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I got to "know" Roger years ago via his website and blog. He's always been extremely cool to me and to those of us who hung out over there. He'd frequently invite blog regulars to events like screenings he was attending and things like a garage sale he had before he moved. The site and blog went nutso when Roger started doing video game stuff and it was never the same, but Roger is an excellent person and was a beyond gracious host over there.

I feel really, really badly for him and about this whole situation. Drunk driving is never o.k. and we all make mistakes in life. I'm just saddened for Roger and his family and hope he pulls through o.k.

Driving drunk is basically a gamble: the addict won't stop until they get arrested, or something worse happens.

Best wishes to all concerned.

Thanks, Dr. Phil.

Just because an 805 cop booked him on suspicion of drunk driving does not mean he was. We spoke this morning. Gretchen and he will be fine. I would be surprised if he is prosecuted. That road is a winding, unlit dirt road (yes I have been on it). The number of fuckwits over at Wells' site ready to lynch a guy (based on an AP report) is pathetic.

Seriously, Murphy's got a point.

Anyone that's been up or around Ojai, know that it's mostly dark, one lane, winding roads going through hills and small mountains.

You also get many drunk students from UCSB driving around there. They're not the safest roads at night at all.

I'm not defending Mr. Avary's judgement; but Ojai, as beautiful as it is, is still fairly small town and quaint. It's not really a spot that has a bustling 24hour taxi service that they could've called.

I'm not clear if they hit another car, or if it was a collision with something else. If it was another car, best wishes of safety to the others involved.

My condolensces on the passing of Mr. Avary's friend. That will be a hard burden to bear for sure...

Don has it right - most roadside sobriety tests are complete BS - and any defense lawyer worth his salt can demolish them. Unless they did a roadside breathalyzer test you should assume nothing (and even then those are not a valid indication of inebriation).

Condolences to the victim's family and to Roger - he must feel like total shit right now. Not a good place to be.

Why are people so quick to judge people?

It's a tragedy. People should let it get sorted out, not jump to hasty conclusions about the guy.

I would like to address this.

"Don has it right - most roadside sobriety tests are complete BS - and any defense lawyer worth his salt can demolish them. Unless they did a roadside breathalyzer test you should assume nothing (and even then those are not a valid indication of inebriation)."

My Grandparents were killed by a drunk driver. The guy was drunk driving a truck full of lumber. He veered over the median and struck the car killing them and 3 other people in the car including an 8 year old boy.

The guy had a lawyer who got the drunk driving charge thrown out on a technicality, and the guy ended up getting probation and a suspended license. He didn't serve a single day of jail time. The guy killed 5 people.

The fact that someone would say 'a lawyer worth his salt can demolish them' is a sad indication of our legal system. Not that i have anything against a1amoeba, but when someone is in a fatal accident and the subject of sobriety isn't even considered relevant because it can be so easily invalidated in courts is something i have a lot of trouble with.

I hope it was just an accident. They do happen. Not everyone who gets involved in a fatal accident is drunk, but lets not brush with such broad strokes. If the guy was drinking and then drove on an unlit, winding dirt road, it should be factored in. Good lawyers or not.

Anghus - I was a victim of a drunk driver and also have worked as a firefighter/emt for over 8 years so I've seen the carnage. What I am saying is that sobriety tests are not an accurate gauge of inebriation - hence the ease of a lawyer demolishing them. The best indicator is a breathalyzer (which can still yield inaccurate results).

Best test is a blood draw - which is rare in the field.

But please don't take my post as a dismissal of the seriousness of drunk driving - it is something I never do nor would ever let a friend do. It's plain stupid.

I will reserve judgment until more detailed info is available. But, like Don Murphy, I have noticed the marked dissimilarity between most of the postings here, and most of the postings on HE. Not saying that's a good thing, not saying that's a bad thing. But I wonder how much it says about the dissimilarity between the two blogs -- between the people who write them, the people who read them, the demographics of the readership, etc.

While I am all about a good fight on a blog, Joe. It's very hard to knock a man who finds himself in this sort of situation. It's a scar that you carry for your entire life. There's no need to want to pour salt on it.

>"Anyone that's been up or around Ojai, know that it's mostly dark, one lane, winding roads going through hills and small mountains."

Except that according to the LAT the accident occured at 1900 E. Ojai Ave right outside the Ojai Lumber Co. and right down the street from Soule Park Golf Course. Click on the satellite view on the map and you'll see that Avary's car was very close to the middle of town.

http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enUS256US256&q=1900+E.+Ojai+Ave&um=1&sa=N&tab=wl

SS

You mean right near that ditch he tried to avoid?

No excuses.

7 years ago, my fiancee's mother and little sister were killed by a drunk driver. He was actually slightly below the legal limit and crossed over into their lane on a long stretch of ighway in the summertime, no wet roads, no dirt, no windy roads.

It tore everything apart. We ended up not getting married (this happened six weeks before the wedding) and her father took his own life less than a year later.

No excuses.

Don: I realize that, because Avary is your friend, you want to think the best of him in this situation. And, trust me, I can appreciate that. But, at the risk of being presumptuous: Be careful not to make the same mistake that I did in an unfortunately similar situation. Do not let your regard for someone make you rush to judgment on the record (and, worse, in print). I would respectfully advise you, as I wrote above: Wait until all the facts are in. Feel free to curse me for my remarks if you wish. I hope you are right. But...

EOTW, that's truly tragic. I'm sorry.

As for some of the bloggers on HE, yes, anonymity can breed cruel disregard. But not from everybody.

EOTW, that's truly tragic. I'm sorry.

As for some of the bloggers on HE, yes, anonymity can breed cruel disregard. But not from everybody.

I'd just like to add that a lot of folks on a lot fo blogs (HE and others) are talking about "buzz driving," as if that is less an offense. I can tell you this. I have NEVER, EVER driven after drinking, even if it was just one drink. Nothing. And I have always been this way ever since I was a teen drinking beers for the first time. I didn't grow up in NY or LA, not that that matters at all, but I have always known how dangerous that can be.

There is just no good excuse for anyone not to catch a ride or get a cab ir this case, a damn limo. Pretty easy for a guy like RA. Don't know. Maybe I just have more regard for others. Doing something like this, accident or not, really shows just how much a person DOES NOT respect him/herself or others.

Sermon over.

Oh, yeah. I didn't post the above post at HE for the obvious reasons.

I can't imagine a worse punishment than having the death of another on your hands. Not knowing anything more about this it's irresponsible to make any further personal comments about the people involved. When it all gets legally sorted out, yeah. I hope for the best for Avery and his wife and the family of the deceased.

Having made some incredibly bad decisions in my life that I'm thankful didn't result in any injury or worse to anyone else or myself, this is a big slap upside the head. Even those small, seemingly practical choices we make can have severe consequences.

Another sad story. Brad Renfro is dead.

That's a shame, he had a lot of talent.

That is sad about Renfro. He started out so promising in "The Client," "Sleepers" and "Apt Pupil." It appeared that he really struggled with alcohol and substance issues throughout his short life.

"I hope it was just an accident. They do happen".
-Anghus

+1

this experience Roger is going through further reinforces my personal belief in zero tolerance when i drive. too many lynch mobs today... to even risk alcohol on one's breath when driving a car. heard of some cases where people under .08bac have been placed in prison in injury cases. suspicion is all an officer needs to make an arrest.

Andreas' death is quite alot to deal with in itself. hope a lesson is learned and no one is strung up.

allthebest to all envolved.

ps: alot of good that humiliating arrest (in '05) did for Renfro. addiction is an evil hungry beast. sad too.

Well our hearts go out to all concerned. They are sweet sensitive people, and we hope for a quick recovery for all. They remain in our prayers.

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