FL - Sara Morales, 35, shot dead by motorcyclist she hit with car, Orange City, 20 Nov 2021

[GatorFL]

It really does stink. It’s obvious road rage in which the road rager ends up killing the other driver. No spin can change that this is not normal civilized human behavior, and angry people with guns shouldn’t be able to take the law into their own hands, no matter what her behavior was. That’s not how civilized society works.

LE seems to have taken him at his word, and it’s a shame. He’s a menace to society IMO. We’ll see what happens, but I’ll be surprised if they actually charge him. I hope I’m wrong. I keep wondering about her fiancé and how livid he must be.

I could counter argue that she took the law into her hands. She did not stop after an accident. She could have stopped and waited for LEO to arrive, instead she made a series of poor choices including arming herself.

I think this is a tough one for the police and prosecutors. I actually expect him to be charged for something, just not her killing.

 

[happyday]

I could counter argue that she took the law into her hands. She did not stop after an accident. She could have stopped and waited for LEO to arrive, instead she made a series of poor choices including arming herself.

I think this is a tough one for the police and prosecutors. I actually expect him to be charged for something, just not her killing.

I agree she made some poor choices. I’m not sure I fault her for not stopping though if she thought this guy was out of control. Even if she was at fault in the incident. She may be a bad driver. She may have been in a bad mood and made some bad choices in how to deal with a speedy motorcyclist, especially if she did intentionally bump his bike, (I’m not convinced it was intentional, but we’ll never know.) but I do think he was initially at fault by speeding by her, and I think she was trying to change lanes at the same time. I’m sure that’s happened to all of us, whether a motorcycle or another car. It escalated, and then I don’t blame her for calling 911 and not stopping at that point. If he had been knocked off his bike and/or hurt, then I would DEFINITELY fault her for not stopping.

I do NOT think she should have come out of her house waving a gun around, especially when she didn’t know how to use it. That’s just never a good idea, and it resulted in a hothead killing her for it.

So yeah, they both made bad choices, but things like this do happen on the roads all the time, and I just feel like there should be consequences for taking it all the way to death. It was unnecessary since he already gave 911 her plate #. People just need to calm down—it’s just not worth it. He killed somebody. A daughter, fiancé, mother. I’m sure he’ll carry this with him for the rest of his life whether charged or not. At least I hope he does, because how could anyone not?

I respect your opinion, Gator, and I agree it’s not cut and dry or he would already be charged. But it’s clear in my opinion that people are way too trigger happy these days, and it’s just sad.

 

[darring21]

I could counter argue that she took the law into her hands. She did not stop after an accident. She could have stopped and waited for LEO to arrive, instead she made a series of poor choices including arming herself.

I think this is a tough one for the police and prosecutors. I actually expect him to be charged for something, just not her killing.

I appreciate your rational approach. I agree with other posters that it stinks that this happens to anyone. Who started it and who hit who is mostly irrelevant. Nobody would have been charged with anything if they had pulled over either at the accident site or at her house. The cops would have said, "Tell your insurance company about it. Don't call us for a scuff on a saddlebag."

They both likely escalated it and share some fault but neither should be dead for those trivial sins. The key points to this is are:
Did she aim the gun at him or wave it around? I believe one of the others that was with him said she waved it around which also coincides with his behavior (backing off and saying settle down). If she was really aiming, I'm getting cover and pulling my gun.
Was he on her property?
Did he reasonably feel threatened? The other two with him were also armed and did not pull their guns.
Did he fire 8 times? Was she on the ground when he was still shooting?

I also think he will be charged with something. Have we heard anything from her family pushing for justice? I'd be speaking to attorneys about a wrongful death civil suit to pressure LE to do something.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Yes. I do think following someone to identify them to police is appropriate for a non injury hit and run. Auto insurance is very expensive in FL partly because of this. I still am not sold his driving led to the accident. I still think it was her driving that did.

Isn't FL a no-fault state? Even if she had stopped, nothing would have happened because no one was injured and there was microscopic damage to his car. If anything, him chasing her home lessened his case since he then kicked her car.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I could counter argue that she took the law into her hands. She did not stop after an accident. She could have stopped and waited for LEO to arrive, instead she made a series of poor choices including arming herself.

I think this is a tough one for the police and prosecutors. I actually expect him to be charged for something, just not her killing.

Let me turn the scenario around a bit. Like the links posted, say everything went down exactly as it had, but Morales stopped and she was assaulted/killed right there at a stop sign or stop light (again, just like the links I posted of other road rage cases).

Wouldn't everyone here be saying "if you're ever in that situation where he's already been aggressive, don't stop. Call police and drive to the nearest police station or somewhere safe"? No one would have called it a hit and run if someone keeps driving under those circumstances, yet here we are all because of one person's word that he wasn't going to harm her, even though he was aggressive and ultimately ended up shooting her 5 times.

 

[GatorFL]

I agree she made some poor choices. I’m not sure I fault her for not stopping though if she thought this guy was out of control. Even if she was at fault in the incident. She may be a bad driver. She may have been in a bad mood and made some bad choices in how to deal with a speedy motorcyclist, especially if she did intentionally bump his bike, (I’m not convinced it was intentional, but we’ll never know.) but I do think he was initially at fault by speeding by her, and I think she was trying to change lanes at the same time. I’m sure that’s happened to all of us, whether a motorcycle or another car. It escalated, and then I don’t blame her for calling 911 and not stopping at that point. If he had been knocked off his bike and/or hurt, then I would DEFINITELY fault her for not stopping.

I do NOT think she should have come out of her house waving a gun around, especially when she didn’t know how to use it. That’s just never a good idea, and it resulted in a hothead killing her for it.

So yeah, they both made bad choices, but things like this do happen on the roads all the time, and I just feel like there should be consequences for taking it all the way to death. It was unnecessary since he already gave 911 her plate #. People just need to calm down—it’s just not worth it. He killed somebody. A daughter, fiancé, mother. I’m sure he’ll carry this with him for the rest of his life whether charged or not. At least I hope he does, because how could anyone not?

I respect your opinion, Gator, and I agree it’s not cut and dry or he would already be charged. But it’s clear in my opinion that people are way too trigger happy these days, and it’s just sad.

Great post. Thanks.

 

[GatorFL]

Isn't FL a no-fault state? Even if she had stopped, nothing would have happened because no one was injured and there was microscopic damage to his car. If anything, him chasing her home lessened his case since he then kicked her car.

He had witnesses that she hit him. I mean, they were in the convoy trying to get her to pull over. That's a problem for her even without damage. If I were in his shoes I would want the authorities to know what she did, she should have faced a ticket for that.

No fault is a joke. I myself have been a victim of a crash where I exchanged insurance info with the person who caused the accident. They did not report it to their insurance company, and as a result I was out my deductible and my rates went up.

 

[GatorFL]

Let me turn the scenario around a bit. Like the links posted, say everything went down exactly as it had, but Morales stopped and she was assaulted/killed right there at a stop sign or stop light (again, just like the links I posted of other road rage cases).

Wouldn't everyone here be saying "if you're ever in that situation where he's already been aggressive, don't stop. Call police and drive to the nearest police station or somewhere safe"? No one would have called it a hit and run if someone keeps driving under those circumstances, yet here we are all because of one person's word that he wasn't going to harm her, even though he was aggressive and ultimately ended up shooting her 5 times.

Her house was 5 miles from the Volusia Sheriff's office. Another poor choice by her, going home instead of to the sheriff.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

He had witnesses that she hit him. I mean, they were in the convoy trying to get her to pull over. That's a problem for her even without damage. If I were in his shoes I would want the authorities to know what she did, she should have faced a ticket for that.

But again, this was after his own witnesses say that he sped by her, she changed lanes and he became aggressive with her, yelling at her. So there is a point to be made about whether or not hitting him was intentional or was she trying to get out of there since he was so aggressive and accidentally made contact.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Her house was 5 miles from the Volusia Sheriff's office. Another poor choice by her, going home instead of to the sheriff.

Many of us said she should have gone to the Sheriff's office, but I'll allow for the fact that she panicked. She was clearly panicked on the 911 call and told the guys she was scared. When you're panicked, you don't always think clearly.

 

[GatorFL]

Many of us said she should have gone to the Sheriff's office, but I'll allow for the fact that she panicked. She was clearly panicked on the 911 call and told the guys she was scared. When you're panicked, you don't always think clearly.

Which is why I am interested in all of the 911 calls. What was the dispatcher telling her? Obviously not the right stuff. And why couldn't they get a police officer or deputy to her location before this really went south?

 

[GatorFL]

But again, this was after his own witnesses say that he sped by her, she changed lanes and he became aggressive with her, yelling at her. So there is a point to be made about whether or not hitting him was intentional or was she trying to get out of there since he was so aggressive and accidentally made contact.

Which is why I've said I do expect charges for him. For this, but not for her death.

ETA: Aggressive is sort of a judgment call, don't you think? Who wouldn't be aggressive if someone hit you?

 

[PayrollNerd]

Video at link.

MSN

 

[GatorFL]

Video at link.

MSN

Based upon her mother's statement looks like he was not on her property. She came really far out of the house as well. Far enough where I would say she might have been aggressive, i.e. threatening to the bikers. If she were so fearful, why would she come out to the edge of the large front yard?

This video supports the facts and shows why Derr has not been charged in her death.

 

[Gardenista]

I bet her mom isn't pleased with the way the piece on IE turned out.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Video at link.

MSN

Thank you for finding this video. I just watched the spot about Sara on ABC News. First I’d seen anything on it, other than here on WS. I was searching for it to bring here, glad you got it posted.

 

[Razz]

Based upon her mother's statement looks like he was not on her property. She came really far out of the house as well. Far enough where I would say she might have been aggressive, i.e. threatening to the bikers. If she were so fearful, why would she come out to the edge of the large front yard?

This video supports the facts and shows why Derr has not been charged in her death.

The video by IE doesn't show much. Once again it starts off by, "SM aggressively bumped into one of the bikers and fled the scene." Inaccurately portrayed to fit a narrative into a small space of time. Inside Edition is a provocateur of anything that gets views. Sort of like Maury Povich.

 

[evilwise]

That video is right in line with my visualization of this incident from the beginning. I think the biker was going dangerously fast to begin with and she pulled into "his" lane without seeing him which pissed him off and he escalated and escalated and escalated it again. You can see ample videos of this kind of thing in YouTube posted by the bikers themselves. They strap GoPros on their helmets and record what they believe to be roads full of "cagers" out to kill them and their heroic videos of mostly punching people's side mirrors off but there's no shortage of videos with swarms of bikers beating on car windows with their helmets trying to drag drivers out of their cars on the street.

I think that in this case this particular biker was much more aware of the letter of the law than Sara and consciously engineered a situation in which he could legally kill her - but she was very foolish to go to the edge of her property brandishing a firearm like that. It would have been a lot better for her mom to have had a video camera than an unloaded gun. Sara would still be dead but we would know if she was objectively threatening the guy's life.

 

[PayrollNerd]

This is the verbiage from the video.

Mom of Pregnant Librarian Killed by Biker After Road Rage Incident Heartbroken That No Charges Have Been Filed

 

[cvaldez1975]

He had witnesses that she hit him. I mean, they were in the convoy trying to get her to pull over. That's a problem for her even without damage. If I were in his shoes I would want the authorities to know what she did, she should have faced a ticket for that.

No fault is a joke. I myself have been a victim of a crash where I exchanged insurance info with the person who caused the accident. They did not report it to their insurance company, and as a result I was out my deductible and my rates went up.

why didnt ur insurance sue theirs? that sucks man.