Reminder: Don't Drink and Drive
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Reminder: Don't Drink and Drive
It's not worth it.
RIP to an M3Post member.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/tr...w-1205635.html
RIP to an M3Post member.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/tr...w-1205635.html
WELLINGTON — Investigators say alcohol and speed played a role in the single-car crash that left a 29-year-old man dead, thrown from his car this morning in Wellington.
Daniel Portela of West Palm Beach had left the Player's Club Bar and Restaurant in his BMW M3 series and headed northbound on South Shore Boulevard, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's report.
Portela, who was wearing his seat belt, could not "negotiate" a curve and lost control, said Sgt. John Churchill of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. The car turned clockwise, made it on to the median and continued sideways until it stuck a tree, which split the car in half, the report stated.
The front half of the car continued to slide on the median until it struck a second tree, which threw Portela from his car, according to the report. That part of the car then caught fire.
Portela died at the scene.
Daniel Portela of West Palm Beach had left the Player's Club Bar and Restaurant in his BMW M3 series and headed northbound on South Shore Boulevard, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's report.
Portela, who was wearing his seat belt, could not "negotiate" a curve and lost control, said Sgt. John Churchill of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. The car turned clockwise, made it on to the median and continued sideways until it stuck a tree, which split the car in half, the report stated.
The front half of the car continued to slide on the median until it struck a second tree, which threw Portela from his car, according to the report. That part of the car then caught fire.
Portela died at the scene.
Someday, an RS6 Avant+
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Japan
Wow. A tree cut the car in half, so he had to be doing something scary speed wise.
The rule I follow is the local law here in Japan: If you submit to a Breathalyzer and blow anything above 0.00, you will get 30 days in jail and a Y500,000 ($6000) fine.
It's cheap to take a cab, and I keep my job. Problem solved.
The rule I follow is the local law here in Japan: If you submit to a Breathalyzer and blow anything above 0.00, you will get 30 days in jail and a Y500,000 ($6000) fine.
It's cheap to take a cab, and I keep my job. Problem solved.
Fahrvergnügen'd
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Maryland
It looks like not only was he thrown from the car but he was thrown from it along with his seat ... So a lot of good the seatbelt did him 
As much as alcohol might have been a factor, clearly speed was too.
Sorry to his family.
As much as alcohol might have been a factor, clearly speed was too.
Sorry to his family.
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Oak Forest, IL
Indeed, very difficult to read something like this. Two of my very good friends were killed by a drunk driver back in high school....and the drunk driver was an off duty cop.
May he rest in peace.
May he rest in peace.
Racer
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From: Oak Forest, IL
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480106
I just read through the posts in the thread and its pretty sad. If you read through this, you find out that on page 4 that they actually realize it was a fellow member, Lucifer_M3. Very sad story, no one deserves to go through something like this.
RIP
I just read through the posts in the thread and its pretty sad. If you read through this, you find out that on page 4 that they actually realize it was a fellow member, Lucifer_M3. Very sad story, no one deserves to go through something like this.
RIP
Thread Starter
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From: IL
Here's the path the car made on the turn and subsequently into the tree.
Banned
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Wow... very very scary and sad. As sad as this is, hope it reminds everyone to never drink and drive. If you are going to drink, have a designated driver and give your keys immediately to them, or take a cab. So sad to see these things happen.
And the guys over at E46Fanatics are being dicks about it:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=818750
Seriously? He paid the consequences and there's nothing anyone can do about it, just let him rip.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=818750
Seriously? He paid the consequences and there's nothing anyone can do about it, just let him rip.
That's a horrible thing to see 
'10 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
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From: CT
to the Daniel.By the way this is a link to his thread about his new car.
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=449261&page=2
By the guy of Post #33 in the linked thread is an idiot.
Last edited by Eoanou; Jan 26, 2011 at 12:28 PM.
958 & 991
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From: South Florida
Damn, I knew of him from horse shows and all of my friends texted me saying what a terrible accident it was. Player's Club better do something, this is the second death after leaving there in the last year or so.
John Goodman was well know in Wellington and the Polo world and left Players hitting and killing a 21 year old while driving his Bentley. Very sad
As for deserving it, no he def did not but people in the horse show world have a TON of money and feel they are above the law. I went out with a bunch of them sunday (monday is a dark day in barns so Sunday is the party day) and was the DD since I had to work the next day. These people were absolutely hammered and all drove like that and will again this Sunday. It is crazy how they feel they are above it and how often they get out of legal ramifications due to their money, who they are, or who they know.
John Goodman was well know in Wellington and the Polo world and left Players hitting and killing a 21 year old while driving his Bentley. Very sad
As for deserving it, no he def did not but people in the horse show world have a TON of money and feel they are above the law. I went out with a bunch of them sunday (monday is a dark day in barns so Sunday is the party day) and was the DD since I had to work the next day. These people were absolutely hammered and all drove like that and will again this Sunday. It is crazy how they feel they are above it and how often they get out of legal ramifications due to their money, who they are, or who they know.
Last edited by 1StGenCL; Jan 26, 2011 at 11:12 PM.
958 & 991
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From: South Florida
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And the guys over at E46Fanatics are being dicks about it:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=818750
Seriously? He paid the consequences and there's nothing anyone can do about it, just let him rip.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=818750
Seriously? He paid the consequences and there's nothing anyone can do about it, just let him rip.
M3post member.
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From: Space Coast, FL
Its sad to see something like this, and it's not because the car was great, but because something as simple as getting in a car after drinking was so easy.
let this be a reminder that sometimes the simplest of choices can have long lasting effects such as texting and driving, driving aggressively or just trying to drift a corner.
Daniel Portella, Your family and friends will miss you as well as a whole BMW community.
let this be a reminder that sometimes the simplest of choices can have long lasting effects such as texting and driving, driving aggressively or just trying to drift a corner.
Daniel Portella, Your family and friends will miss you as well as a whole BMW community.