What in the world is everyone thinking blaming this one and that one??? It was an accident and I dont think anyone needs to be in jail. The people involved will have to live with this the rest of their lives, dont u think that is enough?? It was obviously Mikey's time to go and he is better off. If I know Mikey then I know that he wouldnt want all this bickering going on..IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!!

Posted by Tracy Lawshe on 5/1/2009

what i want to know is how an eye witness said that another vehicle ran mikey over but yet wasnt charged for anything? how is it at 9 something at night u examine a car with a flashlight and u see no visible blood that it automatically means he didnt run mikey over. that car should have been taken and examined way more closely than it was. Also, i want to know how the truck driver got away with no charges. he should have been brought to the hospital along with everyone else and given a blood test just like patrick. i mean he was a contributing factor in that horrifying wreck. being that i also have a CDL i know from experience that no matter how big or how small the accident its always been mandatory for drug testing of the drivers.

Posted by James on 4/8/2009

We can't live in the past, we can't change what has happened. We can only move on, my child is without a brother, Patrick is without a friend and three children are without a DAD, and a father is without a son. Today is the day we say"GOOD-BYE" and now it is time for the healing to begin.

Posted by sheila davis/ kristina's mom on 4/7/2009

The point of it all is that Michael Elliot is dead because he made the decision to ride in the back of a pickup truck that got hit from behind by an 18-wheeler on Pee Dee Highway. I seriously doubt that the amount of alcohol in Patrick Cribb's system played a role in this. What really happened is something that happens to us all the time while driving. How many times did you approach a car to fast and had to break because their tail lights weren't working or they were going extremely slow? It happens all the time in traffic. In this case, the tail lights on Cribb's truck were hidden by debris on the truck. Being that Cribb has only been charged with a DUI (which he could have gotten even if he got pulled over and tested for not having visible tail lights) his best bet now is that a DA doesn't try to say that Cribb's drinking resulted in Elliot's death. And that could happen. So what Cribb needs to do is get Elliot's family on his side and get Elliot's family to go to the DA and ask that no charges be given to Cribb for Elliot's death. Maybe Cribb can walk away from this only having to pay a fine for not having visible tail lights and have to deal with the actual DUI he was arrested for.

Posted by ClemsonNeil on 4/7/2009

That's an insult to fourth graders!

Posted by on 4/7/2009

I'm going to start off by offering my sincerest sympathies to everyone involved in this tragic situation; especially to the families which happens to include individuals closely related to me! People, and while I hate to generalize & I do apologize for doing so, but people wake up and use that thing within your head and between your ears called a brain! Before casting stones; pointing fingers; or leaving ignorant, disrespectful, inappropriate, and just plain inaccurate statements; take a look at your own life, your own actions and work on correcting these before jumping on the hypocritical bandwagon and pointing out the wrong doings, mistakes, and accidents of others!! When you can honestly say that you are perfect, that you do no wrong, that you know all the possible consequences for each and every action you may ever take then you can play God, judge, jury, and executioner; until then if you don't know the facts and/or don't have anything useful or nice to say just keep it to yourself, everyone doesn't need to see how ignorant you actually are. Now I'm not even going to sit here and say that any one person in this situation is totally guilty nor totally innocent. Mistakes were made and a life was lost, and what should have or could have been done doesn't matter in the least because once a thing has been done it cannot be undone and we can sit here trying to rationalize what happened and why it happened but there are no true complete answers and the last time I checked none of us other than God (if you believe) have the power of omniscience. If you want to look at it from a biblical point of view you can rest easy knowing that Michael was called home at this particular moment in time and whether or not there was an 18 wheeler, an intoxicated friend, etc he wouldn't be with us. If you want to piece together the chain of events for a more logical approach you will again run into as many questions as you answer. What if they hadn't been drinking? What if the 18 wheeler driver had seen them sooner? What if they would have taken the ditch? What if they would have left a few minutes later? What if another vehicle hadn't been coming? Anyway you look at it Michael has been called home and while this is to us completely unfair especially for his children and family, arguing about who was at fault and what could have been done is not going to resolve anything nor will it bring him back to his family, ease their suffering, or heal his son so why put the family through additional pain or try to justify the situation by pointing a finger. Is having someone to blame really going to make anyone feel better?? Will it make Patrick stop blaming himself, the driver of the 18 wheeler stop blaming himself, the driver of the car stop blaming themselves, take away the image of a father laying broken in front of family and friends from their minds? Will it bring Michael back...sadly no it won't and all it will do is keep the wound open and festering for everyone involved; keep them from healing and constantly asking themselves what they could have done differently and why him and not me. Until you are in this exact situation don't assume that you know what happened, who did it, and what people should feel! This is just my opinion just as the posts by others are their opinions and while I do have details specific to the situation from those there and involved I am not using this to point fingers. I do however, send out my sincerest condolences to Michael's family, his friends including Patrick who will have to live with the events that occurred for the rest of his life, to the others involved in this tragic accident because that is what it was an ACCIDENT (last I checked no one was planning and setting this up to happen, nor do they have the power to control what others do), to the fine individuals who responded to the call and did all they could, the doctor's and nurses for the same, and to all others touched by this tragedy.

Posted by JustMyOpinion on 4/7/2009

i sorry but at 8:15 it is not that dark that diver could have seen my brother and pat. Pat was a great friend to my brother and if i could get him out i sure would... i knew pat but not feel but i do know if he could have saved my brother he would...it was hard to find out your brother has died on your senior prom my brother was my world i wish i could have him and all i can do is cry but i know he is in a better place he now joins he's mom another of his best friends and his first wife witch is the mother of his frist son and for all you that say your sorry but also sayin that pat should be in jail YOUR SORRYS ARE NOT TAKIN FROM ME OR MY BROTHER MICHAEL!!!!!! pat was like a brother to mike and a GREAT one

Posted by Kristina Evans the sister of Michael on 4/6/2009

Yes Patrick made a mistake but nobody is perfect. Patrick and Mikey were best friends. Patrick would never hurt anybody. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. So if you don't know the facts and don't know Patrick and Mikey like I do, keep your mouth shut. Sorry to the family of Mikey. If Mikey's family needs anything let me know.

Posted by patricks brother, Hadrian on 4/6/2009

okay i can say patrick was wrong in drinking and driving okay.... but some people are judging without first getting their information on the story straight but hey this is georgetown it change a million times unless you know the family and hear it from them. But nobody but the ones their at the hospital that actually seen patrick would know how it really was.. Patrick and mikey was great friends i mean if you seen one the other one wasn't far behind. You don't know how patrick was that night... and don't know how it was for him to have blood on him from his friend. I know patrick and this guilt will be on his shoulders for the rest of his life like nobody would ever know. So please to the ones that wants to run their mouth please don't and if you do get your information straight.

Posted by on 4/6/2009

I first want to say i do not blame Pat for my brothers death and neither would have my brother that was his good friend that truck driver was not suppose to be on that road after dark (witch is a rule)But i also can not put the blame on the truck driver either but could have done something.... My brother had three wonderful little boys that i love with all my heart my brother was much older than i was but he was always there for me and michael and i was VERY Close...I hate to say he is gone but he will be missed and never forgottin

Posted by Kristina Evans on 4/6/2009

Has anyone heard of proof reading? It seems everyone is trying to write on a fourth grade level.

Posted by on 4/6/2009

My bottom line is he put innocent people at risk when he got behind the wheel of the truck. How many people slow down going around a curve you cant just blame the 18 wheeler he was already going down the road had no idea someone would pull out in front of him. No matter how far he was going you never drink aand drive .I am sure that patrick never ment for this to happen and would change it all if he could but its to late now. End the end a man has last his life kids will grow up with out him familys want be the same. GOD HELP ALL

Posted by on 4/6/2009

patrick coulda made better chooses they couldve went threw yard since they was only goin next door. too late for wouldas n couldas but that trucker coulda slowed down or hit a tree thats2 i no thats been killed by a trucker and bet that trucker gets away with it too.they dont no all the facts patrick would never have done this on purpose yes he should not have been on road even goin next door when drinkin but still put blame to the trucker who at 1st said he thought they was a tree in the road.if he thought tree in road why not go ahead and slow down? hmmm im sorry for the families loss mike was a good man is 3 kids will miss him along with al his friends and family.

Posted by on 4/6/2009

Everybody loves to point the blame at one person!!! No, I don't think Patrick should go to jail for this. Do I think he made some bad choices YES. Trust me, he is living with enough knowing that his friend is dead. Mrs Mconnell know the whole story before you want to point the blame at one person and one person only!!!! Both families are hurting right now.

Posted by Charlotte Mixon on 4/6/2009

this wreck was not patricks fault. he should not have to pay for this. he is paying enough by knowing that he lost his best friend and that a child he has watched grow up is in the hopsital. yes he had been drinking but he was only going a few feet. the 18 wheeler that hit them had to be flying around that curve. half of the people who are going to read this arent going to know half of the true details. people shouldnt make conclusions about anything when they dont know ALL of the details. patrick is a good man and he loved michael and michaels son. he will pay enough for what has happened but he will put himself thru the worst. the truck driver should be the one sitting in jail because of his actions. he shouldnt have been driving as fast as he was around a curve when you never know whats on the other side. he didnt even have time to touch his brakes. how is it a innocent person is going thru this when the real person who should be paying is walking free?

Posted by Shannon Lewis on 4/6/2009

It is ashame that a child has lost his father and is injurd. No one should drink and drive The man driving should be in jail and stay there. He lost all rights when he choose to get behind the wheel drunk. He deserves prison!!!!!!!!!!!!! To the family that has lost their love one my heart goes out to you and my prayers . And to the son get well soon

Posted by mary and wayne mcconnell on 4/6/2009