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Title: Indiana cop on DUI beat loses daughter to alleged drunk driver: ‘The irony is horrific’
Source:
NY Daily News
URL Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat ... drunk-driver-article-1.2356929
Published: Sep 11, 2015
Author: Melissa Chan
Post Date: 2015-09-11 19:31:58 by cranky
Keywords: None
Views: 1219
Comments: 15
An Indianapolis police officer who has spent most of his long career stopping drunk drivers lost his daughter to an allegedly impaired motorist in a crash that will likely haunt him forever, his family said. Dan Shragal, 48, has made almost 4,000 DUI arrests during his 25-year tenure at the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. His 22-year-old daughter, Kirstin Burton, was killed in a drunk-driving accident two weeks ago. "The irony is horrific," Burton's stepmother Rachel Shragal told the Daily News. "It's been very, very difficult for Dan. He's said several times that he's the one he couldn't get. He couldn't stop him and he took away his daughter." Shragal, who has been assigned full-time to IMPD's dedicated DUI unit for the last decade, was working a drunk-driving checkpoint on Aug. 22 when he got a devastating call from Burton's mother. "Through the sobbing and the screaming, she got out that Kirstin was dead," Shragal told Fox 59. Indianapolis police officer Dan Shragal lost his daughter to a suspected drunk driver after spending most of his career on the DUI unit. Burton, a new mother who had her 14-month-old son Orion in the backseat, was struck by a pickup truck driven by a suspected drunk driver in Dayton, Ohio about 9 p.m. Her car careened into a tree, killing her instantly and critically injuring her son, Rachel Shragal said. Moments before, Dan Shragal unknowingly had his last conversation with his daughter on the phone. "I'm blessed that the last words I said to my daughter were, 'I love you, sunshine,' and she said, 'I love you too, daddy.' That is the last time I spoke to her," he told Fox. Kirstin Burton, 22, was killed in a suspected drunk-driving crash. She leaves behind a 14-month-old son. The devastated father had spent 15 years working as a beat cop before he was moved to the DUI unit. He had won several awards for the number of arrests he had under his belt and took an average of three drunk drivers off the road each night, his wife said. Dan Shragal returned to work Tuesday after burying his daughter a week before, but he hasn't yet summoned the strength to work checkpoints yet. "He wants to return very, very much, but right now it's very hard for him to think about doing that," his wife of eight years said. "It's going to bring back memories that are still very fresh for him. It's still very raw for him." Burton was remembered as a selfless mother, daughter and friend who put others' feelings over her own. An hour before the fatal wreck, she posted a powerful video on Periscope talking about how a stranger's words touched her deeply. "How can you impact someone's day or life?" she says. "I was thinking about something someone said to me months and months ago and it hit me really hard." "I've been thinking about it because it relates to my life now," she continues. "And at the time it didn't really do anything for me. I was like, 'OK.' But it impacted me and (the words) really stuck with me." Indianapolis police officer Dan Shragal lost his daughter to a suspected drunk driver after spending most of his career on the DUI unit. The video was shown to Dan Shragal and his wife shortly after her death. "It raised goose bumps for me," Rachel Shragal said. "It was so hard to hear her voice and to see her, even though it was such a positive message she was giving." The footage was played at Burton's funeral on Aug. 31. "That was her whole heart coming out in that," her stepmother said. 
Burton gave birth to her first son, Orion, a little more than a year ago. She's pictured here with her husband Andrew. 
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#1. To: cranky (#0)
IMHO,if you kill someone while driving impaired on either alcohol or any other drugs,manslaughter and serious time should be where the punishment begins,and then only if it is your first offense. If you have been arrested for DUI before,1st degree murder. Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
DUIs used to be quite the cash cow for the states (pre MADD). I can recall reading of drunk drivers with twenty and thirty convictions that went on to kill other drivers before they were finally locked up. One in particular, a pickup truck that hit a school bus back east on a highway a couple or three decades ago. There are three kinds of people in the world: those that can add and those that can't
Killing while DUI is murder. Murderers should executed.
It's not INTENTIONAL murder,so I'm not ready to go that far on someone facing first offense charges. Second offense,maybe. Depending on the circumstances. For example was your other offense 20 years ago? 3rd offense? Kiss your own ass goodbye. Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Intent is of no comfort to the dead and their loved ones. They drive drunk, they did it intentionally. They need to be held responsible for the results of the actions they willingly took.
How terrible. May God bless this officer, his family, and bless them with a healed heart. May God speed the healing of the injured son. As a father, I cannot imagine the anguish this father is experiencing. Again, I pray that God will heal his broken heart!! Si vis pacem, para bellum
If you want to go that broad,any traffic accident could be ruled murder if someone died. This is supposed to be a nation of laws,and intent is EVERYTHING. A case can be made for murder with a repeat drunken driver because they have already proven they have a callous neglect for the lives of others. That case can't be made by anyone sane for a 1st offender. Manslaughter yes,murder,no. Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Pete ~ It's not INTENTIONAL murder,so I'm not ready to go that far on someone facing first offense charges. Second offense,maybe. Depending on the circumstances. For example was your other offense 20 years ago? 3rd offense? Kiss your own ass goodbye. So, 3 reckless killings and now you'd like to finally execute the shitbird? Your libtard feelings are showing. I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
What's showing is your stupidity. Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
They've proven that the first time they drive drunk. The car is not the one forcing them to drink and drive. They do it. They made the choice. They need to take responsibility for that choice. It would sure cut down on drunk driving.
They've proven that the first time they drive drunk. Bullshit. Are you going to try to tell me YOU have never driven while impaired from alcohol,lack of sleep,etc,etc,etc? Not even once? Did that make you a murderer or an attempted murderer? Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Key word: alleged. The accident happened on August 22nd, three weeks ago, and they still don't have a toxicology report stating his BAC? According to his girlfriend who was riding with him, they were being chased by people who wanted to harm them.
Never. Not all parts of America are populated by people who live in double- wides surrounded by several acres of derelict automobiles on blocks, and who's last words are likely to be "Hold my beer and watch this." The inbred Lindsay Graham electorate is not representative of the nation as a whole. In the rest of America, Honey Boo-Boo's mom would have a hard time finding 4 different men who would want to have sex with her.
I don't follow court cases,but that seems like a long time to me for such a simple test. What's a normal time frame for a DUI report to come back? Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Stereotype much,Bubba? Ever been out of your own neighborhood? Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
#2. To: sneakypete (#1)
If you have been arrested for DUI before,1st degree murder.
#3. To: sneakypete (#1)
If you have been arrested for DUI before,1st degree murder.
#4. To: nativist nationalist (#3)
Killing while DUI is murder. Murderers should executed.
#5. To: sneakypete (#4)
It's not INTENTIONAL murder,so I'm not ready to go that far on someone facing first offense charges.
#6. To: cranky (#0)
" Indiana cop on DUI beat loses daughter to alleged drunk driver "
#7. To: nativist nationalist (#5)
Intent is of no comfort to the dead and their loved ones.
#8. To: sneakypete (#4)
(Edited)
nativist nationalist ~ Killing while DUI is murder. Murderers should executed.
#9. To: GrandIsland (#8)
Your libtard feelings are showing.
#10. To: sneakypete (#7)
A case can be made for murder with a repeat drunken driver because they have already proven they have a callous neglect for the lives of others.
#11. To: nativist nationalist (#10)
A case can be made for murder with a repeat drunken driver because they have already proven they have a callous neglect for the lives of others.
#12. To: cranky (#0)
"Indiana cop on DUI beat loses daughter to alleged drunk driver"
#13. To: sneakypete (#11)
Are you going to try to tell me YOU have never driven while impaired from alcohol...
#14. To: misterwhite (#12)
The accident happened on August 22nd, three weeks ago, and they still don't have a toxicology report stating his BAC?
#15. To: nativist nationalist (#13)
Never. Not all parts of America are populated by people who live in double- wides surrounded by several acres of derelict automobiles on blocks, and who's last words are likely to be "Hold my beer and watch this." The inbred Lindsay Graham electorate is not representative of the nation as a whole. In the rest of America, Honey Boo-Boo's mom would have a hard time finding 4 different men who would want to have sex with her.
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