How does ruining two more lives fix any of this? It's not going to bring Mike and Maddie back. Don't you think witnessing two of their friends die is enough?

EGgirl agree but maybe it will stop others from this in the future? I understand your point though.

Are you kidding EG girl? Their irresponsible behavior killed their friends! I knew there was more to this story and I'm glad it was thoroughly investigated and that charges have now been filed.

Seriously stop talking about things you don't even know facts about. They all made the choice to go in that vehicle that night knowing the driver was drunk. You are only going by what you hear on the news you don't even know the whole story. Yeah of course they're being charged they killed 2 people but get your facts straight before running your mouth

Please point me in the direction of the news story that said this accident was a result of racing? As far as I know the truck Whiteley drove passed the truck driven by Gronhagen, so why is he being charged when he clearly did not cause the accident. This was a single care accident that was caused by the decision of one driver, not two.

MeanE: Seeing as though they were all coming from Denny's together after a fire which the news reports previously have stated, and his BAL was over the legal limit when they did a toxicology report at the hospital some hours after then yes everyone would have known that Whiteley was drunk. No they didn't have a choice when the driver began to race, but to get into a car with someone who had been drinking that night doesn't mean that the passengers didn't have a choice. And since the other driver isn't being charged with a DUI then they had another option to go into a car with a sober driver. I'm not saying that Whiteley is right for driving drunk because he isn't but don't act like he forced them in the car against their will and none of them had ANY clue that he had been drinking that night.
EGgirl: they were racing because the news article stated that speed was a factor and Whiteley was passing Gronhagen to the left which is when he hit the 2 rocks, then the telephone pole and landed on the roof.

No, charging these men will not bring Michael and Madeline back but it is the right thing to do, it's the law and this is how it has to be done unfortunately.

NKG, I had to delete your comment because of the profanity. Certainly, this was a terrible event, one that has affected two communities irrevocably. While I understand your frustration, EG and NK Patch cannot allow profanities. Please feel free to re-post w/o using it.

SHUT UP PEOPLE. do you know how much pain the families are in? honestly stop posting your opinions; what happened happened- the law is the law. The families are sick of the public getting involved, starting crap on the internet, being harassed by random people who listen to the news. Your whining and complaining on a patch.com post isn't going to change the situation

I think we can all agree that what happened to these Mike and Maddie was an unbearable tragedy, but the law is the law. Patrick and his entire family are the sweetest people I have ever met and I love them to death. I do not know Nicholas, but I've heard that he was incredibly sweet. These families are being ripped apart by their arraignments and do not need to be hearing that they are the guilty ones. I do not believe that Patrick is guilty because he was not physically involved in the accident. I do sadly believe that Nicholas is guilty becasue he was the one driivng the truck and was intoxicated. Please support Patrick and Nicholas as they are going through trying times. We all make mistakes, but they just weren't able to fix theirs.

@Teenie Maybe you are unfamiliar with how a case works, but obviously the police have to have reasonable doubt, if not proof to arrest someone and bring them in for arraignment. If speed caused the accident and there is proof that racing or "horseplay" was involved anywhere throughout the night then I believe Patrick is also at fault.

Regardless, no one truly knows what happened that night other than the families and the police. Instead of arguing about it on here, why don't you all come together and be supportive to everyone in the community during this hard time.

Charging them is the right thing to do. DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE. Yea we all do stupid things in high school/late teen, early 20's years. But come on, haven't we all heard this news story countless times before. Not charging them opens the doors to other similar incidents where people will think there might be a chance of no consequence. Everyone has a choice, countless times I walked a 1/2 hour to a few hours to avoid being in cars with people involved with alcohol usage.

Pat was NOT drinking and driving and he did not force Nick to pass him and is NOT at fault. The kids made the decision to get into his truck knowing that he had been drinking. Pat is the nicest, most caring person I have ever met in my life and if you actually knew him and heard what happened that night you would know he is not at fault.

Yea I know, he is being charged with 2 counts of driving to endanger. No I don't know him. But being nice and caring has nothing to do with it. He obviously was doing something in his car and/or admitted something to the police for them to charge him.

He would not hurt a fly and certainly did not kill two of his friends. You have no right to be passing judgement when you don't know the entire story. Pat does not need ignorant people like you out running your mouth and making him seem like a horrible person. Don't you think Pat has been through enough watching two of his friends die. Pat did nothing that caused this accident. The way stories regarding this tradegy have been twisted is absolutly disgusting and it is because people like you assume things that you do not know. Keep your mouth closed.

:-()

drinking and driving has taken to many lives !!! ..... it doesnt matter if both drivers were the nicest people in the entire state the actions that took place that night took 2 lives way to short !!! if they were all friends complete strangers young or old 2 people were killed and the parties that were responsible should be held accountable for what took place that night !!! only those 2 had there hands on the wheel and the foot on the gas !!! ...... all parties involved that night should have not been behind the wheel no matter what.... look what happened in south county not to long ago a kid in highschool did almost the same thing but no one was killed and now he is unable to EVER have a license in this state again..... a law is a law and now they will have to deal with that !!!

I know patrick. He has stayed at my house a few times. He is the type of guy that would never think about driving after a couple of beers! That is why he is NOT being charged with any alcohol related charges! It was a tragic and sad accident! It can happen to any one of you or your children! Be careful! Life has a way of making you eat your words! The only angels are in heaven!!

I understand where you are all coming from and I am so sorry for the loss of mike and maddie.I have known nick for years and he is a great guy who made a really bad choice. In any case if u spent all night at a fire watching your friend drink would you get into a car with them? You can not say for sure that the people in the car didn't know he was drunk because they are not here to tell you that so your fact isn't really a fact is it?