A year ago, writer and editor Michael Hastings died in a horrible single car crash. Most people may recall that Hastings was the writer of the Rolling Stone piece that led to General Stanley McChrystals resignation. Here, below, is the Wikipedia section about Hastings death. It is rather unsettling. --- On June 18, 2013, Michael Hastings died in a single-vehicle automobile crash in his Mercedes C250 Coupé at approximately 4:25 a.m. in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.[55] A witness to the crash said the car seemed to be traveling at maximum speed and was creating sparks and flames before it fishtailed and crashed into a palm tree.[56][57] Video from a nearby security camera purportedly shows Hastings vehicle speeding and bursting into flames after crashing.[58] Witnesses described the cars engine being ejected 50 to 60 yards from the scene.[57][59] Hastings body was burned beyond recognition. The coroner identified the body by matching fingerprints with those the FBI had on file.[60][61] Two days after the crash, the Los Angeles Police Department declared that there were no signs of foul play.[62] The coroners report ruled the death of Hastings to be an accident.[63] An autopsy showed that the cause of death was massive blunt force trauma consistent with a high-speed crash.[63] Hastings was eulogized in the media by figures such as Christopher Hayes,[64] Rachel Maddow,[65] his co-workers at BuzzFeed,[66] and others.[67] Soon after his death, some press reports described the crash as suspicious.[57][68][69][70] Earlier the previous day, Hastings indicated that he believed he was being investigated by the FBI. In an email to colleagues, which was copied to and released by Hastings friend, Army Staff Sergeant Joe Biggs,[71] Hastings said that he was onto a big story, that he needed to go off the radar, and that the FBI might interview them.[72][73] WikiLeaks announced that Hastings had also contacted Jennifer Robinson, one of its lawyers, a few hours prior to the crash,[74] and the LA Weekly reported that he was preparing new reports on the CIA at the time of his demise.[75] His widow Elise Jordan said his final story was a profile of CIA Director John O. Brennan.[76] The FBI released a statement denying that Hastings was being investigated.[62] Former U.S. National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism Richard Clarke said that what is known about the crash is consistent with a car cyber attack. He was quoted as saying There is reason to believe that intelligence agencies for major powers—including the United States—know how to remotely seize control of a car. So if there were a cyber attack on [Hastings] car—and Im not saying there was, I think whoever did it would probably get away with it.[77] Several car experts have commented that there is no reason to suspect foul play in the crash. Motor Trend technical director Frank Markus said that the ensuing fire was consistent with a high-speed car crash.[78] Hastings widow Elise Jordan has said she believes his death to be just a really tragic accident.[79] His older brother, Jonathan, said he believed Michael was experiencing a manic episode shortly before his death, and that he may have had suspicions were it not for this observation.[80] Cenk Uygur, friend of Hastings and host of The Young Turks, told KTLA that many of Michaels friends were concerned that he was in a very agitated state, saying he was incredibly tense and worried that his material was being surveilled by the government. Friends believed that Michaels line of work led to a paranoid state.[81] USA Today reported that in the days before his death, Hastings believed his car was being tampered with and that he was scared and wanted to leave town.[82]
Posted on: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 17:11:45 +0000
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