Shouldn't It Be 'Milner Was Killed By a Drunk Driver in January 1965?'

It's possible that the drunk driver was killed or survived, left the scene of the accident and was never caught.

<<Keep in mind that the movie takes place in late December/early January, meaning that it's still winter. It could be eight or nine and it would still be dark outside. I guess we're just left to assume that the events in each segment don't take place at the exact same time with the exception of the Auld Lang Syne scene, which is probably the best explanation there is to offer.>>

Of course in winter it could be five or six and be dark outside (at least where I live it is). Anyway, I've always understood that in the final scene, events are happening to the characters at the same time moment as their respective New Year begins and everyone is singing Aud Lang Syne (except for John, who is "too cool" to sing). Anyway, if that is true, John in fact DOES die in January 1965. However, the movie does betray itself: as you mention, it should definitely have been dark in the California valley where John was (really anywhere) at midnight, but the movie shows John driving away from the sunset (look in the rear window of his car). Furthermore, as he drives down the hilly, dipping road approaching his tragic fate, it is dusk. It is also dusk when Terry is shown deserting in Vietnam. But if he's supposed to be at the exact same moment as the rest, that's impossible because Vietnam is 15 hours ahead of California. When it's 12:01 AM in California, it's 3:01 PM in Vietnam. As far as him "resurfacing" later in the 1960s, good luck with that. Who knows where he ends up, walking across a continent you've never been on before.

I love the American Grafitti movie series and I've gotten some great responses to this question. But honestly, I finally realize the whole thing comes down to bad editing and poor continuity of a low-budget movie.