Two Cal Poly students sue driver, fraternity over alleged drunk Tesla hit-and-run
Two 19-year-old Cal Poly students injured in a January crash in San Luis Obispo have sued the driver, a fraternity and others, alleging underage drinking and a hit-and-run. The driver faces separate felony charges and has pleaded not guilty.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Lilianne Burke and Zoey Archibald, both 19-year-old Cal Poly students, allege in a lawsuit that they were hit by a speeding Tesla driven by Ishan Pandhare, 20, on Jan. 8 in San Luis Obispo, California. New York PostR “Lilianne Burke and Zoey Archibald, both 19-year-old Cal Poly students, were walking with friends to celebrate a birthday when 20-year-old Ishan Pandhare allegedly plowed into them” Read at New York Post ↗ The Times of IndiaN “two 19-year-old students of California Polytechnic State University, Lilianne Burke and Zoey Archibald” Read at The Times of India ↗ Mixed · 2The complaint says the car was travelling about 60 mph in a 25 mph zone, that the crash happened around 9:31 p.m. near Crandall Way and Foothill Boulevard, and that the driver did not brake or slow before or after impact and left the scene. New York PostR “at approximately 60 mph in a 25 mph zone in San Luis Obispo on Jan. 8”“around 9:31 p.m. near Crandall Way and Foothill Boulevard” Read at New York Post ↗ The Times of IndiaN “Pandhare never used the brakes or made any attempt to slow down before or after the accident” Read at The Times of India ↗ Mixed · 2Both women were taken to hospital with major but non-life-threatening injuries, according to The Tribune as cited by the New York Post, and the lawsuit says they needed surgery and continued treatment; it says they were "left like run over garbage in the roadway". New York PostR “Both were rushed by ambulance to a trauma hospital with major but non-life-threatening injuries, according to The Tribune.” Read at New York Post ↗ The Times of IndiaN “leaving the women with injuries so severe they required surgery and continued treatment” Read at The Times of India ↗
Right · 1The complaint was filed July 10 in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court and seeks unspecified damages for injuries, medical expenses and emotional suffering, with the right to pursue punitive damages reserved. New York PostR “the complaint filed July 10 in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court”“Burke and Archibald are seeking unspecified damages for their injuries, medical expenses, emotional suffering and other losses, while reserving the right to pursue punitive damages.” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2Defendants besides Pandhare include the Kappa Sigma fraternity and several students. The complaint alleges Pandhare, who was under 21, drank at multiple gatherings: a birthday party at the home of 21-year-old Anna Grillo, and a party hosted by Kappa Sigma members including Aidan Jameson Kennedy, 21, and Kip Stackle, 22. New York PostR “suing not only the alleged driver but also several other students and Cal Poly's Kappa Sigma fraternity”“Among those named is 21-year-old Anna Grillo, who allegedly hosted a birthday bash at her private residence” Read at New York Post ↗ The Times of IndiaN “Pandhare attended a party hosted by a 21-year-old and then another event hosted by Kappa Sigma fraternity members” Read at The Times of India ↗ Right · 1Kennedy is alleged to have owned the gray 2021 Tesla Model 3 and handed over the keys despite knowing or having reason to know Pandhare was intoxicated. The suit also alleges fraternity members routinely lent each other vehicles and accuses the fraternity of furnishing alcohol to an underage student and of negligent initiation and hazing. New York PostR “Kennedy, who allegedly owned the Tesla, is accused of handing over the keys despite knowing or having reason to know Pandhare was intoxicated and unfit to drive.”“amounted to negligent initiation, hazing and other misconduct” Read at New York Post ↗
Centre · 1The Times of India, citing court documents, adds that witnesses said Pandhare was visibly drunk and slurring, and that after the crash he told police he had done nothing illegal and was not drunk. The Times of IndiaN “Witnesses said he was visibly drunk and his speech was also slurring.”“Pandhare told the police that he did not do anything illegal, and he was not drunk.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Right · 1Separately, prosecutors charged Pandhare on Feb. 2 with felonies including DUI causing injury, reckless driving and hit-and-run causing injury, with sentencing enhancements; he pleaded not guilty on Feb. 4, and a preliminary hearing was set for Oct. 19. New York PostR “On Feb. 2, prosecutors charged him with multiple felonies, including DUI causing injury, reckless driving and hit-and-run causing injury”“He pleaded not guilty to all counts on Feb. 4. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Oct. 19.” Read at New York Post ↗ Centre · 1The Times of India, citing the Tribune, reports that Pandhare was suspended from Cal Poly, posted $150,000 bail and lives with his parents in San Diego, and that his parents attended court with him on Monday. The Times of IndiaN “After being suspended from Cal Poly and posting his $150,000 bail, Pandhare has been living in San Diego with his parents.” Read at The Times of India ↗
Mixed · 2Archibald's attorney Theo Emison said the women were run over by an underage driver under the influence who "cowardly fled the scene" and vowed to hold everyone responsible accountable. Burke's attorney Christopher Dolan cited "so many layers of failure" among those who furnished alcohol and the vehicle. New York PostR “We will find all persons who are responsible in any way for this tragedy and hold every one of them accountable for this despicable conduct.” Read at New York Post ↗ The Times of IndiaN “There are so many layers of failure here that had the law been followed by any one of the people who furnished the alcohol” Read at The Times of India ↗ Right · 1The New York Post said it had asked the national Kappa Sigma organization and Pandhare's attorney for comment; no response from them is reported. The allegations in the civil complaint have not been tested in court. New York PostR “The California Post reached out to the national Kappa Sigma organization and Pandhare's attorney for comment.” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Rewrites the Tribune-sourced story as a 'heinous overspeeding case', naming the driver in the headline and adding his denial to police and bail details.
- Emphasis
- The driver's identity, witness accounts, his denial, bail and court presence.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits the crash location, the specific co-defendants and the allegation that the Tesla's owner handed over the keys.
- Charged language
- “heinous overspeeding case”“Drunk driver”
- For example
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“A lawsuit has revealed a heinous overspeeding case in California” — The Times of India
“Pandhare told the police that he did not do anything illegal, and he was not drunk.” — The Times of India
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Tabloid-style, lurid account centred on Greek-life culture, with the victims as 'sorority girls' and the driver as a 'frat bro'.
- Emphasis
- Named co-defendants, the keys handed over, hazing and underage drinking, and attorneys' quotes.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report the driver's statement to police that he was sober, or his bail and suspension.
- Charged language
- “mown down”“drunk frat bro”“horror Tesla smash”“bombshell lawsuit”“callously fleeing”“booze-soaked”
- For example
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“California sorority girls mown down by drunk frat bro in horror Tesla smash” — New York Post
“according to a bombshell lawsuit” — New York Post
What every side reports
- The crash occurred Jan. 8 in San Luis Obispo and the two victims are 19-year-old Cal Poly students Lilianne Burke and Zoey Archibald.
- The lawsuit was filed in July and names Pandhare, Kappa Sigma and others.
- Pandhare is separately charged with DUI causing injury, reckless driving and hit-and-run, and has pleaded not guilty.
- The complaint alleges 60 mph in a 25 mph zone and no braking.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Pandhare was drunk and at fault
- Centre
- Times of India reports witnesses said he was visibly drunk, and that he told police he did nothing illegal and was not drunk.
- Right
- New York Post presents the drunk-driving and fleeing allegations from the complaint and prosecutors' charges, without reporting his statement to police.
Lilianne Burke person
Burke, through attorney Christopher Dolan, says multiple people's failures to follow the law led to the crash and calls the suit a wake-up call on college alcohol culture.
“The lawsuit should be seen as a wake-up call to the alcohol culture in colleges and universities” — New York Post
Zoey Archibald person
Archibald, through attorney Theo Emison, says an underage driver under the influence fled and that all responsible will be held accountable.
“We will find all persons who are responsible in any way for this tragedy” — New York Post
Ishan Pandhare person
Pandhare has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and, per the Times of India, told police he did nothing illegal and was not drunk.
“Pandhare told the police that he did not do anything illegal, and he was not drunk.” — The Times of India
“He pleaded not guilty to all counts on Feb. 4.” — New York Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Critical Condemnatory summary of the lawsuit that includes the driver's denial and his bail and court status.
Right1 article
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Alarmist Sensational retelling of the complaint with lurid language and heavy focus on fraternity alcohol culture.
- 27 Oct 02:30 First New York PostR California sorority girls mown down by drunk frat bro in horror Tesla smash, lawsuit claims: ‘Left like run-over garbage’
- 27 Oct 20:31 +18h 2m The Times of IndiaN Drunk driver Ishan Pandhare mowed down two California Polytechnic State University students, left them like 'garbage in the roadway', alleges lawsuit
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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