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RESPONSE TO STORIES |
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Sheriff log for San Juan County Washington
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Response to: Kramer sentenced to 42 weeks in juvenile detention
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Letter from injured
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How to send cards to Paul Jaholkowky's familyCards can be sent to Paul Jaholkowsky's family via his church at the following address: Level Ground Mennonite Church |
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Did we mention she's only 7? And her 5-year-old sister can tell you in GREAT detail about the man who was jogging across the street that then landed on their side of the street, where people rushed to help him and push on his stomach (We assume that was CPR). Where our sister and brother-in law wrapped their daughter's hand in gauze from the first aid kit they carried. Where a nice Man at a Family reunion at the scene arranged for my brother-in law to fly in a private airplane to Boeing field because the 15- and 17-year olds that hit their daughter are on the Medi-flights. This same Man helped my Sister get her car and take her to the Ferry where she had to wait for hours to get to her Daughter. You can't even imagine the trauma this family is going thru, only to find out the 15-year-old WHO by the way drove without a license (was it the 17-year-old's car?) and killed a man, and maimed a little girl, and then was released to his mom and Dad, to go home and sleep in his own bed. Again I say ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Someone explain this to my sister and brother-in law and niece, and to the poor family of the man he killed! We can't make sense of this. Why isn't he in custody? There was a horrible crime committed here!!! Jo Boucher Information about the emergency response and lack of arrestBy Sharon Kivisto This information was obtained from Lopez Fire Chief Jim Ghiglione who was at the crash scene and San Juan County Deputy Criminal Prosecutor Charlie Silverman. This is in no way intended to detract from Jo Bucher's powerful letter but is meant to provide information to readers. Medevauc flights: Michael Ann, the 7-year-old bicyclist, was flown in a private plane because her father wanted to accompany her and that isn't allowed on the medevauc helicopters. In a phone interview, Lopez Island Fire Chief Jim Ghiglione who responded to the crash said the medical personnel determined her condition was stable and believed she would be OK on the flight. The decision was ultimately up to her father. The pilot is a member of the volunteer Angel program on Lopez Island which provides free flights for people needing assistance. EMERGENCY PERSONNEL RESPONSE: The nice man in Jo Boucher's letter was a Lopez Fire Department EMT. They are volunteers and don't necessarily wear uniforms which explains why the family wouldn't have known that. Chief Ghiglione said he probably did respond from a family reunion. Chief Ghiglione said the little girl received care from the highest trained medical personnel on the scene. He noted the Emergency Medical Services personnel are trained to triage patients keeping their emotions out of the decision process. The most severely injured are placed on the first helicopter. Ferry: Michael Ann's mother was given priority loading on the ferry. No arrest: Deputy Criminal Prosecutor Charlie Silverman explained why he makes a decision are made in case such as these not to take drivers into custody right away - if he believes the driver is not a threat to the community and nothing would be accomplished by taking the driver into custody and if the driver comes from a good family and has strong ties to the community. Another consideration, he said, is the prosecutor's office needs time to investigate and has time limitations to prosecute once an arraignment takes place. Arraignments need to happen a few weeks after the arrest. The trial would have to begin 60 days after the arraignment. RESPONSES:Dear Editor, posted 08/04/2009 Being hit and ran over by a car is scary, traumatizing and something I would not wish anyone to experience. I agree that the roads are too narrow and need to be widened but in my opinion, people drive way too fast. As islanders in our cars, we need to remember we are not the only ones on the road. There are bicyclist, horses, mopeds, joggers and walkers. I believe one of the reasons we all live here is so we don't have to live in a fast-paced lifestyle. Yes, bicyclists need to make sure they are not standing on the shoulder drinking their water and runners/walkers need to be aware of the cars around them (I think most of them do) but we as drivers need to be the most responsible because we are controlling these machines that can harm or kill a person. We need to be mindful when we drive and we need to slow down around corners and even on the straight roads. Moreover, there are so many cars maneuvering on Spring Street that we need to make sure to drive slow and pay attention to people backing out of parking spaces and pedestrians crossing the road (even if they are not in a crosswalk). Let's all slow down a bit and know we will get to our final destination eventually and hopefully harm-free. The victims are not the only ones traumatized by these events...the drivers lives are changed too. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the individuals who have been affected by this very sad incident. Erin Ancich San Juan Island Dear Editor, posted 08/01/2009 If the San Juans are to be a destination for bicycles, much more needs to be done to make the roads safe for all. Bicycle lanes, expanded shoulders, etc. should be considered for all the roads in the islands. Even in light of the current environment of governmental budget crises, it is still important to move toward doing something substantial toward achieving this goal as soon as possible. It IS a matter of life and death. I do not; by any means, mean to diminish the tragedy on Lopez. We ALL need to exercise some common sense when it comes to driving AND riding in the islands. We all need to slow down, pay attention, obey the law, use some common sense and understand that we are not the ONLY ones on the road.
Alan Dortch Dear Editor, posted 07/31/2009 My sincere thanks and gratitude to the person who arranged the airplane for your niece, and to those who tried to help Paul at the scene. All our family hopes that your Niece recovers from her injuries with the best possible results. We'd all like to know how she's doing. In response to the two other letters (LG and TE), I really don't know what message you are trying to make regarding pedestrian and bicycle safety on Lopez. Are you really saying that Paul and the cyclist's family are at fault as well? Are you trying to somehow justify this criminal act by implying that if pedestrians and cyclist's weren't there, this wouldn't have happened? I've never been there, but I have seen photos of the road where this carnage took place. It's narrow with no centerline markings and the driveways are sometimes difficult to see. This is the last place to joy ride a car at high speeds by anybody, especially an inexperienced driver who should have never been behind the wheel and never had access to this type of vehicle. I lost a nephew and a good friend. Jo's niece, in all likelihood, will have a reminder of this for the rest of her life. It's totally unfair and completely senseless.
Sincerely, Dear Editor, posted 07/31/2009 What with our increased summer traffic, the mopeds, the three-wheeled vehicles, the bicycles, tractors and MINIMAL BIKE LANES, the headline could have easily read, "1 dead, 2 hurt in San Juan Island Crash." Our island, and all of the major San Juan Islands, that are destination points for bicyclists, need a long term vision to help create safe biking areas for visitors and islanders alike. Is it expensive? Will it take years? Will it be inconvenient? All the answers are a resounding, yes! However, there are towns and cities across this country that have traveled down this path and have been successful. Let us begin, as a community to focus our energies with the Bicycle Committee, the city and county to plan bicycle and pedestrian pathways because it is the right thing to do; because it is the safe thing to do and not because another tragedy has occurred.
Sue Buettell Dear Editor, posted 07/31/2009 Yes, this driver used poor judgment, was inexperienced and obviously at fault for driving too fast. But let's not start throwing blame where it doesn't belong when people suggest alternative routes along some roads that have limited vision; what would it take to make a bike path that deviates from the road when there is limited visibility? Everyone tries to be responsible but the logistics just aren't working here in terms of road sharing. Triana Elan Dear Editor: posted 07/29/2009 Motorists who use the public roads need to use caution and recognize that the roads do not belong to them alone and that they are driving a several ton vehicle which will always win against a 50-pound child. Perhaps the requirements for passing a driving test or renewing a license should include education to this effect.
J. McCloskey Dear Editor, posted 07/29/2009 And he did not go home to a warm cozy life, his life is all going to change now all his hopes and dreams are all now done. He also is watching his best friend suffering and will have many months of recovering. This is no excuse by any means for the little girl or the man who lost his life those are real tragedies! One more thing I must add before bicycling the San Juans please check out the islands for bike paths, there are none. And the roads with trucks and farm equipment barely have enough room for two cars. It is not a safe place to bike! Keep these families in your prayers. LeAnne GrosJacques Dear Editor: I read with horror the incident that occurred on Lopez last Sunday. I have kept all involved in my prayers. Still I am compelled to respond to LeAnne GrosJacques' letter. I lived on Lopez for 10 years and I can't tell you how often many of us came close to hitting bicyclists on the island roads. I agree that there should be designated bike paths for biking on the island. With a population of more or less 2,000 people, all with their own work and lives and schedules, coupled with the fact that almost everyone on the island owns or uses a car to get around, Lopez really can't, in the 21st century, be thought of as the bicyclist's paradise of days gone by. I've heard of car accidents, horses and riders hit by cars, other bikers hit by cars, etc. Isn't it time to establish bridle trails and bike paths? Of course it will take time and money to do, and some thoughtful planning and the willingness of landowners to comply (perhaps the landowners could be offered an incentive?). I know exactly where this accident occurred, and this area of Lopez along with Channel Road are dangerous areas for bicycling. People from outside come thinking that there are probably not many cars; there are no street lights or traffic lights...but believe me, there ARE cars! This accident was a tragedy all the way around. Lives were changed, a life was lost. These things happen, but it is unnecessary for them to happen. The Lopez community is strong and close-knit (for better or for worse), and I know that other options for bike paths are available. Any time a person rides a bike or horse on a road intended for cars, the individual is taking a risk. Still, since bicyclists will still come and Lopez does have its fair share of horses and riders, it is important to take preventive action. But who takes this action? Granted, this is like closing the barn door after the horse has gone, but it must be looked into. Simply "sharing the road" isn't enough, obviously. Unless options for cyclists and equestrians are created, more of these tragedies will occur.
Triana Elan |
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SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2009 |
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