When car and carriage collide

[angelawence11]

That's horrible! The city of Atlanta takes so many precautions to make sure that it is safe and friendly for FIRST students. Incidents like this counter everything that they are trying to do!
I just hope that everybody was ok....

[gvarndell]

Originally Posted by angelawence11

That's horrible! The city of Atlanta takes so many precautions to make sure that it is safe and friendly for FIRST students. Incidents like this counter everything that they are trying to do!
I just hope that everybody was ok....

On that note, I would like to commend the city officials and police for a job well done.
I was pleasantly surprised to NOT be accosted even once by a panhandler.
Was in Chicago couple months ago and couldn't walk a block without encountering a beggar -- some of them aggressive and rude!
I don't think the stupidity of the driver(s) that caused this blemished the city at all.

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by gvarndell

On that note, I would like to commend the city officials and police for a job well done.
I was pleasantly surprised to NOT be accosted even once by a panhandler.
Was in Chicago couple months ago and couldn't walk a block without encountering a beggar -- some of them aggressive and rude!
I don't think the stupidity of the driver(s) that caused this blemished the city at all.

Not when the volunteers got let out each night. I had to deal with numerous ones. Even one in the walk way between the two Omni hotel buildings.

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier

Not when the volunteers got let out each night. I had to deal with numerous ones. Even one in the walk way between the two Omni hotel buildings.

The Omni had security personnel everywhere I looked while there. I was surprised that someone posing as a traveler entered the elevator with us, suitcase and all, and then hit us up for $. Naive me.

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by KathieK

The Omni had security personnel everywhere I looked while there. I was surprised that someone posing as a traveler entered the elevator with us, suitcase and all, and then hit us up for $. Naive me.

Yeah, that guy was in a suit with a briefcase, it was also around midnight of friday night. (just left a wonderful scouting meeting with a different team)

[Penny]

The driver was charged with violation of the open container law and driving with a suspended license. I think it should be clear what is to blame for this accident.

Some of the students from our team were very close too. In fact, there were so many people around that I am amazed (and so very thankful) that the only ones hurt were the ones in the car and the carriage. Our team continues to pray for those hurt -- especially the one who was listed in critical condition.

We pray also for those of you who witnessed this tragedy and for the emotional aftermath you are dealing with.

[ayeckley]

Originally Posted by Penny

We pray also for those of you who witnessed this tragedy and for the emotional aftermath you are dealing with.

Fortunately, we had enough of our wits about us that we were able to warn away what appeared to be a group of mothers and their 8 to 10 year old-ish daughters (maybe an FLL team?) before they got to the top of the hill and came upon the accident. I'm glad we could at least do that much; as a Dad of daughters in that age range I can't begin to imagine the potential "emotional aftermath" there [shudder].

[dangerousdave]

All of the human victims including 3 Nebraska carriage riders are home recovering. Cristy the 7 year old horse is getting an early retirement and is being put out to pasture. She suffered only a scratch in the accident. The people were not as lucky and the 28 year old car driver is facing charges.
Dave

[Isaac501]

That accident was only a few feet from our hotel, and I am very glad to have not seen any of it. Watching the news that night was horrifying enough knowing there were teams and parents and mentors mere feet away from that terrible scene.

I hope the best for the folks hurt in the carriage and I'm glad the horse is okay and getting an early retirement.

[Ryutso]

108 came through there soon afterward and saw the carriage carnage. We had to walk around it to get to Azio's where we were eating. We didn't know what happened, but someone on the team guessed that a car hit the carriage.

[Cynette]

Originally Posted by dangerousdave

All of the human victims including 3 Nebraska carriage riders are home recovering. Cristy the 7 year old horse is getting an early retirement and is being put out to pasture. She suffered only a scratch in the accident. The people were not as lucky and the 28 year old car driver is facing charges.
Dave

Thank you for the update on the carriage riders and on Cristy!

Originally Posted by KathieK

The Omni had security personnel everywhere I looked while there. I was surprised that someone posing as a traveler entered the elevator with us, suitcase and all, and then hit us up for $. Naive me.

We had a man start to get on the elevator with us and then asked us to use our key card for his floor since he forgot it. The smell of alcohol was strong, so everyone in the elevator declined and he got back off. Everyone was quite relieved when the elevator door closed.