The Los Angeles Times ran this story yesterday:
Widow of 'Singing Cowboy' Gene Autry kills pedestrian while driving in Palm Springs
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Jackie Autry struck 50-year-old Jesus Cardova Diaz as she was driving on Sunrise Way, north of Ramon Road, said Det. Steve Woodward, a traffic investigator with the Palm Springs Police Department.
Diaz was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center, where he later died, Woodward said.
Diaz, who was believed to be homeless, was not in a crosswalk when he was struck. Autry was not cited and did not undergo a blood alcohol test because it was clear she was not under the influence, Woodward said.
Investigators were awaiting autopsy results to see if Diaz was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.While I think it is important to not make judgements regarding culpability in these sorts of events, since I was not there and do not know all the facts, some of the letters and comments showed that the old class war is in full swing. Some of the commenters' toady and obsequious tone illustrates the effect that wealth and privilege obviously have on our judgements. And conversely many people are willing to hang her as well for being a rich, white lady. Anyway some really good snark here.
...there is clearly no racial profiling here. This is a woman of status, class and high society who probably was educated in the finest private schools of America. She probably pays more taxes in one year than the alleged victim paid in his lifetime. She probably also donates her time and monies to charity, too.
While it is very tragic that a homeless person was killed, it is highly probable that he was unemployed and an addict of some sort, so drug testing for him is more than reasonable given the totality of the circumstances.
What is missing from this report is at what time did the accident occur and were there any witnesses. I can almost guarantee you that a person of Ms. Autry's class and status would not intentionally run over a homeless person. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Autry family and the Diaz family.
Lisa Byer's USC '81
By "it was clear she wasn't under the influence" they meant to say she was a rich, white lady.
Posted by: Jess
I just hope that the damage to Jackie's car was minimal and she is not too inconvenienced during the time it takes to get it repaired. The dead guy's family should be forced to pay for those repairs and kick in a little extra for the inconvenience.
Posted by: Caring Compassionate Progressive
Rich white people don't mean to hurt the homeless, they just get in the way.
Posted by: Jack Meoph
Check his residency status as well, and then save some money on the investigation...
Posted by: Bruce
I lived in Palm Springs for three years, and in fact, near the area where Mr. Ramos was killed. Many of the streets in this area and other areas of Palm Springs do not have sidewalks, let alone crosswalks. There's the road, and sand on the side of the road. You either slog through sand or walk on the edge of the road. Personally, I preferred to walk on the edge of the road. I seriously doubt that you can say Mr. Ramos was walking illegally in the street. I would say human life has the right of way sidewalk / crosswalk or not...
Posted by: Cliff
Why all the outrage ? ..... Jackie did society a favor, Jesus is in a better (hope!) place, CA taxpayers save a little money, crime rate in Palm Springs goes down a smidge....that's called a win win people !
Posted by: Buffaloes R the new PAC-12 Doormat
Did she run him over with the Cadillac, the Bentley or the Jag?
How come she didn't appear to be under the influence?
I drove once a Bentley and I felt instantly intoxicated!
Posted by: Martini | November 30, 2010 at 04:27 PM
Hey, can I shoot someone and have their corpse's criminal record checked?
My husband pays more taxes than some people, so they owe me!
Posted by: Hm
Cops only investigate for intoxication if they have reason to-nothing to do with wealth or race. The woman was clearly not drunk-she was going the speed limit and hit a person breaking the law by jaywalking.
Posted by: Amalgamate
While it is very tragic that a homeless person was killed, it is highly probable that he was unemployed and an addict of some sort, so drug testing for him is more than reasonable given the totality of the circumstances.
What is missing from this report is at what time did the accident occur and were there any witnesses. I can almost guarantee you that a person of Ms. Autry's class and status would not intentionally run over a homeless person. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Autry family and the Diaz family.
Lisa Byer's USC '81
By "it was clear she wasn't under the influence" they meant to say she was a rich, white lady.
Posted by: Jess
I just hope that the damage to Jackie's car was minimal and she is not too inconvenienced during the time it takes to get it repaired. The dead guy's family should be forced to pay for those repairs and kick in a little extra for the inconvenience.
Posted by: Caring Compassionate Progressive
Rich white people don't mean to hurt the homeless, they just get in the way.
Posted by: Jack Meoph
Check his residency status as well, and then save some money on the investigation...
Posted by: Bruce
I lived in Palm Springs for three years, and in fact, near the area where Mr. Ramos was killed. Many of the streets in this area and other areas of Palm Springs do not have sidewalks, let alone crosswalks. There's the road, and sand on the side of the road. You either slog through sand or walk on the edge of the road. Personally, I preferred to walk on the edge of the road. I seriously doubt that you can say Mr. Ramos was walking illegally in the street. I would say human life has the right of way sidewalk / crosswalk or not...
Posted by: Cliff
Why all the outrage ? ..... Jackie did society a favor, Jesus is in a better (hope!) place, CA taxpayers save a little money, crime rate in Palm Springs goes down a smidge....that's called a win win people !
Posted by: Buffaloes R the new PAC-12 Doormat
Did she run him over with the Cadillac, the Bentley or the Jag?
How come she didn't appear to be under the influence?
I drove once a Bentley and I felt instantly intoxicated!
Posted by: Martini | November 30, 2010 at 04:27 PM
Hey, can I shoot someone and have their corpse's criminal record checked?
My husband pays more taxes than some people, so they owe me!
Posted by: Hm
Cops only investigate for intoxication if they have reason to-nothing to do with wealth or race. The woman was clearly not drunk-she was going the speed limit and hit a person breaking the law by jaywalking.
Stop hating the rich-theyre paying vast majority of taxes in this country to keep this country safe and upkeep. Be a little more grateful.
Posted by: Amalgamate
Unfortunately, they wouldn't publish my comment but rest assured it was a beaut! They are all worth a read if you go back to the original article.
I still can't get past the fact that Gene Autry's widow looks like a gay man in drag.
ReplyDeleteThat ain't no woman! It's a man, baby!"
WD
such a graceless comment, WD.
ReplyDeleteGo to the Desert Sun newspaper on line and read their article about this unfortunate tragedy. There are over 100 comments.
ReplyDeleteMy take is that it is almost like a Tom Wolfe novel, however no one would think you could make up this episode of culture clash. Our thoughts and prayers go out to both the deceased and Mrs. Autrey.
Sorry Grumpy.
ReplyDeleteShe just looked so much like Mrs. Doubtfire I couldn't resist. And she is a celebrity of sorts so that whole "tabloid mentality" thing just kind of took hold.
And to be honest I had just read the Dessert Sun's article on the accident and was pissed off at the way things were handled.
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20101130/NEWS01/11300312/Jackie-Autry-was-driver-in-fatal-crash
I felt it was a case of those in authority screwing the poor for being poor and rewarding the rich for being rich.
You have to remember Grumpy... Mrs. Autry had just killed a man while driving. A Mexican homeless man. Killed him dead. And what do those in authority do?
Instead of giving a Breathalyzer test to make sure she hadn't had one glass of wine to many at the Holiday dinner party she had just attended they decided to wait and check the dead homeless Mexican guy for drugs and alcohol in his system at his upcoming autopsy.
It's like Rodney Dangerfield used to say "I can't get no respect." Well neither can the poor and homeless.
So I'm sorry if I ruffled your feathers with such a graceless comment but this is a case as Mr Blue Heron pointed out in his "class war in full swing" statement of I'm rich and famous and you are a piece of worthless Mexican trash.
In closing, once again, I'm sorry if I offended anybody but I continue to stand by my original statement.
She does look like a guy in drag.
The thing that should really offend everybody is the treatment in this country of the poor, the homeless and yes... even the Mexicans.
WD
I read through the Desert Sun comments Allan. A bit more charitable crowd. Thanks for commenting.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about one thing, Window. The Adam's apple is a bit troubling.
ReplyDeleteOn the havasupai topic of a few blogs past, my ex used to go down there. Notorious pothead indians, she took to calling them the havadoobai indians.Met one idian feller that had a scat collection. I never got closer than seligman, myself. Westside Lilo's cafe, my favorite.
Mt. Heron... It appears that you and I may have a bit of the same warped sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteWD
i just think this whole incident is a tragedy and a lose-lose for all involved.
ReplyDeletePalm Springs cracks on jaywalkers
ReplyDeleteShe appears to have what's called a "goiter" from a thyroid issue. I realize this is an old story but I had to chime in that I LIVE at that intersection . Palm Springs is a blackout city and very very dark there . This intersection also has an extremely high homeless population due to the large dark park on the corner and the senior center .
ReplyDeleteTHANKS FOR THE COMMENT, MISS.
ReplyDelete