Bus Driver Changes Plea
- Thread starter Statsman515
- Start date
$100 fine and 30 days in jail
Wow I wonder why they would offer this deal. Maybe didn't think there was enough evidence to sway a jury. Will be interesting to see what more comes out of this.
Wow I wonder why they would offer this deal. Maybe didn't think there was enough evidence to sway a jury. Will be interesting to see what more comes out of this.
If you are not drunk when you run over a pedestrian or biker it is very rare to get anything more than a fine and some community service at most.
After a rash of accidents the Star Trib looked into it here in Minnesota, not likely that Iowa is much different.
http://www.startribune.com/in-crash...rity-of-drivers-don-t-face-charges/380345481/
After a rash of accidents the Star Trib looked into it here in Minnesota, not likely that Iowa is much different.
http://www.startribune.com/in-crash...rity-of-drivers-don-t-face-charges/380345481/
- Mar 27, 2006
- 42,752
- 33,772
- 113
Hard to know what they had for proof that he knew he hit her. With the rain, probably didn't see her at all. Didn't they say he stopped to look at the bus a bit later, which would indicate maybe he heard the impact?
Very tragic all around. Thoughts with her family as this is undoubtedly just another painful reminder.
I always wondered, and will continue to, what would be shown for "proof" for the failure to obey a traffic signal charge. I thought early reports said the light was flashing yellow or flashing yellow arrow. In either case, he should have still been able to turn left if there was no oncoming traffic, correct?
Also, I would like to know more about the actual incident. But that's my curiosity and not needed here with the deal.
Also, I would like to know more about the actual incident. But that's my curiosity and not needed here with the deal.
Flashing yellow light or arrow he'd be expected to yield to pedestrians and proceed with caution, hitting a pedestrian would probably be proof of failing to yield or use caution.
It's been too long I can't remember which direction he was going, I'm thinking he was turning left off of Lincoln Way onto Ash? Anyone remember if that's correct?
The headline says "Many shocked". The story mentions nobody shocked.
That is how I remember it. He turned left from Lincoln Way onto Ash Ave heading South.
I mean there's a reason it is that way. Oftentimes the same circumstances that would just be a fender bender for a car on car collision will kill a biker or pedestrian. We don't jail those who cause minor accident so it wouldn't make sense to severely punish what is basically the same 'act' that unfortunately impacted a more vulnerable person unless you can show severe negligence prior to the accident
I mean, it seems like not very much, but I also don't see how it does anyone any good to throw this guy in jail for multiple years for what amounts to a terrible accident.
Yes, I remember that as well. The original charge was failure to obey a traffic control device. Not failure to yield ... I'm trying to envision what happened and how that would have happened. If the bus is turning left on some type of yellow light and the pedestrian is crossing the street from the driver's left, it seems that the impact point on the bus could indicate where the pedestrian was compared with the location of the bus.
(I am purposely using generic terms here because I'm trying to think about this objectively. It's difficult.)
I was on a bus back to the hotel from Soldier Field after a soccer game and the bus driver hit and tore the **** out of the side of the bus on a 3 foot tall concrete barrier, I don't think the driver even noticed.
BEFORE you get angry, just remember that this 30-day punishment is not for hitting the woman, but for a failure to report. None of us were at the scene so it is impossible to know whether or not he ran a light, she shouldn't have been crossing, the bus slid on the wet ground, or anything about what happened.
THIS. It was a terrible accident. Then he fled the scene letting the poor girl die. Who knows, she may still be alive if he'd called 911
