The Virginian-Pilot
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SUNBURY, N.C.
A Sunbury store clerk was charged Friday with selling alcohol to an underage person, who later died after a single-car accident Nov. 8 in the town of Gates, according to a release from the North Carolina Crime Control and Public Safety.
Joyce Wilson Parker of Sunbury, a clerk with Family Foods, was charged with selling malt beverages Nov. 7 to Cody Francis Herman, 19, who later went to two house parties, the release stated.
A bout 1 a.m. on Nov. 8, Herman lost control of his vehicle on Gates Bank Road and hit two trees. He was airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An investigation by N.C. Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement Agent Rodney Parker determined alcohol was a factor.
The business, Family Foods of Sunbury, was also charged with an administration violation of the same law.
Herman's parents have requested that their son's wrecked vehicle be placed at Gates County High School through the holiday season to remind other teens of the dangers of drinking, according to the release.
Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com
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Lets hope
I really hope none of the above people ever have anything bad happen to them or their family. You know like making a bad choice. As teenagers we all made and/or make mistakes, this one happen to cost Cody his life. His brother and sister no longer have a big brother, his parents no longer have their son. Also his parents are not blaming anyone for what happened, they knew he may have been drinking. Thats what kids do, and yes he was a kid, even at 19. Were they supposed to follow him all night to make sure he wasnt. To hear these comments, you would think that these people are perfect. Have never made mistakes. I made mistakes as a teenager and yes they including drinking and driving. And I know today that I was very lucky that nothing bad ever happend to me or my friends. It is a problem and one we are not likely to fix anytime soon. I really hope if anything of this magnitude ever happens to you, that you are able to look at yourself or family member and repeat the things you have said. As for calling him a drunk, do you personally know this, or was this the first and last time he made a bad choice. Lets all think before we speak. RIP Cody
Until we as a society change how we view alcohol and its
Consumption, we'll continue to have drunk drivers, dead drunks, dead innocent bystanders and the total destruction of families. As long as it's acceptable to market the consumption of alcohol as a good and normal thing, as a society we'll continue to suffer the devastation continually wreaked upon us by the effects of alcohol. Nothing good comes from alcohol and drunks.
18 is old enough to enlist
18 is old enough to enlist and fight in Iraq, to purchase a gun, to marry, or to vote. 18 is old enough to be tried as an adult for a crime. I doubt that the clerk consciously decided to sell to a "minor". If she is to be charged, then the people hosting the party should be charged as well. However, only one person bears responsibility and that is the "victim". He chose to be irresponsible and he paid a steep price. Society needs to stress personal accountability and quit blaming non-principals. No one twisted his arm to drink or to drive while drunk.
selling alcohol to minors
it's wrong to sell booze to minors but was it the booze from the store or from the other parties attended. which were probably minors. which provided the final topper. Does it really matter.
YES IT MATTERS!
Everyone that contributed to snuffing out this young man's life should be held responsible - parents, party hosts, friends, beverage salespersons - they all played a role in making sure this young man will never achieve his destiny. What a shame and a waste of young life! What more will it take to make these people wake up??
A tragedy, but . . . . .
The drunken 19-year-old is the one to blame; the only one to blame. His death has probably saved the many lives he would likely have taken in future DUI instances.
Our laws regarding age are ridiculous. Let us define one age at which a person becomes an adult and make it universal throughout the country. At that age one could vote, drink, buy tobacco products, serve in the military, consent to sex with another adult, and so forth. Make it one age, and I would recommend 18 be that age, but whichever age we choose, make it so and make no exceptions.
And stop holding other people and businesses responsible for bad choices made by individuals.
blame game
No disrespect to the family or the person, but this young man is ultimately the one to blame more than anyone else. As a teen, I attended parties where underage drinking was rampant but knew that driving was not an option. Fingers can be pointed in every direction, but one stupid and final choice has cost this young man his own life.
if thats the case
then whom ever owns the houses where the parties were held should be held just as responsible