Miami Driver Sentenced to 36 Years for Fatal Crash

Posted on February 12, 2009 
Filed Under HORROR STORIES, IN THE NEWS

In December, 2008, truck driver Flavio Sanitisteban was sentenced to 36 years in jail for causing a fiery wreck on February 11, 2005, which killed 4 people. Sanitisteban was driving a 9,000 gallon propane tanker, when he lost control on the ramp from I-595 merging to the Florida Turnpike. The truck flipped over onto a car, killing all four inside.

Eyewitnesses testified the truck driver was going upwards of 60 mph, and was cutting off other traffic. The curve is rated for 35 mph. The truck driver had an extensive history of traffic violations. The Miami Herald has a good article. Also, there is one at some type of Jewish website. I posted both links, because there are some interesting comments at the end of each article, regarding the sentence. Apparently, the truck driver was somewhat less-than remorseful, and the judge let him have it.

I can see both sides of the argument. This guy killed 4 people because he was reckless and stupid. The evidence leaves little doubt that his actions led directly to the accident. As a professional truck driver, he is expected to drive safely and professionally. He should be held to a higher standard, than your regular, schmuck four-wheeler.

Nevertheless, 36 years? We have murderers in this country who use a gun, and they get less than 36 years. Or what about this guy, James Polehinke? On August 27, 2006, a Comair regional jet crashed at the Lexington, KY airport, killing all onboard, except First Officer Polehinke. The pilot and the First Officer, mistakenly tried to take off on a secondary runway, which was half as long as the correct runway used for commerical traffic at that airport. The runway wasn’t long enough, the plane couldn’t get up in the air fast enough, and it crashed. The First Officer, Polehinke, survived, but he hasn’t been charged criminally with anything. I’m not saying he should be. It just seems you have two somewhat similar circumstances: crashes caused by negligence, one guy kills 4, and gets 36 years, the other guy kills 49, and isn’t charged with anything.

I guess the moral of the story is, if you’re a truck driver, you’re more likely to be judged harshly if you cause a crash.

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