Apalling Scene in Accokeek, Maryland: Why Did This Even Happen?

I am astounded, saddened, horrified, angered, and mystified by today's illegal street racing tragedy in Accokeek, Maryland, where 8 people lost their lives in a truly senseless highway accident.

Astounded: Why would dozens of drag race spectators step out into a street--knowing full well that other cars could be oncoming at highway speeds--at 3 in the morning, a time of night when drivers do not expect pedestrians to be in the road; drunken and sleepy drivers with slow reaction times abound; and the risk of injury is so great?

Saddened: Eight people beloved by their families, friends, and colleagues are dead today--and for what? Killed for the pursuit of pleasure? These deaths are so senseless--why did this happen? Five more people are critically injured. An unrelated driver--someone who had not participated in the race at all, yet accidentally crashed into the crowd of spectators--is left with a lifetime of guilt.

Horrified: I won't get into the gruesome details here, but this is one of the most apalling and nauseating accident scenes I have ever heard about in my 33 years of life on this planet.

Angry: We hear about foolish teenagers taking silly risks all the time--but the people who staged, watched, and executed this illegal street race were adults who should have known better. I don't want to throw barbs at the dead--and believe me, I wish time could be turned back so that every one of these people could be brought back--I don't think making one mistake in judgement should result in death. All I mean is this: as aduilts we are supposed to model sane and responsible behavior for our children, and drag racing on suburban streets that have drivers on them around the clock is not sane and responsible behavior. These deaths are senseless and wonderful people are gone--that makes me angry.

Mystified: This is the Washington, DC metropolitan area, so no roads here are ever truly deserted, even at 3 AM. Why was this race staged here in the first place? Next, why did so many spectators participate in this foolish activity? Why did the spectators step into the street without thinking about the possibility of oncoming cars? Why did so many people choose to step into that street like they did? These are all rhetorical questions, really. I just don't understand.