A shoo-in for the Darwin Awards (maybe)

richlevy · 05-22-2007, 08:33 PM

From here. When I originally heard about this, I thought that he was killed running from his car. Now that I read that he was in the car, it's hard to know if he was trying to kill himself too or if he was just really stupid.

I think that suicides don't count for the Darwin Awards, so I guess the answer would determine his eligibility. Personally, I think the reason he wasn't wearing a seatbelt was so that he could run for it.

Quote:

LOS ANGELES – Homicide detectives are trying to determine the motive of a man who they believe attempted to kill his girlfriend when he parked their car in the path of a commuter train. Brandon J. Funches, 21, died Monday when debris from the crash struck him after he had been ejected from the car when the train hit, authorities said. The girlfriend, whose name was not released, was seriously injured, but expected to survive.

Witnesses told police Funches, of South Los Angeles, was arguing with his girlfriend before he drove the car in front of a group of other vehicles stopped at a rail crossing and parked on the tracks. Moments later a northbound Metrolink train slammed into the car, Officer Mike Lopez said. The train hit the rear passenger side of the car, spinning it around and ejecting Funches. The girlfriend, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to a hospital in critical condition. She was later upgraded to stable condition, Lopez said.
Detectives believe that Funches placed the car on the tracks with the passenger side facing the train in hopes of killing his 23-year-old girlfriend. They were also investigating whether he intended to commit suicide, as well.

busterb · 05-22-2007, 08:44 PM

Got my vote.

glatt · 05-23-2007, 09:05 AM

It was an attempted murder-suicide. Not so rare. Usually, they crazy guy will do it with a gun and then have a face off with the cops surrounding their house before killing themselves. Don't you guys ever watch local news? Fox always reports this stuff.

This time it was a train, and the girl got away (sort of.)

xoxoxoBruce · 05-23-2007, 06:26 PM

He obviously bought that car with the intention of killing her.

Ibby · 05-23-2007, 08:05 PM

Keep gun-thread rage in the gun threads, dude... seriously.

xoxoxoBruce · 05-23-2007, 08:44 PM

Pipe down.

richlevy · 05-23-2007, 08:52 PM

I'm still not convinced the suicide was intentional. It sounds like he might have had his seatbelt off and the door open when the train hit. Maybe the cops can figure it out.

xoxoxoBruce · 05-23-2007, 08:58 PM

I think it's safe to say he probably had his seatbelt off, but having his door open wouldn't be necessary if it was anything like the train/car collisions I've seen on the tube and the net.

wolf · 05-23-2007, 11:22 PM

Another version of the story indicated that he was fleeing the train crossing when the train hit the car and then his car hit him.

Stupidity, not suicide. He should get the Darwin.

Now, all women, take heed ... don't argue with a guy when he's driving.

xoxoxoBruce · 05-23-2007, 11:30 PM

Yeah, that's what Rich said at first.

zippyt · 05-23-2007, 11:56 PM

instant karma for trying to kill his girlfriend .

Urbane Guerrilla · 05-24-2007, 12:13 AM

I agree with zippyt.

piercehawkeye45 · 05-24-2007, 06:09 PM

This, children, is why you wear seatbelts.

Yznhymr · 05-24-2007, 06:25 PM

Here's another Darwin candidate, but with a twist. A man running from the cops came to a stop, jumped off of a bridge to get away, and fell to his death. Turns out, he wasn't who the cops thought he was!

Story here: http://www.wmctv5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6566258

richlevy · 05-24-2007, 09:22 PM

Quote:

They only knew Williams by his nickname so even after Williams jumped to his death police assumed he was the man they were looking for.

Was his nickname by any chance 'stupid'?

05-22-2007, 08:44 PM	#2
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Got my vote. __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

05-23-2007, 06:26 PM	#4
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	He obviously bought that car with the intention of killing her. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

05-23-2007, 08:05 PM	#5
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	Keep gun-thread rage in the gun threads, dude... seriously. __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

05-23-2007, 08:44 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Pipe down. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

05-23-2007, 08:52 PM	#7
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	I'm still not convinced the suicide was intentional. It sounds like he might have had his seatbelt off and the door open when the train hit. Maybe the cops can figure it out. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

05-23-2007, 09:05 AM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	It was an attempted murder-suicide. Not so rare. Usually, they crazy guy will do it with a gun and then have a face off with the cops surrounding their house before killing themselves. Don't you guys ever watch local news? Fox always reports this stuff. This time it was a train, and the girl got away (sort of.)

05-23-2007, 08:58 PM	#8
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I think it's safe to say he probably had his seatbelt off, but having his door open wouldn't be necessary if it was anything like the train/car collisions I've seen on the tube and the net. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

05-23-2007, 11:22 PM	#9
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Another version of the story indicated that he was fleeing the train crossing when the train hit the car and then his car hit him. Stupidity, not suicide. He should get the Darwin. Now, all women, take heed ... don't argue with a guy when he's driving. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

05-23-2007, 11:30 PM	#10
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Yeah, that's what Rich said at first. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

05-23-2007, 11:56 PM	#11
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	instant karma for trying to kill his girlfriend . __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

05-24-2007, 12:13 AM	#12
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	I agree with zippyt.

05-24-2007, 06:09 PM	#13
piercehawkeye45 Franklin Pierce Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,695	This, children, is why you wear seatbelts.

05-24-2007, 06:25 PM	#14
Yznhymr the crowd goes wild! Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA Posts: 663	Here's another Darwin candidate, but with a twist. A man running from the cops came to a stop, jumped off of a bridge to get away, and fell to his death. Turns out, he wasn't who the cops thought he was! Story here: http://www.wmctv5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6566258 __________________ "The pride system tends to intensify the self-hate against which it is supposed to be a defense, since any failure to live up to one's tyrannical shoulds or of the world to honor one's claims leads to feelings of worthlessness." Bernard J. Paris, Ph.D.

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