Letters from the issue of Thursday, February 7, 2008

Karma will come full circle: This is so wrong. This girl needs to be brought to justice. Wilkerson was in the wrong when he fled the scene, but a drunken teen with a record not being held as the primary cause of the accident is the most absurd thing I have ever heard.

The real crime? No charges for Varker: Sounds like both of them should be serving time. Both of them are guilty. Varker for DUI and reckless driving. Wilkerson for leaving the scene of a fatal injury accident, unlawful flight from law enforcement, and five counts of endangerment.

Ultimately, though, Varker should be the one serving time for involuntary manslaughter. She's the one who was underage and over the limit, and she's the one who allowed Felicia Edwards to ride in the back on tubes. If Edwards had worn a seatbelt, she might still be alive today.

Either way, the fact that Varker hasn't been charged with anything is a crime in and of itself.

Wilkerson shouldn't have fled: If his U-turn was actually legal, I think that she was at fault for the accident itself. She crossed the yellow lines. I believe that if he had stayed at the scene, he would probably not have even gotten a ticket.

He passed the drug and alcohol tests, and she flunked, in addition to crossing the yellow lines. It looks like the focus of blame would then be all over her like ugly on an ape.

I can't see him in any serious trouble if he had done the right thing and stayed. You hit and run and that changes everything.

Prosecutors are dropping the ball: People make choices in life and unfortunately have to face the consequences of their actions, regardless of race, age or social economic status.

Laura Varker made a choice to get behind the wheel of a car while under the influence of alcohol, was involved in an accident, and that accident resulted in her being responsible for killing her friend.

Bryant Wilkerson made a choice to leave the scene of an accident where a death occurred. There are laws in place for both wrongs that should give the parents of the victim a sense of justice.

This is not a case in which the Sheriff's Office is not doing the right thing, it's a case where prosecutors are not. Because, for whatever reason, Varker's not charged with any crime.

It's a class issue: Both Varker and Wilkerson should be punished — Wilkerson for driving under the influence of marijuana and fleeing the scene of the accident, and Varker for purchasing and consuming alcohol while underage and driving while legally intoxicated.

Both should serve jail time, be stripped of their licenses, and be forced to attend a drug or alcohol program. Both of them were responsible for their drug use while driving.

I don't see this as a racial issue; it's more about class. The police seem to be intimidated by Varker's family connections and its ability to hire "dream team" lawyers. I can only hope that the next time Varker causes an accident, she is the one who suffers.

Varker's an ignorant teenager, and until she's willing to accept full accountability for her actions, she'll be an ignorant adult.

Why are you surprised?: I cannot believe this is happening. There will be no repercussions to the young woman who caused the accident, at all?! Race, class, and wealth will be the most important factors here, rather than drunken driving?

Land of the free?: This is an insane story. I hope that justice is served and Wilkerson is set free. Sounds like he has served his time already. Now I remember why I don't live in Arizona.

White people are still racist: It is not his fault the car hit him. The girl should not have been driving, especially after having a similar accident (though not as horrible) a year earlier. She was very responsible for what happened. Of course the "witness," who happens to be a friend of the girl, will bend the story to make it out to not be Varker's fault.

That girl needs to be prosecuted, regardless of what you may think of him. She deserves to spend her life in jail. I guarantee that if the situation were reversed (black drunken driver in the SUV and sober white driver in the Hyundai), white people would be up in arms.

The reality is that white people are still very racist. I'm one, and I know. You can't deny it.

Mr. and Mrs. Varker are irresponsible: Throw her fucking parents in jail. How is this person under 18 given a 3.5-ton motor vehicle and allowed to drive it after a previous crash?