Driver dies two days after Hampton crash

The story about the death of David Baum has some errors. It alluded that alcohol was the cause of the accident, yet David had no alcohol level in his blood when tested at the hospital. He was acting as a designated driver, according to reports by reliable sources. I, as many others, would like to see it reported correctly.

Now that I voiced my opinion about the story, I want to say that David was very much loved and admired by many. We loved him so very much and always will. He was a shining example of what all young people should aspire. We will always remember you, David, with love and adoration.

MIKE HOLTZCLAW wrote:

Hi, this is Mike, the reporter who wrote this story. After reading these comments, I was concerned that we had been given incorrect information. This morning (Wednesday), I double-checked with Hampton Police, and they tell me they still maintain that alcohol was "a contributing factor" in the crash. They don't say that he was or wasn't drunk, just that they believe alcohol played a factor. They tell me toxicology reports won't be back for a few weeks. If it turns out they gave us incorrect information, I will talk to our editors about publishing something acknowledging this.- M.H.

Thank-you Mike.

DRIVER DIES TWO DAYS AFTER HAMPTON CRASH
BY MIKE HOLTZCLAW |
5:54 AM EDT, March 11, 2008
HAMPTON - A Newport News man died yesterday afternoon, two days after he was injured in an alcohol-related crash on a Hampton street.
David Anthony Baum, 21, died on Monday afternoon at Riverside Regional Medical Center. He had been injured early Saturday morning in a single-vehicle crash on Saunders Road in Hampton. Police spokeswoman Cpl. Allison Good said speed and alcohol were both factors in the crash.
Baum was driving west on Saunders around 4:15 a.m. Saturday when he lost control of the vehicle and struck a pole on the eastbound side of the road. Both he and a 17-year-old male passenger were taken to Riverside, though the passenger's injuries were less serious and not considered life-threatening.
HERE IS THE PUBLISHED STORY AS REPORTED!

Well,well,well,,,seems like Big Brother, the censor, has decided "they" need to control what people can read (or maybe think). Why else would the first 2 posts here be deleted. I'm not surprised, my friends have refered to this paper as the "Daily Pravda" for the last 20 years.

No I dont have a good edcation But I have been fighting for our/your county for 7 years now. Im 35 years old and the remarks that were made by 2/3 people that I was referring to have been deleted they are no longer there. I hope you have a Gold metal in your degress. Cut people with a disabilty and handicap a break. We try to express our feeling too

Curly wrote:

No I dont have a good edcation But I have been fighting for our/your county for 7 years now. Im 35 years old and the remarks that were made by 2/3 people that I was referring to have been deleted they are no longer there. I hope you have a Gold metal in your degress. Cut people with a disabilty and handicap a break. We try to express our feeling too

Thnak you for your service..

Delete all they want - the facts remain the same.

first let me start with whoever said calm down,
Please do not tell me to calm down, you have no idea what it feels like to loose someone this close to you, when you do I only pray people do not slander their name and thank god they are gone.
And second
Do you know what is harder then losing David? To get on here and read people who could NEVER COMPARE to the person David was talk crap about him when he is not here to defend himself. You would have been lucky to cross paths with him, he wouldnt have liked you im sure, but you would've still been considered lucky. He was more of everything then any of yall ever could attempt to be. It is one thing to say drinking and driving is bad, it is a WHOLE other ball game to say its GOOD he is gone. How heartless can you people possibly be? And to you AMEN, lucky, and who ever else, you can send your condolences all you want, they wont get you into heaven, i've read your comments and I will never forget them. I don't care what you hear, see, watch, or read about David, you keep my brothers name out of your mouth. You are heartless and to me, worthless. Personally I do no care if David drank an entire liquor store, I will defend him until I die, not saying drinking and driving, but HIS NAME, the fact that people wish him dead, and I WILL NOT sit hear and cry anymore because of the things you say about him. GET A LIFE. get off of the computer and spend time with your "perfect children" all of you. Sure teach them that drinking and driving is wrong, give them examples all you want, BUT DO NO EVER say you are glad for someones death. How would you feel if this was your child? be glad for hitler's or a KKK clan's, or a rapist or murders death, not my brothers. If you want to have a face to face chat with me and tell me your opinions in person, well I would LOVE to meet you. Until then, keep your fingers up whatever hole they came out of and of the keyboard in here. Make sure you tell your children that if they ever hydroplane into a pole, swurve to hit an animal, drink and drive, read and drive, talk on the phone and die, or just die, make sure you tell them that when heartless bored people get online with nothing better to do then create senerios to attack them while your grieving, that you'll defend them. Im sure the editors will delete this, but ill be back.
He is gone, let him rest in peace, please, your entertainment is not worth our pain and David's peace.
P.S. I hope none of you find out someone you love needs one of David's organs, He's such a terrible person right? he might save someones life that you know, only 21, yet more of a hero, a man, a hardworker, a brother, a son, a boyfriend, and a friend then any of yall could ever dream to be in all your life.

sorry dad Im leaving it alone

Rest in peace David, we love you, you were strong, smart, Funny, hardworking, noble, honorable, friendly, protective, loving, sharing, helping,a great father to your dog, A loving boyfriend, A wonderful brother, and a responsible loving son, anyone would be proud to have you as theirs. There are so many positive points to who you are, I could write all day. You will be missed Terribly. My prayers are with the family through this terrible time. My prayers are also with the people who have nothing better to do then to taunt this young man in his spiritual form, May god touch you with his hand and bring compassion into your hearts, as the words you say no longer affect David, But Everyone who loves him. David Im sure can forgive you for causing them pain, for he is no longer human, He is bigger, better, wiser, and more powerful then any living human. He knows humans are expected to stab each other in the back when they are already down. David your protective eye, your memory and your love are all your loved ones need now, please watch over them, touch them with your love, fill their thoughts with your happy memory, wipe their tears away, and let them know you made it to jesus, your ok and your happy. Rest now honey, we love you

I cannot believe what I just read. Even though it's been almost 4 years, it still shocks me how ignorant people are. But to even stoop to their level and tell them how dumb they are is a waste of time, when this time is definitely better spent cherishing the memories David gave us. I'll always remember how I called you and your sister twins. She is one of the most loving people I know. I also know she comes from YOUR family, David, where all of you were loving. Everything good said about you isn't even the half to describe the person you were or the possibility of what you would've been today. We miss you and you are loved always, and will never be forgotten. Baum family and David's friends, lets just remember David. And love David.

Thank you so much K_Ayres. Besides actually losing David, This thread, defending David, and reading the things that were said on it were the hardest things I had to go through during that time. Even now it hurts so much. It took a long time before I could handle coming back to this page. Thank you for everything you said. He will never be forgotten and is loved more then words can say <3 <3 <3