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Updated: 7:23 PM Jan 8, 2009
New Details Emerge in Hit-and-Run Case
Harrisonburg, Va. New information surfaces in the case of a Tuesday morning hit-and-run that killed a jogger and mother of four. Posted: 12:41 AM Jan 8, 2009Reporter: Haley Harrison Email Address: hharrison@whsv.com |
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I 2 have been at that the pub and seen the workers drink on the clock and i have frirnds that are close with workers there and say they have stayed and drank with them after hourls many time so it is happening
Anybody who doesn't keep an eye on what goes on his bar after closing is asking for trouble. The story so far seems to be that three employees were involved in leaving, going to another bar and drinking before coming back to finish closing. Are we supposed to believe that's the very first time anything that sloppy ever happened at the Pub?
I drive for my job in the early morning in the downtown area and i know for a fact that she and the other joggers jog waaaay too dangerously in the road. I had to swerve out of my lane that very morning to avoid hitting them. Obviously there is something wrong with that picture. Especially when there is a sidewalk 2 feet away. Yes, the driver was wrong for drinking and driving, and also for fleeing the scene. But don't let the lesson be lost here that people still need to be careful. I can only hope that in the future, people take the necessary precautions to protect themselves
I know because I've been there and drank WITH Bess and various other employees after hours, and during shifts. The reason so many people have a similar story is because it was common behavior for this establishment. Whether Bill knew about it or not is immaterial, he's the owner and he is liable for his employee's behavior. It very well could be that he simply trusted the wrong people, especially in the case of Bess and Wes, but it turned out to be a very costly mistake. And sadly, this isn't even close to the worst part of this story. A life was lost and others have been ruined.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW HOW EVERY KNOWS THAT THEY DRINK AFTER HOURS AT THE PUB, OR HOW THEY KNEW BESS AND OTHERS DRINK ON THE CLOCK. WERE YOU THERE, WERE YOU A BARTENDER, OR A BOUNCER, HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS STUFF. ARE YOU A FRIEND OF BESS. IF YOU KNOW THESE THINGS FOR A FACT THEN OU ARE JUST AS QUILTY AS THE REST. BILL DID NOT KNOW THAT THE EMPLOYEES DRANK AFTER HOURS. HE HOLDED THE TRUST IN THEM TO DO THEIR JOB AND SHE BETRAYED IT. WHAT DO YOU WANT BILL TO ABOUT IT, HE IS JUST AS SHOCKED AS ANYONE ELSE, THAT SHE HAD BEEN DRINKING AFTER HOURS AND HE ADMITTED THAT. ABC LAW STATES THAT ONCE SHE LEFT THE BAR AT THE END OF HER SHIFT SHE SHOULD NOT OF RETURNED TO THE BAR. IT WAS CLOSED FOR THE NIGHT HOW WERE THEY TO KNOW SHE WAS GOING TO GO BACK TO THE BAR. ABC ALSO SAYS THAT THE BAR IS LIABLE IF YOU SERVE A PATRON ALCOHOL THAT IS INTOXICATED INSTEAD OF CUTTING THEM OFF AND THEY WRECK AND HURT SOMEONE ELSE. BUT BESS SERVED HERSELF NOT THE BARTENDERS THERE WAS NO ONE THERE TO CUT HER OFF.
Given the facts that Bess has been employed and known to drink while working, that her boyfriend is a manager at the Pub, that drinking after hours has been a common practice there for years, and that he was there with her that night, yet left her DRUNK and ALONE to fend for herself on her way home, how do you not think that the Pub could be held liable for this terrible accident? They did not condone it, but they turned a blind eye to this behavior, and it is sad that it took a tragedy that has ruined several lives before something was done to change it. Personally, I cannot imagine how any of the people involved in this are dealing with the unbelievable guilt they must be feeling. It makes me sick to my stomach just to consider it.
FRIEND: I am not a friend of Bess or a Friend of Sherry. I do on the other hand know more details about the situation then you will ever know. And there was a public statement made by the bar owner of the pub last night, Finnigan's as yet to comment on the situation. So what does that tell ya. You can not hold the Pub responsible for something Bess especially knowing herself that she should not have been there after 2 consuming alcohol, when she was the acting night manager. And when you fill out an application for employment you are not going to put "I am and alcoholic, I am a druggie, I am a sex addict, etc." She had been employeed there long before the management took over. The ex-general manager would have hired anything as long it had big tatas, and a nice butt. He could of cared less what addiction they had. I am not defending Bess, but I am defending the Pub. If she had been driving her bf's car he would be behind bars, what's that tell ya. She doesn't care who she takes down.
You all kill me ~ those of you sitting on here defending the PUB or defending "Bess" need to place yourselves in the shoes of the family that lost their mother and/or wife. Where is your compassion? As far as I see it "Bess" broke the law, she has a previous record and her careless actions caused a death ~ she should be sentenced and pay the price to the max. The PUB has previous records as well so who in their right mind is going to believe any of the other workers that were there or the owner for that matter. The other workers don't want to lose their jobs, and the owner doesn't want to lose his business ... WAKE UP ... The Andersons didn't want to lose a loved one. Someone has to pay for this terrible crime and the mere fact that "Bess" left the scene only makes it ten times worse and giving her another break will only allow her to do this all over again. Marsha Garst ~ the justice system needs to prove justice in this case so you need to make it happen.
Regardless of Ms. Jones connections to the community and her family, she drank, got into a vehicle, DRUNK, and drove, she struck and killed someones wife, mother and friend. And yet she is still concidered a asset to the community. Think of the victims family. All of the excuses made. A life was taken, by someone who didn't have enough commen sense not to drink and drive. Who cares about the resturant and bar, what about the victim. drunk drivers regardless of who they are and what they do should be punished to the fullest regardless of what may have impaired their judgement, its only an excuse. How does a alcohalic get a job as a bartender? She got probation for her first offence, she knew she could get away with this.
To Sam and Angry Me: To those of us not familiar with the bar scene, all we have to go on is the media accounts and the word on the street. And the Pub doesn't score very well on either count. As of now, the story as reported is that she claimed to have been drinking at these two places AFTER her shift ended at 2 AM. If the news stories are wrong on the timeline here and I were the owner of either of these two places I would make a public statement ASAP.