Friday was a bad day for kids on our roads. Here's a summary (as found in the Idaho Statesman):
14-YEAR-OLD EAGLE HIGH STUDENT CRITICALLY HURT
A 14-year-old Eagle High School student suffered critical injuries when he was hit about 6:30 a.m. by a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old Eagle High student, who thought she had struck a sign on the side of the road. She continued on to school, where she called family to tell them what happened.
Detectives later found her car at the school and told her about the boy. Detectives believe ice on her windshield obstructed her view.
CAR MAKING U-TURN STRIKES TWO TEENAGERS IN EMMETT
In Emmett, two teens suffered non-life threatening injuries about 7:30 a.m. when Jullian Butticci of Emmett made a U-turn on 5th Street. Butticci's car stopped on one teen, who was taken to a Boise hospital. The second boy was treated and released. Police believe sunlight may have been a factor. The accident is under investigation.
PICKUP STRIKES BOY WALKING TO SCHOOL IN NAMPA
In Nampa, a 12-year-old boy walking to East Valley Middle School was hit about 6:55 a.m. by a pickup truck driven by Jason Walker, 31, of Caldwell. The boy, who was not in a crosswalk, was wearing headphones and listening to an iPod when he was struck. He was not wearing light-colored clothing, and it was dark at the time.
Citations have not been issued in any of the Friday incidents.
This stuff is scary to a road-going bicyclist! Particularly the airhead who's out there driving with a frosted windshield! I hope citations are issued.
Details are sketchy on whether the poor kid she hit was highly-visible or not. It really doesn't matter, if the driver's windshield is covered with frost! As for the victim in the iPod accident... we should all learn something from that. THINK ABOUT IT before you impair your senses. (At least his irresponsibility wasn't putting somebody else in potentially mortal danger.)
Such needless tragedy. If you are behind the wheel - whether you're 16 or 86 - you need the capacity to appreciate the fact that you are responsible for controlling a potentially-lethal projectile. You have no more right to endanger a bystander with your car, than you have to aim a gun at a stranger and pull the trigger.
The sheriff is saying the poor kid who was smacked by frosty-windshield-teen will have life-altering injuries... if he survives. The girl who hit him should be responsible for his medical care, rehabilitation expenses, and much of his care throughout his life.
Tireless advocate for the most efficient form of
human transportation ever devised - bicycles!
3 comments:
It amazes me how indifferent our society seems to be to motor vehicle related deaths and injuries. I remember hearing that the number of fatalities per year is about the same as if one commercial aircraft crashed per week with no survivors. If that was actually happening can you imagine the public outcry that would result? Yet real people are being killed and injured each day (not to mention untold numbers of pets and wildlife)and very few seem to give it a second thought. It's as if this carnage is considered to be an acceptable side effect of our addiction to motor vehicles.
I agree with bob t. I feel the same (although it is related) about alcohol related deaths, especially WRT DUIs.
That said, I happened to be watching the news Friday night with a juvenile probation officer and she said that the girl will definitely be charged. They are likely waiting for the victim's condition to stabilize so as to decide what severity of charges will be brought.
Very sad how we go blasting through life without realizing the consequences our actions may have.
Could not agree more with all of these comments! Cars need to be driven with the same care used as a loaded gun. And bikes need to advertise themselves with enough visibility that they can be seen.
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