04/18/24
October 06, 2003
It looks like Dany Heatley is going to be charged with vehicular homicide now that teammate Dan Snyder has passed away as a result of injuries suffered while catching a ride in Heatley's car. Sad news all around.
posted by Samsonov14 to hockey at 08:12 AM - 19 comments
The timing of this tragedy reminds me of the deaths of Steve Olin and Tim Crews in 1993. I don't know how good the Thrashers were, but I can't imagine they'll be able to recover from this for a while.
posted by rcade at 08:57 AM on October 06, 2003
For a team with so much youth and promise.....
posted by garfield at 09:33 AM on October 06, 2003
Awful. If Heatley is able to come back (and it sounds like a little time and surgery are what he needs) there will always be this cloud in his mind.
posted by gspm at 09:35 AM on October 06, 2003
It seems so wrong to focus on the hockey aspects of this story right now. As a Trashers fan, this season was supposed to be about the future, making the playoffs (hopefully), and seeing two of the best young stars in the game. This comes along and puts everything in a bit more perspective though. With what his family and friends are undoubtedly going through right now (including Dany), my thoughts go out to them. I'm not sure that Heatley will ever be able to put something like this behind him, regardless of any legal ramifications.
posted by trox at 10:04 AM on October 06, 2003
Umm...wow. My heart goes out to Snyder's family, Heatley's family, and the Thrashers organization. All this time I've been hoping the worst that would happen was Snyder would be unable to play again, a la Konstantinov...wow...
posted by MeatSaber at 10:44 AM on October 06, 2003
If Heatley is able to come back (and it sounds like a little time and surgery are what he needs) there will always be this cloud in his mind. Well, one would think that felony manslaughter where there is little doubt about who was driving the car will result in some reasonable amount of jail time, hopefully longer than the rehab requires. And if the blood alcohol tests come back showing Heatley was drinking... Well, if they do than I for one would be a huge hyprocrite if I didn't say that a lengthy (7-10 year) jail term was appropriate, since I've said the same in similar but non-star athelete involved situations.
posted by billsaysthis at 01:25 PM on October 06, 2003
billsaysthis, I am reasonably sure Alcohol wasn't involved (or else we would have heard about it by now because the sports talk here has been all over this story). Around Atlanta, Heatley and Kovalchuk are both known to like to drive their sports cars very fast. Still stupid. Still criminal. But probably not driving under the influence.
posted by trox at 01:29 PM on October 06, 2003
BAC was well below the legal limit of intoxication.
posted by garfield at 01:37 PM on October 06, 2003
I thought the results were in last week....I may have spoken too soon.
posted by garfield at 01:40 PM on October 06, 2003
The newspaper this morning said that blood test results are not in yet and won't be for at least several days. And Trox, why would you have heard about it if the results aren't in? IAC, I was only speculating about the result in that scenario.
posted by billsaysthis at 01:58 PM on October 06, 2003
I thought the tests were in a week ago, too... and I remember them showing that the blood alcohol level was negligible.
posted by mkn at 02:09 PM on October 06, 2003
The local sports media here have been talking as if the tests were in--reporting it straight up. Sounds like they got the cart a little in front of the horse. Heatley was still known for tearing around town at high rates of speed though, so a clean BAC wouldn't surprise me. I used to drive the road where the crash occurred every morning on my way to work. I don't care how great your car is, there's no way you should be going 80 on that thin, curvy, hilly road.
posted by trox at 02:58 PM on October 06, 2003
Shades of Bobby Phills...
posted by lilnemo at 04:05 PM on October 06, 2003
What is taking the BAC so long to come in? It's not that hard, is it? Regardless, if Heatley is not convicted of anything and is able to make a physical, mental, and emotional comeback, I hope the fans of Atlanta and the rest of the hockey world don't act like jackasses. There's a time and a place for trash talk, and when you're dealing with something like this, it would just be classless. And Atlanta isn't exactly known for having the best or most loyal fans.
posted by Ufez Jones at 04:30 PM on October 06, 2003
Heatley's agent is the one saying that alcohol was not a factor. It's not that hard to believe anyway, being a 22 year old millionaire from Germany (see the Autobahn) seems reason enough to exceed the speed limit. And to set the record straight, and any other Atlanta residents feel free to chime in, but this is the most transient city in the union next to Los Angeles. I'm from Boston and have only met a handfull of Atlanta natives. I went to all 3 Atlanta Braves playoff games with the intention of seeing a great game. Unfortunately, those are the cards the Braves are dealt so it often times sounded like a Cubs home game. Sure, I cheered for the Braves, but it was also pretty cool to see the Cubs advance. And I have a feeling that Cubs are booking tickets to Miami in record #'s. And I would assume a lot of fans are like me, if you can't play the sport here, why would you watch it here? Hockey should have never crossed the Mason-Dixon line.
posted by usfbull at 07:13 PM on October 06, 2003
being a 22 year old millionaire from Germany (see the Autobahn) seems reason enough to exceed the speed limit. I don't think he was driving at the age of two, and seeing as he grew up in Calgary I don't see how that matters. Hockey should have never crossed the Mason-Dixon line. I agree. Please start a cause down there to send the Thrashers to Winnipeg or Hamilton... hell, even Portland's better.
posted by mkn at 02:52 AM on October 07, 2003
I agree. Please start a cause down there to send the Thrashers to Winnipeg or Hamilton... hell, even Portland's better. Then they could change the nickname to Thrashed, because you know the players would pick up the Blazers' bad habit.
posted by billsaysthis at 01:38 PM on October 07, 2003
mkn, I am guilty of stereotyping and making blanket statements. I don't follow the game, but I feel the need to have my comments be heard. To play the part of the common man if you will.
posted by usfbull at 10:10 PM on October 07, 2003
What to say?