Dominique, John Blanchard, Allan Minkema
YUBA CITY, CA - A day of fun for a family ended a nightmare on Saturday all because of two complete morons. At around 5:30 Saturday afternoon, 3-year-old Dominique Williams was washing his shoes off in about 6-inches of water as his family prepared to leave after a day of swimming.
As usual with most lakes and rivers, there were boats, skiers and jet skis on the water. While most are operated responsibly with no incidents, some are operated by idiots as well as intoxicated idiots. Dominique happened to have the unfortunate of meeting John Blanchard, 65, and Allan Minkema, 50, when they decided to run their jet ski on to the beach at 20 mph. Dominique’s mother was not able to get to him in time, and he was struck by the jet ski. He died later that evening from massive head injuries.
John Blanchard and Allan Minkema were booked in to the Sutter County Jail and are facing vessel manslaughter charges. While it is being reported that they had been drinking, no reports have come out that they were legally drunk. Alcohol related charges could be coming after the toxicology reports come back. But that wouldn’t really matter too much as even if they are had not been legally drunk, the pilot of that vehicle decided to run his craft on to the beach populated by adults and children at a high rate of speed.
What an absolutely asinine thing to do. Yes, it was an accident, but an accident caused by pure stupidity. I deal with these kind of morons every time I go to our local lakes. For the most part, other boaters and most skiers are respectful to everyone else around them. But when it comes to these personal water crafts…man, what a bunch of dicks. Wakes, near misses and just a complete disregard for any form of safety in regards to themselves or others. And the worst part is that the drivers who act this way are not kids, but rather older men.
But enough of my rant…this kind of shit just pisses me off. To think that a day out by the river turned into a complete nightmare that resulted in the loss of one of their kids because of the absolutely idiotic decision of the driver of the jet ski, well, it can get me going a bit. Drunk or not, I hope the driver of this jet ski gets a punishment that serves as a wake-up call to others.
Oh, and before I am flayed alive, thanks for the heads-up, CorruptedMistress!
38 responses so far ↓
1
Unamused Cat
Aug 18, 2008 at 12:56 pm -It is a shame that Dominique had to lose his life because of the stupidity of two old drunk tards. Bah!
2
Splash
Aug 18, 2008 at 1:18 pm -This is soooo sad.
I don’t see this as an accident. This so could of been prevented. What would make them (drunk or not) think this would be a good idea?
3
Peeperann
Aug 18, 2008 at 1:39 pm -I’m with you splash, this was plain stupid, with old men trying to pretend they are still young! This was so preventable. And now a little boy is dead beause they wanted to look cool.
I too hope they get the punishment deserved, and I hope that little boys face haunts them forever……
4
1purplemoon
Aug 18, 2008 at 1:42 pm -This is so sad. All that kid wanted was to have a fun day. Then comes these assholes with no regard for anyone else at the park. I do not like watercraft of any kind, and I do not like alcoholics the combination of the two is always fatal. My ex has a boat now and is a alcoholic, thank god my kid’s have gotten old enough to not want anything to do with there dad and his boat.
This was a preventable accident if only the assholes thought about other people. OH this makes me so mad, words can not say how I feel..
Sorry Dominique your life ended so short, fly with the angels and watch over our children
5
April
Aug 18, 2008 at 1:43 pm -I hear about this often in Cali. I think mostly because our lakes get so busy. it wasn’t that long ago that a group of young girls I work with went out boating and were struck by a drunk jetskier - Needless to say that half of the girls returned home with broken bones and half returned home dead. People just don’t think….
6
Athena
Aug 18, 2008 at 2:04 pm -For a long time, water transportation has been taken ridiculously lightly. I, too, hope that these morons get hit with a sentence that will make others think twice before being reckless.
Because there’s so much shoreline in Washington, we’ve been taking the water a bit more seriously than some for a while now. Many of the laws that apply to our roads apply to our water, as well. And I don’t see why it shouldn’t be like this everywhere. There’s plenty of damage to be caused by marine vehicles.
7
I_Smell_Hypocrisy
Aug 18, 2008 at 2:15 pm -I read about this incident last night and went to bed feeling so sad for this heartbroken family that lost their little one. Every day I am made out to be the “crazy mom who is over-protective” because I tend to worry for my children WAY MORE than their father. His favorite saying about everything that I worry about is “What are the odds…”. Well, idiots like these two dudes bring those odds up quite a bit.
Does anyone know what the laws are for people on Jet-Skis?
8
Morbid
Aug 18, 2008 at 2:35 pm -I have included the video that gives a much better picture as to the beach the family were on as well as Dominique’s Aunt.
9
silvahalo
Aug 18, 2008 at 3:26 pm -I feel so terrible for the family. They lost a precious, innocent child.
If this had been my beautiful 4 yr. old I’d say, “hold on to your head’s fucktard ’cause they are coming off!
Rest in peace little Dominique.
10
Athena
Aug 18, 2008 at 3:40 pm -Well, idiots like these two dudes bring those odds up quite a bit.
You’d think, but not actually. I mean, this kid was more likely to die by lightening. There’s nothing you can do to safeguard your child completely, and trying to can have consequences of its own.
U.S. child deaths due to injury continue to decrease. They’re substantially lower than they were thirty years ago. The world you live in today is MUCH safer than it was when you were a child. Granted, these are national averages, and you may live in an especially unsafe neighborhood. But, if I had to guess, you’re just letting the media get to you.
11
Abroad
Aug 18, 2008 at 4:49 pm -Could these two morons look more alike if they tried? They are like peas in a pod, birds of a feather, two cheeks of the same arse…….
Too bad they needed to be halfwitted and three sheets to the wind, as well.
12
The Masked Web Avenger
Aug 18, 2008 at 6:17 pm -I hate to stereo type, but these two look like real winners. I got five bucks that says they both have alchoholic related arrest in the past. Oh, and why are two old dudes riding a jet ski together? A little gay, not there is anything wrong with that, I’m just saying, I don’t ride anything I have to straddle with another man.
13
Shroomer
Aug 18, 2008 at 8:09 pm -I was wondering the same thing, not because of them possisbly being gay, but because of their age and size. That just doesnt seem to safe. Jet ski’s are dangerous anyway if you ask me, they scare the hell out of me. We see this often in FL as well…. if only some of the fucktards that live here would ride them more often out far from the shore and other people and play chicken, wait then what would we talk about on the DD??
14
Jennster
Aug 19, 2008 at 2:39 am -Pathetic. That is all I have to say. These men are pathetic…
Makes me sick.
15
claddaghgirl
Aug 19, 2008 at 7:00 am -This article made me feel so sad. From the mothers point of view - how could you ever deal with this. The anger that I would feel at the stupidity of these two men would lead me to kill them with my bare hands. She dressed her son for a fun day out and two days later she is burying him.
We have a responsibility toward our fellow human beings. We were put here to live with each other. Why…why are some people “picked out” to destroy the lives of other people. I just can’t comprehend this.
Sad Sad Sad
16
Jack Shizz
Aug 19, 2008 at 1:42 pm -How awful for the family. Absolutely devastating. If that was my 3-year old I dont know that I would have been able to restrain myself from beating the everliving shit out of the old bastards.
How is it that they were both charged though? Can two people drive a jetski at the same time? Shouldn’t just the ‘driver’ have been charged?
17
sugarglider
Aug 20, 2008 at 3:58 pm -Is it just me, or do these men look like clones of each other?
18
Abroad
Aug 22, 2008 at 2:13 pm -What exactly did you think I meant when I said:
Hmmmmm? Just curious!
19
snoman
Aug 26, 2008 at 5:35 pm -So this is all this dumb site is gonna report? What were the toxicolgy reports? Come on “Demon” get with it, if you want to sell someone out at least have the balls to follow up on the report…..if they were drunk than so be it, send them to the can for a few. If they just made a mistake than for sure a tragic “accident”.
20
April
Aug 26, 2008 at 5:43 pm -And your point is??? You obviously know something or you wouldn’t be so defensive. C’mon and spill it then?? TRAGIC accident?? It was either drinking or stupidity (or both) - hardly an accident if it could have been prevented. Prove that these two fucknuts are innocent and I will personally appologize on this site. Until then - THEY MURDERED A CHILD!!! Fuck them! I hope they can live with themselves.
21
Athena
Aug 26, 2008 at 5:47 pm -Snoman - Do you know that the toxicology reports have been made available? If not, might I suggest you unbunch your panties? This “dumb” site’s authors will update as they see fit.
Oh, and running any watercraft, be it a Ski-Doo or a yacht, on to a populated beach at high speeds is such a COLOSSAL err in judgment, it doesn’t qualify for the courtesy of being termed an “accident”. Frankly, Snoman, I genuinely hope they were drunk, because the alternative is that they are mildly retarded.
22
impqueen
Aug 26, 2008 at 5:57 pm -The last thing I’ve seen in news sources was an August 21 article stating that toxicology was still pending and that friends and family of little Dominique Williams were holding fundraisers to pay for his funeral.
I guess if it was a tragic accident, Blanchard and Minkema won’t mind coughing up the $5000 that hasn’t yet been covered by car washes and bake sales. Seems like the least they could do.
23
April
Aug 26, 2008 at 6:40 pm -I agree - They owe the family BIG TIME!!
BTW - Do you have the info (if one were interested in contributing)??
24
April
Aug 26, 2008 at 6:44 pm -Never mind! found it. WAMU (in case anyone is interested. You can take your contributions to any Washington Mutual branch. I assume you tell them the child’s / family’s name. Snoman - be sure to tell a friend… *clears throat*
25
The Masked Web Avenger
Aug 26, 2008 at 6:53 pm -Well snoblow, if you would like to enlighten us on what we are missing I’d love to hear it. Maybe you could tell us what dumb and dumber where doing going so fast near swimmers and folks getting in and out of the water. Sounds more like negligence, as in negligent homicide, to me.
26
snoman
Aug 27, 2008 at 4:18 pm -Sorry, didn’t mean to sound like I was defending them in any way. I just really want to know what is going to happen to these clowns and I agree, I hope they were drinking, it’ll stiffen the penalty i’m sure. The report when it happened said the toxicolgy reports would be available later that week. Didn’t mean to sound like a snobby a-hole, my apologies and will work on removing my foot
27
April
Aug 27, 2008 at 5:03 pm -Impressive! Thank you for clarifying… It was the “dumb site” comment that threw me off. Usually the defenders start off with bashing the sites authors or members.
Let’s face it - Murder is murder… Drunk or not.
28
snoman
Sep 11, 2008 at 4:29 pm -Just an update….John Blanchard did not have any alcohol in his system and was on the back of the watercraft. The driver’s BAC was .16 which is obviously drunk. I think Blanchard grabbed the handle bars once he realized the situation and tried to steer clear of the child, just a hunch, I’m not excusing behavior but thinking about reflexes. The story is posted below. I’m sure the driver will go to prison , the article says only 4 years which is not enough.
http://www.appeal-democrat.com.....cohol.html
29
April
Sep 11, 2008 at 4:39 pm -Wow - Thank you for the update. I agree, 4 years is not enough for a drunk asshole that robbed a child of a lifetime. Do you know either of them? Just curious.
30
Athena
Sep 11, 2008 at 5:25 pm -…and of that 4 years, he’ll likely only serve 2. This is the failure of DUI legislation. Where is the justice when a drunk driver who has never caused any damage serves a year in jail, but can wipe a child off the face of the earth for only one or two more (the average sentence for vehicular homicide is just over 3 years, nationally)? We’re increasing the wrong sentencing. Vehicular homicide should carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years.
Thanks for the clarification, Snoman.
31
youdontknowme
Sep 30, 2008 at 11:23 am -FYI
September 29, 2008 05:35:00 PM
By Rob Young/Appeal-Democrat
The tragic death of a 3-year-old boy in an August personal watercraft accident has been compounded by the suicide of the man charged with killing him.
Allan John Minkema, 50, was scheduled to be arraigned Monday morning in Sutter County Superior Court on a felony charge of vehicular manslaughter involving the Polaris watercraft.
He was found dead Sunday in the city of Pleasanton, according to the Alameda County Coroner’s Office.
Pleasanton Police Officer Mike Wilson said a jogger noticed Minkema’s body alongside a trail about 2:45 p.m. Minkema had a single gunshot wound to the head and a .357 Magnum revolver in his right hand. One bullet had been fired.
Minkema, of Yuba City, had been staying with a nephew and the nephew’s grandfather in Pleasanton, said Wilson.
Minkema and John William Blanchard, also of Yuba City, were arrested in the Aug. 16 death of Dominique Lee Williams of Marysville at Mosquito Beach on the Feather River.
Sutter County Assistant District Attorney Fred Schroeder said he was informed early Monday morning by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office that Minkema’s death was a suicide.
Minkema faced a maximum sentence of four years in prison. He was represented by Yuba City attorney Matthew R. Beauchamp.
“Obviously the Minkema family would ask that their privacy be respected at this time of grief,” Beauchamp said.
Dominque’s mother, Amber Chapman, and aunt, Theresa Logan, did not immediately return phone calls.
Minkema’s blood alcohol level was measured at 0.16 after the accident, twice the legal limit for driving a car. Blanchard, 63, had no alcohol in his system.
A few days after the accident, a Sutter County Sheriff’s Department official said both men had their hands on the steering handlebar of the craft when it hit the toddler.
Schroeder said he does not anticipate Blanchard being charged with a felony but that he could still be charged with a misdemeanor or infraction.
Minkema and Blanchard were trying to beach the craft when it hit the toddler, who was standing in about a foot of water.
Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com.
32
April
Sep 30, 2008 at 11:55 pm -youdontknowme - Thank you for the update. It’s just a shame that he was too much of a coward to deal with his fuck up. He should have stuck it out. He deserved to HAVE to live with himself for what he did. Oh, well. Shame.
33
texas-tornado
Oct 2, 2008 at 2:22 pm -As someone who is close to the family, it sickens me that you people will pass judgement before finding out the facts. The death of this child is tragic. Allan is and was a caring and loving person. Yes, he had been drinking, which is why he was the passenger. The driver decided to come ashore way too quickly and Allan tried to grab the throttle. Blanchard left the scene while Allan rendered CPR. Allan has taken his own life because of the guilt he felt for the boy and his family. Accidents do happen, thats why they are called accidents. It doesn’t make this story any less tragic, but now there are two deaths to deal with.
My heart goes out to both families and I pray that God can offer some peace to them.
34
kratesis
Oct 2, 2008 at 3:22 pm -uh according to the last report, Allan yes was OVER the legal limit and was driving, and Blanchard was on the back and hadn’t been drinking…. So IMO that was not an accident. Allan should’ve let his buddy drive them back, and they should’ve been going slower. This is not an accident, it is pure recklessness. I’m sorry that you feel hurt by this site, but as you can see, it HAS been reported, and researched.
http://www.appeal-democrat.com.....icle.html/
So before you start bashing DD, you need to look at what your friend did and the case. I understand you’re grieving, but your buddy screwed up, couldn’t handle the consequences of his decisions, and decided to end his life.
35
texas-tornado
Oct 2, 2008 at 3:53 pm -First of all, I am not bashing DD. The report in the appeal democrat is incorrect and an article has been retracted and reprinted, which is said to report in the Pleasanton Times. Allan was the passenger!!! Even the uncle of the young boy provided statement to the police that Blanchard was driving and left the scene. The consequences of max 4 years could be handled. Allan was simply overburdened by the fact that he had any responsibility for the death of a child.
I don’t need to look at what happened in the case. I have first hand knowledge, as I was married to Allan. He was heart broken and shattered by the death of little Dominique.
He committed a crime and was set to pay for such crime. He simply could not justify living himself when a child had died.
We are so eager to judge until it happens to someone we love.
36
MamaBear
Oct 2, 2008 at 4:40 pm -Texas-Tornado….welcome, thanks for sharing and sorry for your loss…..I lost my husband to an accident, so i know, somewhat, how u must feel.
with what you have said, about who was driving, changes the situation enuf to bring up more questions.
just to clarify…..the sober guy was driving…..and the drunk guy had to correct his steering/driving……the sober guy takes off…..and the drunk guy does CPR……..WOW……just …wow….im not sure what to think of that.
please dont be offended by me referring to your loved one as the ‘drunk guy’…..it is only my way of simplifying the situation and people involved in my own mind.
how does the other guy feel about what has happened? what does he have to say? are u familar with him?
37
Morbid
Oct 2, 2008 at 4:56 pm -Yeah, I bet that helps Dominique’s family sleep better at night.
Driving recklessly and then turning to everyone and saying “Hey, accidents happen!” after someone gets killed as a result…it really gets under my skin in a lot of not-good ways.
38
kratesis
Oct 2, 2008 at 10:17 pm -Thank you for staying with us and letting us know your relationship. I am truly sorry for your loss, but mainly I am sorry for the family that lost their child. If I mis-spoke regarding an article, I apologize. But those are the most recent ones I have found on the net. If you stick around, you’ll see that most DD’ers will admit when they’re wrong or mis-speak.
Now with that said, I have to echo the questions that Mama Bear has…. because with the information you stated, it sounds like the real driver was just being an asshat, reckless person….. And having people say ‘meh, it was an accident, shrug’ does not sit well with me.
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