First of all, I would like to state that Ryan Dallas Cook was truly one of a kind. He had the kindest heart and he has thousands of fans who still love him to this say, and always will. He would have given you the shirt off his back, or try to make you smile anyway he can. Even if you just met, it felt like you knew him forever. Even You-Tube/google his name, or go to his myspace (myspace.com/dallascook) and you can see all the wonderful tributes people made and see how he was a such a beautiful being and kind soul. Actually, all of these things are understatements. He was SO SO loved.

I can say with 100% assurance that Dallas was not driving bad nor was he drunk (because that’s impossible, he rarely drank and he was returning from band practice in the Santa Ana area and I think heading to HB to go to work). Dallas was an extremely responsible guy. He was an eagle scout and enjoyed what he did, especially as a pro musician. He lived for this band and for his family. He enjoyed living life and he had that innocence to him that everyone held dear.

I know some of you here had questions, and I don’t blame you because you didn’t know the true details of this case. But I can ressure you that Dallas was drivng safe. Even the police confirmed that.

The section of the freeway where he was killed is something to be seen to truly understand what happened. I have been on that freeway many times. The car was PARKED in the carpool/HOV lane. It’s a dark car without it’s headlights on, making it difficult to see, especially at night. The section he was at is curved, against a big wall, so when you are in the carpool lane (where motorcycles are allowed in CA), you can’t really see what’s ahead of you, hence why Dallas didn’t see it until he struck the car. Everytime I drive by there, it’s really difficult, knowing he didn’t have a chance. I’m still not over what happened and knowing that Hyundai did something SO awful is not making this any easier. They waited DAYS to report what happened to the police. They allowed a criminal to fly away as a free man. He’s living god knows where, with his wife and son, while the Cook family has to live without any justice being served. With their loved son gone. Fans without their hero. The ska music community without it’s peer. The Suburban Legends (his band) without their brother.

I miss him dearly. God, I do. There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t think of him. I don’t know how someone like him couldn be taken away so fast. He was an angel.

Thanks for your attention. <3

My problem with your pedantic posting is the precept that corporations need to be taught a lesson as if they are this evil being. Corporations, water down to, we the people, the consumer, the end user, not a mythical enemy who’s soul mission is to get-away and cheat people as its mission.

I didn’t make any such anti-corporate argument. My own experience as a lawyer has been precisely the opposite of what you posit: No corporate client has ever come to me asking how to break the law. (English teachers, however, ask for how-to pointers all the time, so as not to interrupt their weed habit.)

But what to do when a corporation does transgress?

Mr. Cook, were you speeding by any chance? You had your headlights on, you could have slowed down, if you were obeying the 65mph, that nobody obeys in reality, especially on the HOV lane.”

The reason not a single story has mentioned Mr.
Cook speeding is that either he wasn’t or at least his speed was not a factor. Face the facts and quit idly speculating. I understand you’re just trying to play devil’s advocate, wjk, and no doubt the ethnicity of the drunk driver has nothing to do with your position.

No amount of money can replace a loved one, but this family has been denied justice. If I were Cook’s parents, I’d be angry as hell, and I’d sue, too.

If you’d be kind enough to check with your pal Mr. Lee to see whether his parking complied with any of the above I’d appreciate it.

Corporations understand two things: Jail time for executives, and money. Money may be more of a punishment to a corporation, as it spreads the damage to the owners of the corporation — the shareholders.