Community Corner

Driver in Fatal Collision Used Social Media to Talk About Speeding

-By Autumn Johnson

Months before he fatally struck a 58-year-old woman riding her bicycle on Foothill Road Sunday afternoon, Cody Hall boasted on Twitter of driving 140 mph and invited his 191 followers to join him on a “death ride.” He retweeted “Drive fast live young” hours before the Twitter account was closed following the collision that killed Diane Hersevoort of Dublin.

Parents of students who attend Foothill High School, where Hall is a senior, confirmed that the 18-year-old used social media to advertise his penchant for driving fast, including posting pictures of a car speedometer clocking high speeds and referring to his car as a “death trap.”

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A parent who saw his social media posts about speeding told Patch that Hall is known as a hardworking young man with a fondness for animals. Some of the commenters on the original Patch story about the collision have come to Hall's defense.

A commenter, who goes by the user name "CR" said, "I am saying he isn't a devil or a deliberate murderer, he made a horrific, terrible mistake and he will pay, I, personally will not hang him out to dry or vilify him, he will suffer enough by the natural consequences of his actions." Cr later wrote, "This is a tragedy for ALL involved."

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Another commenter with the user name "ken mo" of wrote, "As reckless and inexcusable as this young man's actions were, please keep in mind he did not go out on the road that day planning to kill someone, it was a complete accident. His actions have horrific consequences and he will have to pay. But to all of you who continue to denounce him I don't think you realize this could have easily been your own kid. It was a stupid teenage mistake that SO many high schoolers make, many just luck out and never hurt anyone."

Hall, who has not been charged with a crime, has not yet been reached for comment. He stopped at the scene of the accident and cooperated with police. Attempts to find a phone number for Hall or his family have been unsuccessful.

According to Sergeant Robert Leong, Hersevoort and her husband, who was also struck and injured, were riding north on Foothill Road, near Golden Eagle Way, during their weekly bike ride at about 1 p.m.

In a previous report, Leong said it appears that Hersevoort and her husband were riding single-file in the bike lane on the side of the roadway when they were hit. Conflicting reports from eyewitnesses said Hall's vehicle had just sped around a slower moving vehicle before striking the bicyclists. Police have not confirmed these statements.

Leong said the investigation is still developing.

Patch editors Alex Gronke and Kari Hulac contributed to this report. 


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