Fund set up for accident victim's children

How can anyone in their right mind say this woman should share any fault in her own death. These trucks haul oversize equipment all the time and the drivers drive like they own the road just because they are bigger than everyone else. I have driven all over the world and US drivers are the worst for being road hogs I have ever seen. I guess we think we have the right to drive well thats just not true. Driving is a privledge given by the state and they can take it away just the same. A lot of truckers are good and decent people but there are a bunch who have no reguard for safety. I hope the driver of this truck hauling an oversized can live with the fact he or she killed someone, and the State of NC needs to rethink some of the rules for this kind of hauling. She didn't deserve to die and her children don't deserve a life without their mother.

I am sickened and appauled by the screaming and finger pointing going on here! At a time like this, when a mother has lost her daughter too soon, when children watch their mother get killed, and the rest of us lose a ray of sunshine.. You all... people that don't even know anyone involved want to get angry and place blame!! What is wrong with you? Try getting a clue, finding a heart and realize this is a horrific accident that affects BOTH parties terribly! The driver must be devistated, can you imagine how his life has been affected, seeing those children lose their mother instantly, by his actions? And to the people who want to blame Kristen for being too close to the road?? You should be ashamed of yourselves! I promise you that if this were your sister or daughter you wouldn't be questioning how close she was to the road! How dare you? All this arguing and finger pointing is getting no one anywhere-- let the grieving families--on both sides, have some peace and try to get through this awful time without your arguments. Everyone learn a lesson-- slow down and pay more attention when driving, and love those around you like it's the last time you'll see them.

The article on this page was to announce a fund for these two children. For anyone who has the money to donate to this fund in these economic times, that is wonderful. However, this woman's children need more financial support and will for several years than will ever be accumlated through this fund. If Ms. Belair worked at a job where she paid in Social Security tax, and if she worked it a number of years, then the children may qualify for survivor's benefits. If not, then if her mother or whomever else has assumed guardianship is not well off, and I am assuming they are not or they would not be asking for donations, then the only other option is Welfare. The logical, sensible thing to do, is to file a claim against the truck driver's liability insurance. It is no reflection on him personally. It is not revenge. It is the reason why we, as a mobile society, buy insurance. This is not a frivolous claim. This is not a situation where a city bus gets rear ended and everyone on the corner jumps on the bus so they can sue. Ms. Belair's car was disabled on the side of the road. For those of us who travel on I40, and for those of us who have at one time or the other also been put in danger by a driver on I40, then yes it is hard to excuse why this tragedy occurred. Maybe he simply thought he could get safely by her and he couldn't. Only he knows the truth. Insurance companies are only concerned with who is at fault here. Every truck driver would defend this guy, while everyone who has almost been hit while changing a tire would defend her. If he was on the highway, driving a vehicle with a load that was hanging off the side of the truck, and he hit her, he was probably cited for failure to yield or failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. If he wasn't cited, and the investigating officer attributed the fault to him, then his insurance company is liable. No one on this site that says do not sue would let this pass unaddressed if it happened to them or their family. You can speak of praying, and I'm sure a lot of that has occurred. But it will not feed or clothe these children until they are adults. We pay insurance premiums to cover us when we are at fault in an accident. It would be ridiculous to expect these children to go without the necessities of life in lieu of filing a claim against this insurance company.

As Kristen's mother, I just want to state that this was a terrible accident that breaks everyone's heart, period. There is a hugh hole in our lives that can never be filled. The children will never fully know their mother, will forever have the picture of her death in their minds.. Our family's heart goes out to the truck driver, we can't even begin to imagine what he is going through. Pain is pain and that is enough without second guessing everything that is said and done at a time like this.

Frankly, the driver in the other lane that would not slow down enough to let the truck driver in is just as much at fault. They certainly would have been able to see ahead to notice a car on the side of the road. A small amount of common courtesy could have saved this woman's life. If the truck driver is charged, they should be charged, too. I hope they realize that they have contributed to this woman's death.

In addition to my last comment: Don't feel as though the driver is suffering enough??? He has to deal with this as well. He didn't expect this to happen either!! You try driving a truck with a dozer on the back and trying to stop as fast as you can...picture what happens next....also he had someone on his left so where was he suppose to go...and I'm sure when he was driving he was fully aware of the vehicle on the side of the road and she stepped in the path at the last minute...lET ME ASK AGAIN..WHY WASN'T SHE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR????Highly doubt he aimed for her...SINCE THE CAR DIDN'T GET HIT THAT WAS PARKED SO CLOSE TO THE ROAD!!!!!!!!!

Ok...I've read all the comments below and this is my opinion!!!! This a terrible tradegy but it could have been prevented by the mother!! Almost everyone that has commented here, has stated fault on the driver. Why? Why wasn't the car pulled over more off the road. The first article clearly states how close the vehicle was to the path of the highway (close enough that when she got out of the car the door would be in the road)Also, her children were in the car, so I would have made sure I pulled off as far as I could!! Also, why was she standing in the path of the highway herself when someone else was there fixing her tire for her...she could have stood on the otherside of the vehicle...common sense would have said to stay away from the highway!

I'm a friend of Kristen's Family. Please help with a donation if you can. The horrific-ness of the accident is that it was one tragedy on top of another. Not only did a wonderful woman get killed violently but her son (8) and daughter (10) watched as it happened. The important thing is to help the children through this time with grief counseling (which they are already in) and to help them along a bit since their single mom did not have life insurance. Lawsuit is easy to say, but corporations fight back and lawsuits can take years to settle. This family is like most other families out there and they could really use aide in helping the children now. Thank you, on behalf of the family, for all your thoughts and prayers.

Kristen Belair was the little sister of one of my dearest friends in high school. I read half of this article on Thursday, having no idea who the victim was. I had to stop reading as soon as I learned her children were in the vehicle. When I got home from work I learned my friend had lost his sister, in this horrible way. I am so sad for the Belair family, and ask for all of you to please help this family in any way that you can. Kristen was so full of life, so funny and a wonderful and caring mother. She will be greatly missed. Please give whatever you can to help these children. Thank you!

In a word - Lawsuit

Bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent truck operator.