This one looks rather messy: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/traffic/west-palm-beach-man-dies-in-violent-bmw-1205635.html?cxntlid=cmg_cntnt_rss
This was the leading story yesterday on the news. I live nearby and am on that stretch of road frequently. At that time of night there would be zero traffic and so the inclination would be to speed but he must have been traveling over 100mph to break that car in half. The curve where the accident happened is a pretty slight bend so I am shocked that he lost it there. RIP
one less stupid driver in the world also.... only good thing is that it was a single car accident and this idiot didn't take any inocents with him. It's good that he perished... we are all the safer now... too bad there are way to many to take his place. JD
During the equestrian season everyone goes to the Players Club to drink and party on sunday nights. This guy was a professional jumper and a very nice guy. I agree he was probably drunk, but still a sad loss none the less.
Any person who does not take responsability for oneself first, should not be given any leeway to even think about being responsible for others. IMO no loss, nice guy or not. JD
The real tragedy is that no one stepped up to drive him home or call him a cab or limo. The rest of the party goers who knew him and let him leave in that condition share blame as well. JD
Had to go to UPS so I drove by the spot. There is a bit of curve there where he struck the tree. I'd say the tree is no more than 12'-15' tall. The impact mark went from the ground to 5' up. I am surprised the car split in two, a 3300# M3 should have knocked the tree over. There were some flowers left at the base of the tree.
what a total prick you sound like. So far nobody mentioned seeing him drinking. Maybe someday you can lose a friend in a terrible accident and some ****** on the internet can voice his useless opinion about him. Best AY
not a prick, just zero tolerance after loosing a friend in a drinking related accident. BTDT already.... experience WILL harden you up... you should experience it yourself sometime...you'll just "love" the feeling Forgot to mention.... the host of the party who plied him his last drink shares the lability also. If the server knew he "had enough", he should have been shut off before it got to the point that it did. JD
As of now he is only being accused of driving too fast (something I'm sure you have never done), nobody has come forward to say he was drinking.
very tragic. i was on the m3forum earlier and apparently he's a member on there. i don't care if, and that's a big IF alcohol was involved. He didn't deserve to die.
^well said. I was going to post this link and that post. Thankfully he was the only one involved... Truly sad though. RIP.
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.
there's no if; "WELLINGTON — Investigators say alcohol and speed played a factor in the single-vehicle accident that left a 29-year-old man dead, after being 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 vehicle homicide report. Portela, who was wearing his seatbelt, 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 until sideways until it stuck a tree that split it 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, the report stated, according to the report. That part, then caught fire. Portela died at the scene." Be happy he didn't take you or your family with him... I'm along the lines of zero tolerance and as mentioned feel for the family but not him. He had no respect for himself, those he loved or the public at large with what he did. this area has a bit of a history it seems; http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/car-driven-by-international-polo-founder-kills-23-230789.html there seems a bit of a problem going on that needs addressed.
Two sides to every coin. Side 1: R.I.P. I feel for his friends and family. Side 2: Good riddance. If he drove at excessive speeds drunk once he has done it before and would do it again. Its just lucky he didnt take any innocent victims with him. If I ever did the same thing I would hope everyone who knew me would accept I was an irresponsible ****** and not try and blanket me with pleasantries about what a nice guy I am.
"Alcohol involved" can mean anything, even 1 drink. Those stats are embellished. That said, there's no reason to be driving that quickly and I'm glad no one was else was hurt.
These 2 incidents happened nearby but are unrelated, other than the fact that both Goodman and Portela are horse people. This area probably has the same percentage of fatal alcohol related accidents as any other city. It is unfortunate that Portela died.
I wouldn't say unrelated exactly. Both people were drinking at the same bar, which Goodman happens to own....
You're a classless pig. Saying that you are an authority on the matter and thinking that since you yourself were involved in such an event should not give you the brash garishness to talk that way about someone who died. I know of a few people dying from various circumstances. I'm not going to point and laugh at a similar occurrence.
