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I-80 crash claims UNL student's life
BY BUTCH MABIN / Lincoln Journal Star
Derek Kieper was a smart, funny, intense young man who relished a good debate and would do anything for his friends.
Kieper, a 21-year-old senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, died early Tuesday morning when the Ford Explorer he was a passenger in travelled off an icy section of Interstate 80 and rolled several times in a ditch. Kieper, who was riding in the back seat of the Explorer, was ejected from the vehicle.
Two others in the vehicle, including the driver, Luke Havermann of Ogallala, and the front-seat passenger, Nick Uphoff of Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, sustained non-life threatening injuries. Havermann and Uphoff, both 21, were being treated at BryanLGH Medical Center West.
The three men, members of the same UNL fraternity, were returning to Lincoln from San Antonio, Texas at the time of the accident, reported to authorities by a truck driver around 3 a.m.
"At this point in time, I'm in shock," Kieper's father, Paul Kieper, said in an interview Tuesday.
"He was a bright young boy, a 4.0," Paul Kieper said. "He loved to be silly. He loved to debate."
www.journalstar.com...
DEREK KIEPER: Individual rights buckle under seat belt laws
September 17, 2004
Editor's Note: The Daily Nebraskan is no longer accepting feedback to this column.
I’m from the school of thought where everyone should have the right to do as they please as long as they are not infringing on the rights of other people. This comes from the political philosophy that inspired our founders and freedoms.
The duty of government is nothing more than to make sure everyone’s rights are protected and not infringed upon. Uncle Sam is not here to regulate every facet of life no matter the consequences.
No law, or set of laws, has made the government more intrusive and ridiculous than seat belt legislation. Nothing is a bigger affront to the ideas of freedom, liberty, yada, yada, yada. Whether you are a pinko liberal or a right-wing whack job, there are plenty of reasons for just saying to hell with seat belt laws.
Democrats and Republicans alike should stand together to stop these laws that are incongruous with the ideals of both parties.
www.dailynebraskan.com...
... everyone should have the right to do as they please as long as they are not infringing on the rights of other people.
Originally posted by WyrdeOne
I've been in more than 30 auto accidents, and I've only worn my seatbelt a handful of times.
Originally posted by WyrdeOne
The more times a bad driver survives a catastrophic wreck the more chances he or she has to wreck up again and drive up your rates. Therefore, the more deaths that occur due to negligence or arrogance or stupidity or bad luck, the better off your bottom line will be.
Originally posted by thematrix
As a rather "sporty" driver and race driver, I just don't feel right if I'm not buckled up and bolted to my seat tightly.
Most ricer kids think its cool and really flashy to drive their cars without wearing their seatbelt it seems, they seem to think driving fast and on edge can only be done without their seatbelt.
Originally posted by WyrdeOne
Pisky
Head ons are definitely nasty if you're not wearing a seatbelt. I don't see your opinion on the law aspect though..are you for or against mandatory seat belt laws?
Originally posted by thematrix
Most ricer kids think its cool and really flashy to drive their cars without wearing their seatbelt it seems, they seem to think driving fast and on edge can only be done without their seatbelt.
There seems to be a contingent here at ATS who enjoy irony. This article, substantiated by Snopes, tells of a young man who felt that seat belt laws were an intrusion on his personal rights. He went to an early grave as a result.