IMO, no one is victim shaming.
The Canadian couple that they spent their last day and evening with has given interviews which have been linked here. They spoke of spending the day drinking and enjoying the waterfalls with the couple and then them returning to the hotel where the four of them shared a bottle of rum before the couples parted between 2130 and 2200hrs so that Orlando and Portia could go pack up their rooms, check out and begin making their way to the airport for their flight.
Whether alcohol was a factor in the accident will be borne out by the autopsies.
Clearly, there is plenty of MSM links posted into this thread, along with the Chief of Police's statement and news conference. Many of which are now pointing out that alcohol may have been a factor and that speed may have been a factor.
Talking about those possibilities is not victim shaming. It is discussing facts made available by the couple who were the last to spend time with them and by statements given to, and published by the main stream media.
We are talking about the DR - not North America or Europe where the highways have cameras, where every business has one too etc etc. It was the middle of the night in a third world country. Not everyone there has a cellphone and a videocam at the ready - they are poor folk those locals. The fishermen who found her crawling and injured had to run to a nearby business to call the police and an ambulance. I fear that if you are waiting for video proof, you're not ever going to find yourself satisfied. And, the DR has very different standards for releasing documents to the general public - they are not the US of A, so we may never be privy to anything further.
Yes, this is a tragedy. No one has stated that it was not. But, most believe it was a tragic accident. And a lack of video evidence won't make it any less so. Just my opinion.
Edited: typos
I am talking about video from the hotel and the toll booth, not locals running around with cameras nor cameras on rural roads. Check-time at the hotel, toll booth video, hotel video, and lets add flight time and airline as well.
Gossip and hearsay is not fact. I have also split bottles and have had one drink made with less than a shot. The other couple may have finished it or taken it back to their room, not uncommon when one is leaving and the others staying in an all inclusive resort. In fact, many new friends I have met on such vacations, that is exactly what was done on parting and always right at the end and in no way does it mean you left intoxicated. In fact, our way is to go out to dinner away from the all inclusive and buy the last bottle and dinner for friends, have a token drink with them and provide it to them. I also know many couples where one drinks and the other does not or may have one.
Regardless, they could have had drinks, maybe even a few too many but no one knows that at least on here, and still been assaulted, car jacked or waylaid, or she could have not had any and been the one driving. There is no documentation whatsoever. The documentation that does and/or should exist has not been provided so why would I assume what happened?
As to such carjackings and attacks, there is ample information out there about this country and this highway. The warnings also exist for a reason and to rental cars and tourists specifically. There is also a reason we can find this highway named specifically.
I have not said it was not just a tragic accident but it remains to be seen since again, we have sensationalistic victim blaming headlines and not one bit of actual fact here.
As for buying into media as fact, let's remember it has been said he was found washed up on shore and just the other day that they pulled him out of the car wrekacage. Just one of many examples. Therefore, I do not give media much credence and take it less than a grain of salt. Times have changed. It used to be if I wanted to read a rag, they were found at the checkout counter at a grocery store with headlines like "celebrity named so and so just had a two headed baby", now it seems most have adopted such a practice.
It would not be good enough for me at an inquest and it is not good enough for me here.
But that's just me, to each their own. No one will rush me to a decision anymore than anyone will change your mind in what you apparently have already decided.
For me, I will wait to see if the family accepts the answers if they come, what our own authorities and departments involved have to say and and the results and any documentation, if ever provided. It is clearly being looked into for a reason by our State Department, congressmen and more, and they are not taking the word from another country without awaiting those answers either. I will go with that.
jmo.
