need for speed is the devil
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 44,835
Likes: 0
From: the southwest
need for speed is the devil
Cabbie killed by racing Mercedes
Jan. 26, 2006. 06:46 AM
ISABEL TEOTONIO
STAFF REPORTER
Cab driver Tahir Khan had just dropped off his last fare and was headed south on Mount Pleasant Rd. It was 10:20 p.m.
Racing north were two Mercedes driven by 18-year-olds, each pushing 140 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, police say. Next to one driver was the popular video game Need For Speed.
As the Mercedes rounded a bend, the taxi made a left turn on to Whitehall Rd. A loud crash shattered the still of Tuesday night.
One of the Mercedes, a silver 1999 model, T-boned the taxi, drilling it into a utility pole, police say.
Khan, 46, died instantly, and the driver of the mangled Mercedes escaped with just a few scratches. The driver of the other car fled, returning to the scene after ditching his car a few blocks away, posing as a bystander, police say.
It was a tragic end to Khan's life, which was brimming with hope as he looked forward to becoming a Canadian citizen tomorrow. It was a day he'd long looked forward to, because it meant he was one step closer to being reunited with his wife, whom he hoped to bring over from Pakistan.
The accused are university students — believed to be studying at Ryerson and York — and both had attended St. Andrew's College, a prestigious private school in Aurora, graduating in June 2004. One played on St. Andrew's football team, and both were average students who never got in trouble, said head football coach Courtney Shrimpton. One of them lives a tony neighbourhood just north of the Bridle Path. Yesterday, police would not comment on whether the cars belonged to the teens' parents.
As police yesterday questioned what influence the game may have played and Khan's friends grappled with his death, the two accused made a brief court appearance.
"It's a horrible irony," said Det. Paul Lobsinger about the presence of the video game, which allows players to choose high-end cars and race them through city streets while being pursued by police cruisers.
"Some have said this is life imitating art but I don't know, " said Lobsinger, adding "a game is a game, but when you get behind the wheel it's reality."
Lobsinger described the game as an "ultra-violent driving simulation, fighting simulation and criminal simulation."
"But are games the cause?" he asked. "Absolutely not. But, it is rather ironic."
Police say alcohol was not a factor, and that it's not clear if the video game was played before the two went out driving.
"I have no words to explain why this happened," said cabbie Muhammad Naseem, who was a friend of Khan's. "He was a very nice man, very quiet, very polite, all the good words you can think of can be used to describe him."
Earlier this week, recalled Naseem, Khan had told him that he planned to return home to the district of Jhang, in Pakistan's Punjab region. Khan's mother was ill and he wanted to be with her. He also looked forward to visiting his brother, sister and wife of 15 years, whom he's helped support since moving to Canada almost six years ago.
He was looking forward to returning home as a Canadian citizen, something he would have become during a citizenship ceremony at the Scarborough Town Centre.
"He was so excited," said Khan's friend Munir Ahmad, while visiting the coroner's office to identify the body. "He was planning to bring his family here."
Last night, a large group of friends gathered at the east-end apartment Khan shared with Shahid Hasan to call his family in Pakistan and break the devastating news.
"He had lots of friends," said Hasan, who has lived with Khan for the last five years in Scarborough. "He was a very kind man who was helpful to everyone."
Jim Bell, manager of Diamond Taxi, said Khan had been with the company for three years and called his death a tragedy for everyone involved.
"Those kids must be feeling absolutely terrible and the parents of these kids who were racing must be feeling devastated."
Charged with criminal negligence causing death are Alexander Ryazanov and Wang-Piao Dumani Ross. Ross is also charged with failing to stop after an accident causing death.
Outside the courtroom where the two teens made a brief appearance at bail court in College Park yesterday, the aunt of one described them as "really good boys."
"It's tragic, it's horrible what happened. Now I am going to be worried about him staying in jail with criminals."
Because lawyers for the pair weren't available, the two must return for separate bail hearings — Ross tomorrow and Ryazanov on Monday. Neither has a criminal record.
The two long-time friends chatted quietly to each other as they sat in the prisoner's box.
The Crown says it will oppose their release on two grounds: public outrage over the death and the likelihood of reoffending.
With files from Nick Pron, Henry Stancu, Dale Anne Freed and David Grossman
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...2154&t=TS_Home
Jan. 26, 2006. 06:46 AM
ISABEL TEOTONIO
STAFF REPORTER
Cab driver Tahir Khan had just dropped off his last fare and was headed south on Mount Pleasant Rd. It was 10:20 p.m.
Racing north were two Mercedes driven by 18-year-olds, each pushing 140 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, police say. Next to one driver was the popular video game Need For Speed.
As the Mercedes rounded a bend, the taxi made a left turn on to Whitehall Rd. A loud crash shattered the still of Tuesday night.
One of the Mercedes, a silver 1999 model, T-boned the taxi, drilling it into a utility pole, police say.
Khan, 46, died instantly, and the driver of the mangled Mercedes escaped with just a few scratches. The driver of the other car fled, returning to the scene after ditching his car a few blocks away, posing as a bystander, police say.
It was a tragic end to Khan's life, which was brimming with hope as he looked forward to becoming a Canadian citizen tomorrow. It was a day he'd long looked forward to, because it meant he was one step closer to being reunited with his wife, whom he hoped to bring over from Pakistan.
The accused are university students — believed to be studying at Ryerson and York — and both had attended St. Andrew's College, a prestigious private school in Aurora, graduating in June 2004. One played on St. Andrew's football team, and both were average students who never got in trouble, said head football coach Courtney Shrimpton. One of them lives a tony neighbourhood just north of the Bridle Path. Yesterday, police would not comment on whether the cars belonged to the teens' parents.
As police yesterday questioned what influence the game may have played and Khan's friends grappled with his death, the two accused made a brief court appearance.
"It's a horrible irony," said Det. Paul Lobsinger about the presence of the video game, which allows players to choose high-end cars and race them through city streets while being pursued by police cruisers.
"Some have said this is life imitating art but I don't know, " said Lobsinger, adding "a game is a game, but when you get behind the wheel it's reality."
Lobsinger described the game as an "ultra-violent driving simulation, fighting simulation and criminal simulation."
"But are games the cause?" he asked. "Absolutely not. But, it is rather ironic."
Police say alcohol was not a factor, and that it's not clear if the video game was played before the two went out driving.
"I have no words to explain why this happened," said cabbie Muhammad Naseem, who was a friend of Khan's. "He was a very nice man, very quiet, very polite, all the good words you can think of can be used to describe him."
Earlier this week, recalled Naseem, Khan had told him that he planned to return home to the district of Jhang, in Pakistan's Punjab region. Khan's mother was ill and he wanted to be with her. He also looked forward to visiting his brother, sister and wife of 15 years, whom he's helped support since moving to Canada almost six years ago.
He was looking forward to returning home as a Canadian citizen, something he would have become during a citizenship ceremony at the Scarborough Town Centre.
"He was so excited," said Khan's friend Munir Ahmad, while visiting the coroner's office to identify the body. "He was planning to bring his family here."
Last night, a large group of friends gathered at the east-end apartment Khan shared with Shahid Hasan to call his family in Pakistan and break the devastating news.
"He had lots of friends," said Hasan, who has lived with Khan for the last five years in Scarborough. "He was a very kind man who was helpful to everyone."
Jim Bell, manager of Diamond Taxi, said Khan had been with the company for three years and called his death a tragedy for everyone involved.
"Those kids must be feeling absolutely terrible and the parents of these kids who were racing must be feeling devastated."
Charged with criminal negligence causing death are Alexander Ryazanov and Wang-Piao Dumani Ross. Ross is also charged with failing to stop after an accident causing death.
Outside the courtroom where the two teens made a brief appearance at bail court in College Park yesterday, the aunt of one described them as "really good boys."
"It's tragic, it's horrible what happened. Now I am going to be worried about him staying in jail with criminals."
Because lawyers for the pair weren't available, the two must return for separate bail hearings — Ross tomorrow and Ryazanov on Monday. Neither has a criminal record.
The two long-time friends chatted quietly to each other as they sat in the prisoner's box.
The Crown says it will oppose their release on two grounds: public outrage over the death and the likelihood of reoffending.
With files from Nick Pron, Henry Stancu, Dale Anne Freed and David Grossman
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...2154&t=TS_Home
Resident Ninja-photo'er
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,964
Likes: 0
From: Anaheim, CA
damn that's hardcore... i think the games are made for people that understand that it is nothing like real life, i would think that these guys were smarter than that, considering they were (18? i think), o well, hopefully they fry for it... good post
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,257
Likes: 0
From: topton,pa
i love how they note the game was sitting next to him. because i bring my copy of nfs:u2 with me everytime i drive. i make my passengers sit in the back so the game has its own seat next to me. 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
i think that is total bullshit!! ppl always want to find anything to blame except themselves!! i mean DAMN its a video game for christ sake!! its just like saying that ALL teenage drivers are irresponsible because a couple pricks drive 100 down gravel roads (while being inexperienced) and die , then all teenagers are bad drivers .. 
i dont get this world . really i dont
i dont get this world . really i dont
