dangers of driving. In Vermont, a teenager, upon receiving his license, is not allowed to drive with his friends (I'm not sure, but I believe he must have a responsible, licensed adult, if anyone) for something like six months, which gives him time to become used to the many problems that can arise.
A problem I often see, however, is "adults" driving around with dogs in their laps,sticking their heads out of the drivers' windows. This is absolutely stupid and dangerous! Some states now require pets to be restrained, either by a seat belt or a cage. That may save a lot of lives!

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reading the "average" comments on the pages on the internet is stunningly depressing these days. At least 80 % totally ignore the very real,very depressing , very wrong and aggravating things that "we" (the people, all of us), have allowed to come to pass in our society. The victims here were ignored, (they could of course sue in civil court at THEIR expense naturally)
some sleeze murders someone , they have all the representation they need, a victim must provide their own ? Being FORCED by state law to carry insurance but be at the mercy of PRIVATE , PROFIT MOTIVATED COMPANIES to obtain it ? a very few SCUM
living like GODS in washington on OUR $ while families decide on food or heat?
but all the little airhead public wants (evidently , since , by it's very nature internet , tv, etc. panders the the common denominater ,greatest audience , what sells ,sells)
if that is how juvinile , immature , and idiotic our society has gotten
we're about 100 years away from extinction !
really bites

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I believe all teenagers should get their drivers liscences early. That way they can register for the draft and become fully familiar with driving vehicles before being placed in a humvee at age 17 or 18 and driving in the war.

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The child should obviously have been cited for her failure to use a GTS (Gerbil Travel Society) approved five point rodent safety restraint system. Just as obviously, the unnamed, gerbil is clearly headed for a career of crime and no doubt will be soon be sticking his head out the car window as wantonly as any German Shepherd ever did. There should be at least one, and preferably five or six laws criminalizing such behavior by humans and gerbils, for the safety of the traveling public. Fortunately, there is good news. Since this entire fiasco is clearly the fault of President Bush and his administration, the new Democratic administration will soon be able to correct this obamination. Statistics also show that just as soon as the new Democratic regime has generally regimented gerbil gadabouts, the price of gasoline per gallon will drop.

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At least she did have it secured in a cage. I will give her a pat on the back for that, but, by it getting out, she should have pulled over, and tried to retrive it, put it back in the cage, and save all the rucuss. I know animals should be restrained like babies, but sometimes they manage to get out. As an animal lover, I hope a lesson is found, and she take better care of her gerbil, so it dosen't get hurt, or cause a flare up on the roadway. I forgive you this time, but now what about the other people that were hurt. That's a job and 1/2. Good Luck....

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The advantage to this case is civil law requires less stringent evidence to win a case. I am sure the victims will sue the girl and her insurance and win. A valuable lesson for th girl as it will go against her insurance and her rates will jump dramatically. I think she should have been cited. Hopoefully her victims make a full recovery and win a lawsuit against this idiot. Just think she may be able to vote in November.

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I can relate to this story. I was driving and a 18 year old girl who had passed her driving test three days earlier turned in front of me on a gree light. I impacte her car but wasn't going fast. I got out and went o make sure she was ok. Her response was didn't you see the red light. I was going south and she was going north. I just backed off and waited for the police to arrive. The officer came uop and asked me what happened. I said why don't you ask her first. He said ok and went to the girl. She told him i had ran a ran light. He said that if i had run a red light so had she. She then said she thought it was a four way stop. I let her talk herself into the ticket as i knew she would. The officer realized why i referred him to her first. A week later i saw her driving another new car. She didn't learn from her mistake.

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My sister-in-law was the woman who was pinned between the trucks.
We understand the comments that people make about the gerbil and the driver. The story when read as a headline or two second blub is funny or absurd and we know that is the only reason this story is getting any attention. We would like there to be a little less coverage on the health of the gerbil though and more about how serious my sisters injuries were. She is still in the ICU and currently is looking at amputation of the crushed leg. I wish people could know that there is so much more to the story than Richard Gere Jokes.
As for the driver, I know it would be easy to get angry at her but I'm not. That isn't to say I haven't had an angry moment but I have come to terms with the accident and I understand how terrible this must be for her as well. She is so young and has a long life ahead of her with the burden of knowing what her mistake has cost. My heart goes out to her for that. I would never wish that on anyone. It isn't as if she chose her gerbil over my sisters leg. It was poor judgement, yes but I think it is unfair to say that she won't learn from this experience. And it is callus to surmise she feels no guilt or accountability. I believe that it is fair and correct for her to be cited and to pay the penalty that the law sets forth, whatever that may be. I do not wish her any ill will though. If she is not cited I don't see how that is even her fault. It will be the fault of the police if she isn't. Really, our only concern with the citation is related to making it easier on my sister to recieve the care she needs from the insurance company. It is not to make the driver suffer more than I imagine she already is. If her mom reads this I would like to say our prayers are with your daughter as well and we appreciate your comments and concern.

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Friends don't let friends drive with gerbils.

That being said, my heart goes out to all involved and I hope for a speedy recovery, both physically and emotionally.

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