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Driver, Passenger Charged With Murder Following Pickup Crash
July 25, 2013
Two people have been charged with reckless murder following a single-vehicle crash Monday evening that claimed the life of a Brewton teen.
Nicholas Robinson, 13, was killed when the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado pickup in which he was a passenger left Travis Road (CR55) four miles southeast of Brewton, struck a utility pole and overturned. Robinson and another child were reportedly riding in the bed of the truck at the time of the crash.
The driver of the truck, 33-year old Earl Dickerson of East Brewton, and the adult passenger, 36-year old Angela Marie Robinson of Brewton, have both been charged with reckless murder. Authorities allege Dickerson was speeding and was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time Nicholas Robinson was riding in the bed of the truck. Robinson was charged for allegedly being under the influence of alcohol or drugs when she allowed her son to ride in the bed of the speeding truck. They are being held without bond in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
Anasia Brazile, 11, was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in critical condition. Two other children, whose names have not been released, received less serious injuries in the crash.
Comments
36 Responses to “Driver, Passenger Charged With Murder Following Pickup Crash”
David Huie Green:
Your request is granted
Slack has been given to Tim, but I stand firm behind Murder charge is what they deserve.
Had one of them been my child or grandchild…….never mind. I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way I do.
Am I the only one that read that the driver was under the influence when this child died? What kind of mother allows her child to ride in the bed of a truck when they know that not only the driver is under the influence but she is as well?!
I think in this situation the charge of murder is perfectly acceptable. Chances are if this goes to trial the charges will be downgraded to manslaughter anyways. RIP Nicholas Robinson
Tinia Hennington,
Tim didn’t know about the drugs or speed when he commented. The report was updated after that. Please cut him some slack.
RE: TIM…….who wrote…..Very sad situation. Although I think the adults should be held accountable, I think the charge of murder is excessive. They did not set out with the intentions of killing anyone. It was an accident. Manslaughter seems to be more fitting for this type of case.
Listen here…..When that man and that woman got into that truck, both knowing their heads were not right, filled with alcohol and drugs THEN IT WAS MURDER!!
If it were your kids on back of that truck and one of them died and one in ICU fighting for her life, YOU WOULD HAVE A COMPLETE DIFFERANT OUTLOOK BUDDY!!
1 CHILD DEAD, I IN ICU FIGHTING FOR LIFE?
This man and woman had just been pulled out of a ditch that he ran into about 5 minutes before that wreck, that should have told them it was time to PARK THAT TRUCK!!!!!!!!!! MURDER IS RIGHT!!
REGARDING:
“Is it against the law in Florida or Alabama for a child to ride in a bed of a truck? I feel like it is. It is against the law for no seat belts.”
Per
http://www.iihs.org/laws/mapcargoareas.aspx
Florida law allows riding in the cargo area of trucks but only if certain safety equipment is installed and used.
It isn’t spelled out that it is illegal to ride in the cargo area of a truck in Alabama. In fact, in Alabama, seat belts are only required for front seat riders and even then there are exceptions to the requirement per
http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/alcode/32/5B/32-5B-4
Nonetheless, driving in a reckless manner or endangering the lives of others through reckless actions is specifically forbidden.
David for living children
Is it against the law in Flordia or Alabama for a child to ride in a bed of a truck? I feel like it is. It is against the law for no seat belts.
Stacy – thanks for such an enlightening point of view…its a shame you’re late to the party and have no idea what you’re talking about.
I think maybe you should read the comments a little bit more closely and you’ll see that those concerned about the “excessive” charges, did not have all of the information until a day later.
The charges are completely appropriate. The mother involved didn’t “lose” her son, she helped create the circumstances that killed him. It doesn’t matter what she intended. Drunk driving is a serious crime, child endangerment is also a serious crime. Let’s stop feeling too sorry for these adults and start advocating on behalf of children whose parents get drunk and take them for a joy ride.
@Heather
Just because you don’t “expect” someone to die riding in the back of a pick up, doesn’t mean the data is not there to support what David is saying.
Take a standard pickup truck and crash it into the wall at 50 miles an hour. Now add tow passengers to the back and do the same thing about 50 times. I believe the data would say that the passengers riding in the bed will have a greater percentage of dying than those strapped in the cabin of the vehicle.
If the data supports this, then you can safely say that you are taking a huge risk by riding in the bed. Again, just because you don’t expect to get into an accident, doesn’t mean you will never get into one, and KNOWINGLY having a passenger in the bed of your truck while driving is like saying “Have fun back there, but you are probably going to die if we get in an accident.”
Heather,
You are rignt.
Most people who get in wrecks were not considering the definite possibility.
Most who are killed were not considering how helpful seat belts would’ve been
David for forethought
Really???? You KNOW the driver is drinking…You KNOW they are speeding & you KNOW that YOUR child is in the back of this truck!!!! MURDER>>>>YES< WHY THE HELL NOT????? WHY WOULD YOU PUT YOUR CHILD IN A VEHICLE MUCH LESS THE BACK OF A PICK UP WITH A DRUNK DRIVER?????????????????????
A sad situation indeed. My brother was killed in another state. My sister thinks it’s murder. It was actually death as he was walking on the side of the road. A driver (previous DUIs) hit him with his full sized pick-up. To say the least his truck faired better than my brother who died at the scene in so many broken pieces. The driver was charged not with murder but with vehiclular manslaughter.
Sad that both lives and families have been changed by this. However, the driver made a choice. Adults are responsible for children in their care. In this case, it is terrible that their son died (due to their actions and choices) – but there is yet another price to pay. A long journey for all envolved. Let’s hope (as I did with the driver who killed my brother) they realize the cause, respect the verdict and change their ways. The guy who killed my brother only received 8 months – including time already served. My brother on the other hand is in a better place…
@David Huie Green “I understand you’ve changed your mind somewhat as more details were given, but still the idea that it wouldn’t be murder as long as it happened less often than the crime was committed is worth looking at. If death were the result a tenth of the time, most would realize it was reckless murder. If death were the result a hundredth of the time, quite a few would still understand it was reckless murder when it happened”
unfortunately for the family, yes, things definitely make more sense now that more details were released
Also, the charge wasnt “reckless murder” on the original report – just “murder” – so it stands to reason why some people were scratching their heads after initially reading it.
P.S. As much as I hate arguing (not that i feel like we are arguing, but just in case someone sees this as such)…. my point was not that the frequency of death was the determining factor in the “murder” charge. I was countering your comment that we can “expect” riding in the bed of a truck to result in death. To me, that’s more fitting for something like shooting someone in the head – “when you shoot someone in the head, dont be surprised if they die & you get charged with murder” – well, yes. Shooting someone in the head, i would certainly “expect” that person to die. But nobody drives with a passenger in the bed of a truck “expecting” them to die – or expecting to get in an accident at all.
Life is, hopefully, a long convoluted journey. You mess up, often you have to pay the consequence. Bottom line, there may not be a political correct answer. Lawyers and undertakers are your last resort. People, life is not fair.
Heather, you can be charged with homicide if the result of you breaking the law causes death, running a red light, stop sign, being reckless etc., even if the person is not in your vehicle. sad for the family, I am sure if they could have known this would happen they would have done things different.
REGARDING:
“I would venture to guess that statistically, the odds are in the favor of NOT dying, when riding in the bed of a truck. Much like speeding and not properly restraining your children in carseats & seat buckles. People do often die as a result of these illegal activities, but not nearly as often as people perform these illegal activities. “
I understand you’ve changed your mind somewhat as more details were given, but still the idea that it wouldn’t be murder as long as it happened less often than the crime was committed is worth looking at. If death were the result a tenth of the time, most would realize it was reckless murder. If death were the result a hundredth of the time, quite a few would still understand it was reckless murder when it happened.
Juries hate to convict, so maybe they can beat the charges. If they do, that should encourage others to not bother complying with the law. We already know what the result will be some of the time, though.
David for mercy,
fewer losses,
fewer mothers mourning
http://law.onecle.com/alabama/criminal-code/13A-6-2.html
Code of Alabama – Title 13A: Criminal Code – Section 13A-6-2 – Murder
Section 13A-6-2 – Murder.
- – - –
(2) Under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life, he or she recklessly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to a person other than himself or herself, and thereby causes the death of another person.
I am soooo shocked at how mean hearted people are getting. Is’nt loosing this child punishment enough.
Perhaps the kids being in the back of the truck COUPLED with the DUI is why the charge is so serious. However, for the mother, seems the death of a child is MORE than enough punishment. :’(
The story has been updated to show that both were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. NOW, do some still object to the reckless murder charge? Seems appropriate to me.
ok, now that more details have been added to the story….it all makes sense. Drugs & alcohol were involved.
murder?! Did they intentionally put the kids in the bed of the truck, run off the road and hit a pole to kill the children… if so yeah murder charge, if not manslaughter seems like the appropriate charge. Sad situation… I use to ride in the back of trucks growing up, at one time rode from Molino to Montgomery in the back of my dads truck with my siblings. I can see why it is dangerous, and would never put my kids in the back of my truck.
@David Huie Green – “If you do something illegal which can reasonably be expected to result in a death and it DOES result in a death, please explain why it should NOT be considered murder.”
I don’t think riding in the back of a truck can “reasonably be expected to result in a death”. I would venture to guess that statistically, the odds are in the favor of NOT dying, when riding in the bed of a truck. Much like speeding and not properly restraining your children in carseats & seat buckles. People do often die as a result of these illegal activities, but not nearly as often as people perform these illegal activities. Which is why people continue to do it. They dont fully understand just how dangerous their decisions are & the impact they can make.
When there is an accident and someone dies as a result of your “illegal activity”, When is it considered murder? Honestly, i’m curious – are parents charged with murder when speeding causes an accident that results in death? Are they charged with murder when they dont restrain their kids in a carseat properly and the child is slung around like a rag doll? Why is one considered a “poor decision”, but the other is being used to charge them with murder?
i feel “murder” is excessive, because i dont think she packed up her kids in the back of a truck with the understanding of just how dangerous it is to do so – even if its glaringly obvious to some. Much like people who put their kids in booster seats before they are physically big/old enough to be out of a carseat. They dont know any better – especially since, like several have said, “we did that when we were kids!”
If you do something illegal which can reasonably be expected to result in a death and it DOES result in a death, please explain why it should NOT be considered murder.
They can use your explanation in their defense of why they killed the 13 year-old.
David for better drivers
I can’t wait till the same is done with distracted drivers..
If it is the Angela that I know she was a great mom and a good child growing up. I was a bus driver and she road my bus. My heart goes out to her and her family. Prayers to all involved.
What is the law about riding in the back of a truck?
Is it illegal, under all circumstances (heavy traffic and over certain speeds) or just dangerous?
I rode in the back of trucks all the time as a child and had a few scary times myself but really haven’t thought of it in years. I see people doing it when going to the river near my house every weekend.
Oh, wow. Murder? That does seem excessive. Is there something more to the story?
(serious question) Do drivers get charged with murder if a child dies in a car accident, in which they were speeding? Or ran a red light? Or what if the child was in the car, but not buckled in? Would the driver be charged with murder in those car accidents, that happened as a result of illegal behavior…but by all accounts, are still accidents?
That said, I’m bit of a control freak when it comes to kids being properly retrained in vehicles (car seats to seat belts) …. So, the mom in me wants to scream, “what were you thinking??!” but the mom in me also knows that she is probably asking herself the same question, and she’ll never be able to forgive herself.
Sad, just plain SAD!!! Very tragic and now a mother not only faces the fact of burying her child but also MURDER charges for something that should’ve and probably could have been avoided. Stacy, I can also remember riding in the back of a truck bed on the way home from the river in the 80’s. Times were definitely different back then. Prayers for this family and the healing of the other children involved.
Both of the adults were charged with MURDER not just the driver, WOW! I guess since the passenger must have been her mother, I presume, she was charged as well?
Not familiar with Travis Road – it is in Alabama, correct? Manslaughter would seem like a more appropriate charge vs. murder, but, maybe the laws in Alabama are worded differently than Florida. Noticed they are being held in Brewton by the Escambia Co. Alabama authorities.
It is sad! But yet it is also illegal to let passengers ride in the bed of a truck! Not specifically illegal for adults, illegal for children
Children under 18 must wear a seatbelt in Florida. Since the back of the pickup doesn’t have seatbelts, it is an illegal action
Hence forth the Murder Charge ( I Believe they consider them to have knownly put their lives at risk by allowing them to do something illegal).
While this is very tragic I don’t understand why they were charged with murder ??????
Isn’t Angela the mother of Nicholas whom passed away???
Very sad situation. Although I think the adults should be held accountable, I think the charge of murder is excessive. They did not set out with the intentions of killing anyone. It was an accident. Manslaughter seems to be more fitting for this type of case.
What a tragic accident. It used to be so common to ride in the back of a truck when I was a kid. We would ride home from a day spent at the lake in the back of my dad’s pickup. Those are some special memories but looking back was not too safe. People drove slower back then. The 70’s and 80’s were such a carefree time but times are so different now. Praying for healing for all involved.
Just sadness all around. Prayers going out to all families involved in this tragic accident.