Comments :: Raleigh man pleads guilty in New Year's Day 2012 hit-and-run

Raleigh man pleads guilty in New Year's Day 2012 hit-and-run

Click here to return to the Story

13 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

page 1 \| 2
<prev	next>

sort order: oldest first | newest first

MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF SOMEONE WHO LEAVES THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT! There are people dying!

OneLove
February 5, 2013 9:32 a.m.

Report abuse

I would like to know how speeding, hit-n-run, and lying is an "...unavoidable accident"? I guess only someone paid to lie can state something like that.

64 days in jail for murderous driving. That's not a bad deal for Rechel.

also, I'm pretty sure there is an aggressive driver with a red truck in the Google reference map street view. More documentation of bad driving problems we have in Raleigh.

LocalYokel
February 5, 2013 8:33 a.m.

Report abuse

"Also, he cared enough about his truck to get it repaired but not enough about the woman to go and report this. Big UNC Fan

I think he was trying to fix his truck to hide the fact that he had been in a fatal accident - not because he cared about fixing it necessarily.

Wendellcatlover
February 4, 2013 4:08 p.m.

Report abuse

"stewed in his worry. He made a terrible decision in an unavoidable accident," Waller said.

It may have been an unavoidable accident, but hit and run is a crime. Judges - quit coddling these lawbreakers, and hand down some sentences that actually mean something!!! There have been ssssoooooo many hit and runs lately, and sorry, but I don't think this sentence will do anything to deter the next one!

Wendellcatlover
February 4, 2013 4:04 p.m.

Report abuse

The problem is he Lives with it every day she does not get that chance

sunshine1040
February 4, 2013 3:32 p.m.

Report abuse

re: Drinking and driving:

Way to make up a lie out of nothing. Mr. Rechel has no prior record, Ms. Johnson was the one who had been drinking and stepped out in front of his truck.

It is actually possible to drive around New Years without drinking, and pedestrians / bicyclists can surprise you.

He shouldn't have left, he should have tried to help Ms. Johnson, but he panicked, and that doesn't require alcohol.

From my own experience: LEOs can actually be hugely helpful in accidents. If you have an accident, call 911. It may save a life.

babbleon
February 4, 2013 3:16 p.m.

Report abuse

Again, we have drinkers in the news - stay away from the bottle and the wheel!!! Another life lost!! terrible - my thoughts and prayers are for her family. Terrible!!!

marciamal1
February 4, 2013 2:33 p.m.

Report abuse

@Jimmytwotimes- "Obviously he left the scene cause he was drinking and didn't want to get felony death by motor vehicle"

"obviously"? The article stated that Ms. Johnson was drinking, not Mr. Rechel suecrane2005

I would tend to agree that he "probably" was drinking. His actions AND inaction screams out: "I was drinking, I paniced, I kept my mouth shut and let her die in the street, I didn't come forward as any decent person would, and I went to the junkyard to get my truck fixed so I wouldn't get caught because I thought more of the truck than the lady I left lying in the street."

So, it sounds about right to me "He was drinking and driving and killed someone."