8-24-2011 update: Irvine World News featured the following article related to the discussion between the city of Irvine and Ashton's parents about what to do with the memorial on the corner of the intersection where this accident took place.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/memorial-313773-city-sweet.html
7-1-2011 update: Added the following YouTube video of the accident, interviews etc.
14 Year old Ashton Sweet Rest in Peace 1996-2011
It was another early Sunday morning as I rolled out of bed, got into my gym outfit and began the monotonous 7 minute drive to 24 hour fitness half asleep, searching incessantly for good music with little time and luck. Within less than a couple of blocks to my place, my forward progress through Irvine blvd. from Culver stopped. I was forced to make a right turn and figure out how to detour to the gym. To my left, a smashed black Mercedes sat motionless on the sidewalk next to the stop light pole. No one was inside, and no ambulances were on the scene. From the police presence and the extent of traffic diversion, I figured this must have been a fatality accident, and roads leading to the scene were blocked to give investigators room to do their work.
While I type this entry, a 14 year old girl by the name of Ashton Sweet lays brain dead in the hospital on life support, waiting to have her organs donated. Here is an LA Times article on the story, and a KTLA video of the criminal's profile.
I snapped the following picture with my cell phone on my way back from the gym (Mercedes is on the right bottom corner). Below that is another picture from the OC Register.
There were 5 occupants in the Mercedes; a 48 year old Irvine resident who was driving 4 teenage girls home at 1:15 a.m. from a birthday party when the accident happened. A Toyota pickup truck driven by 26 year old and suspected DUI Irvine resident, Austin Farley ran a red light and hit the Mercedes. Farley and his passenger were unharmed. Farley is a repeat DUI offender among other offenses has has committed. He is being held in the OC Jail on a $100K bail.
Below is an image of Ashton Sweet and the 48 year old Mercedes driver after his release from the hospital.
A tragic story inflicted by a repeat offender who was warned by a judge if he killed anyone under the influence, he could be tried for murder in Orange County. It's a pity useless people can't be shipped off to space on some planet and left to fend for themselves. So Mr. Farley killed someone and taxpayers will pay for his room and board, food and health care for the remainder of his life.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/memorial-313773-city-sweet.html
7-1-2011 update: Added the following YouTube video of the accident, interviews etc.
14 Year old Ashton Sweet Rest in Peace 1996-2011
It was another early Sunday morning as I rolled out of bed, got into my gym outfit and began the monotonous 7 minute drive to 24 hour fitness half asleep, searching incessantly for good music with little time and luck. Within less than a couple of blocks to my place, my forward progress through Irvine blvd. from Culver stopped. I was forced to make a right turn and figure out how to detour to the gym. To my left, a smashed black Mercedes sat motionless on the sidewalk next to the stop light pole. No one was inside, and no ambulances were on the scene. From the police presence and the extent of traffic diversion, I figured this must have been a fatality accident, and roads leading to the scene were blocked to give investigators room to do their work.
While I type this entry, a 14 year old girl by the name of Ashton Sweet lays brain dead in the hospital on life support, waiting to have her organs donated. Here is an LA Times article on the story, and a KTLA video of the criminal's profile.
I snapped the following picture with my cell phone on my way back from the gym (Mercedes is on the right bottom corner). Below that is another picture from the OC Register.
There were 5 occupants in the Mercedes; a 48 year old Irvine resident who was driving 4 teenage girls home at 1:15 a.m. from a birthday party when the accident happened. A Toyota pickup truck driven by 26 year old and suspected DUI Irvine resident, Austin Farley ran a red light and hit the Mercedes. Farley and his passenger were unharmed. Farley is a repeat DUI offender among other offenses has has committed. He is being held in the OC Jail on a $100K bail.
Below is an image of Ashton Sweet and the 48 year old Mercedes driver after his release from the hospital.
