CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2003 ATLANTA -- Atlanta Thrashers star Dany Heatley was charged Tuesday with reckless driving for veering off a road and slamming his sportscar into a wall at about 80 mph -- a crash that left him with a broken jaw and teammate Dan Snyder critically injured with a skull fracture. Heatley and Snyder attended an event for season ticket holders at Philips Arena on Monday night, and left in Heatley's Ferrari about 9:15 p.m., the team said. Police spokesman Sgt. Kevin Iosty said Heatley lost control of the car on a curve on a two-lane road in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood about 10:30 p.m., and the vehicle left the road and struck a wall in front of an apartment complex. The car broke in half and both men were ejected, police said. Heatley was also charged with serious injury by vehicle and driving too fast for conditions, Iosty said. "Our preliminary reports indicated speed may have been a factor," he said. Heatley took a blood-alcohol test, and results were not available Tuesday morning, Iosty said. Officers estimated the car was traveling about 80 mph. Early Tuesday morning, Snyder had surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital for a depressed fracture in his skull, the team said. Heatley was in stable condition. The Thrashers canceled practice Tuesday and were considering canceling Wednesday night's preseason game against Florida. "Nobody's really thinking about hockey," team captain Shawn McEachern said. "We're thinking about the guys." Snyder, a center who scored 10 goals and added four assists in 36 games for Atlanta last season, had surgery on his ankle earlier this month before the start of training camp. He was expected to start the season on the injured list. The 25-year-old player signed with the Thrashers as a free agent in 1999 after playing four seasons of junior hockey for Owen Sound in the Ontario Hockey League. He spent most of his first three professional seasons in the minor leagues, helping Orlando win the International Hockey League title in 2000-01 and playing on the Chicago Wolves' American Hockey League championship team in 2001-02. He also played 35 games for Chicago last season, scoring 11 goals and adding 12 assists. The 22-year-old Heatley, the NHL rookie of the year in 2001-02, led Atlanta in scoring last season with a team-record 41 goals and 48 assists, and is the Thrashers' career scoring leader with 155 points. He scored four goals in the 2003 All-Star game and was selected the MVP. The former University of Wisconsin player was the second overall pick in the 2000 draft. The Thrashers last played on Saturday night, with Heatley scoring an overtime goal in a 3-2 exhibition victory over Nashville in Richmond, Va. The Thrashers' first regular-season game is next Thursday night against Columbus. Speed demons, take note. This could be you someday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spaceman Spiff 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2003 Heatley took a blood-alcohol test, and results were not available Tuesday morning, Iosty said. Pelle Lindbegh flashbacks. Wouldn't surprise me to see that he was DUI. Sure hope they pull through OK. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2003 Makes me angry thinking about these things being preventable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2003 Being from atlanta and knowing where Lenox Road is, no human being should ever be going 80 down that street. Yet people do it all the time. Its a two lane street but is really a 1 1/2 lane street since people park on the curb and take half of one of the lanes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2003 I guess I'm supposed to feel bad but oh well... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2003 The person that I feel bad for is Snyder. He wasn't destined for greatness in the league to begin with, and now will have the stigma of a fractured skull to worry about IF he's able to make it back to the league. And while it's hard to be overly sympathetic for someone who's own recklessness caused them problems, I do feel bad for Heatley. Try having that on your conscience. It might be beneficial to trade him, and give him a fresh start somewhere else. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2003 Another victim the EA Sports Cover Jinx, now its not just for Madden Football anymore. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Just J Report post Posted September 30, 2003 That really sucks. The Thrashers could be pretty good this year. I for one will still attend a few games. Hey Ripper! Why don't we plan a trip to a game? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted October 3, 2003 That really sucks. The Thrashers could be pretty good this year. I for one will still attend a few games. Hey Ripper! Why don't we plan a trip to a game? If I am going to be watching really REALLY bad sports this year, it will be when I see the Hawks play. I mean you take a blah team and take away it BEST player...LETS GO WATCH!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stephen Joseph 0 Report post Posted October 3, 2003 Being from atlanta and knowing where Lenox Road is, no human being should ever be going 80 down that street. Yet people do it all the time. Its a two lane street but is really a 1 1/2 lane street since people park on the curb and take half of one of the lanes. I whole heartedly agree ripper...lenox road is way to freaking narrow for that speed. damn, i couldnt go sixty on that one without being scared Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted October 3, 2003 That really sucks. The Thrashers could be pretty good this year. I for one will still attend a few games. Hey Ripper! Why don't we plan a trip to a game? If I am going to be watching really REALLY bad sports this year, it will be when I see the Hawks play. I mean you take a blah team and take away it BEST player...LETS GO WATCH!!! Bah, they still have good players. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treble 0 Report post Posted October 3, 2003 Another victim the EA Sports Cover Jinx, now its not just for Madden Football anymore. http://www.thestar.ca/NASApp/cs/ContentSer...d=1065046214508 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brush with Greatness 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 Some sad news today: ALERT: Atlanta Thrashers center Dan Snyder dies Sunday, six days after being injured in auto accident with teammate, the team says. Details to follow on SLAM! courtesy www.slam.ca Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest HungryJack Report post Posted October 6, 2003 I just heard it on TSN. RIP. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 espnnews just ran it on the scroll. I don't follow hockey much, but anytime an athlete dies its indeed very sad. Condolences to the usual suspects. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 That is very heartbreaking. They were saying that they were optimistic about him recovering too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Agent_Bond34 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 I just now heard about this on SportsCenter. Sad news, indeed. RIP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Urban Warfare 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 Very Sad story. I hope Heatly goes to jail. RIP Dan Snyder. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 RIP Snyder. It's such a shame Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 Seems like it is always the other guy who gets the worst of these things. I was thinking what would be worse: to find out Heatley was drunk and was impaired and stupid or to find out he was sober and just knowingly stupid? Side note, Heatley did tear his ACL and MCL so he is likely out for the year jail or not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treble 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 Well, even though no one's really talking about it now, Heatley's career is fucked. Even if he doesn't go to jail, his knee is probably fucked up bad enough that he'd miss most of the year, anyway, plus you'd have to factor in the entire psychological side of it. It's sad, but it's hard to feel sorry for him, he brought it on himself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brush with Greatness 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 Well, even though no one's really talking about it now, Heatley's career is fucked. Even if he doesn't go to jail, his knee is probably fucked up bad enough that he'd miss most of the year, anyway, plus you'd have to factor in the entire psychological side of it. It's sad, but it's hard to feel sorry for him, he brought it on himself. I'm not so sure his career is fucked. Craig MacTavish killed a women while driving drunk early in his career (I believe in his Boston days circa early 1980's). Went to jail for a year, got out and got right back on with his playing career. The incident is virtually forgot about today. I think there was another incident with Dino Cicceralli (or someone of that era) that had a similar run in. Wishing that Heatley goes to jail for this is stupid. Seriously, what will that accomplish? I'm sure Heatley realizes the nature of his mistake and will learn a life lesson at this (sadly at a terrible price). Having the burden of having killed a friend and teammate hanging over your head throughout your entire life is a much worse burden than prison would ever be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 I think it is perfectly reasonable to want to see him go to jail. Just because he is going to feel guilty, doesn't mean he should get off scot free from actual repercussions. Drunk or not he acted recklessly and it led to the death of another person. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Bobby Cox is God Report post Posted October 6, 2003 I've gone 80 down Lenox before, makes you wonder why the fuck we do these things. RIP Dan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brush with Greatness 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 Tell me, what exactly is the purpose of sending anyone in a situation like this (not just Heatley to jail)? I don't really think the purpose of jail (in a situation like this) should be used strictly as punishment. I see the prison system as a way to rehabilitate and prevent re-occurence (I know, such a politcal point of view) I think the repurcussions surrounding Heatleys actions, being Snyder's death and Heatley's injuries, are enough to teach Heatley not to do this again. Hypothetical question: If a man, with a wife and child, is driving recklessly (god knows why) and crashes, killing the wife and child in the process, which do you think would have a bigger impact on preventing the man from driving recklessly again? a)going to jail for a few years b)forever knowing that his reckless driving killed his wife and child Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 Certainly the emotional toll would have a bigger impact. But I still don't think a reasonable excuse for not being punished is to just feel guilty. Where would the line be drawn between who you kill, how important they were to you, etc.? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brush with Greatness 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 Just for anyone wondering, here is the whole MacTavish story: MacTavish's Season in Prison: MacTavish did not play during the 1984-85 season because he was under suspension from the NHL. The suspension came as a result of MacTavish's criminal conviction and imprisonment for vehicular homicide. The conviction stemmed from a Jan. 25, 1984, automobile accident in which MacTavish's 1983 Datsun collided with a 1976 Ford Pinto station wagon driven by 26-year-old Kim Lea Radley of West Newfield, Mass. The accident took place at approximately 7:30 p.m. while MacTavish, then 25, was driving from on Route 1 north of Boston to his home in Tewksbury, Mass. Before getting into his car, MacTavish had been drinking at the Golden Banana Club, where employees said he had behaved in a drunken and loud fashion. Minutes after leaving the nightclub, MacTavish's car struck Radley's from behind, sending the station wagon 100 feet into a restaurant parking lot. Police estimated MacTavish's speed at 60-85 mph. The station wagon hit two parked cars and landed on its side. Radley was removed from the crushed vehicle alive, but she was unconscious from severe head injuries. She was taken to Salem Hospital, where she died three days later. MacTavish survived the crash with an injured shoulder and deep facial cuts that resulted from his head hitting the windshield. Essex County authorities charged MacTavish with vehicular homicide, which carried a mandatory sentence of one year in jail. He already faced charges for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving to endanger and driving without a Massachusetts driver's license. MacTavish pleaded innocent to the vehicular homicide charge, and the case was scheduled for trial. After recovering from his injuries, MacTavish completed the 1983-84 season and then went to trial. After learning of the evidence against him (mostly testimony from Golden Banana Club employees), he opted to plead guilty to the vehicular homicide charge under the advice of his attorney, former Boston University hockey player Bob Murray. MacTavish was sentenced to one year in prison without the possibility of parole. He began serving his time behind bars on May 14, 1984, at the Essex County House of Correction, a minimum security facility. In addition to the criminal conviction, MacTavish faced a $10 million suit from the husband of Kim Radley. The suit was settled out of court. courtesy www.hockeydraftcentral.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest gthureson Report post Posted October 6, 2003 We can only hope that Heatley would deal with his situation as well as MacTavish did. He did own up to the situation, and has never backed down from owning up to it to this day. He actually became friends with the girls parents, eventually. Sidenote on the Heatley situation: I do not know, nor can I ever know the situation. But, if I had to guess, I would say that up until the moment of the accident, Dan Snyder was egging Heatley on, bugging him to find out what kind of balls a Lambourghini had. Not saying he deserved to die, but people are going to be looking for explanations, and there is your easiest one right there. Won't hazard a guess on what Heatley might get, as I know nothing about how Georgia state prosecutors look upon this sort of thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2003 Well, assuming that the McTavish sentence is the norm, then Heatley misses this year (due to rehab) and likely next year (the alleged lockout year, to serve the sentence). From a hockey standpoint, the Thrashers are fucked. Heatley's development gets pushed back at least 2 years and they lose a good young player in Snyder (RIP). McTavish apparently had the intestinal fortitude to continue on with his career. We'll see if young Heatley can do the same. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lomasmoney 0 Report post Posted October 7, 2003 Heatley charged with vehicular homicide faces 3-15 years in prison Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
