Posted on 10/15/2009 6:53:12 AM PDT by Born Conservative
State police have refused to release information that might shed light on the response of its Pocono barracks to a February crash off Interstate 476, the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, that led to the death of a Taylor man.
The agency has failed to provide even basic information on the incident since The Times-Tribune began making inquiries in August. State police have classified the crash a "nontraffic incident," which directly conflicts with a Lackawanna County coroner's report that found 47-year-old Sam Turoni died from injuries suffered in a vehicle crash.
A call reporting the crash was only briefly investigated by state police, and the scene wasn't located by authorities until a third 911 call three days later by passing motorists who spotted Mr. Turoni's car. Hypothermia may have played a part in Mr. Turoni's death, according to an autopsy report.
The Times-Tribune made a public records request to state police on Sept. 1 for any reports related to Mr. Turoni, including a traffic report. In response to that request this week, state police said the only report the agency has is a "nontraffic death investigation report." It has refused to release the report, claiming a public record exemption under the state's Right to Know Law.
Asked why a vehicle crash that resulted in a death wouldn't generate a traffic report from state police, the agency's press secretary Jack Lewis responded in an e-mail.
"The manner in which specific incidents investigated by state police are documented internally depends on the totality of the circumstances," he wrote. "In this case, the type of report prepared was based on the totality of circumstances. I am not able to comment beyond that."
Mr. Turoni's accident was first reported to the Lackawanna County Communications Center on Feb. 21 at 11:41 a.m. According to communications center records, state police called off the response 12 minutes later, after having found no crash scene.
A second call, at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 22, reported a car had crashed into the woods. Again, no car was found, according to the 911 recordings.
Three days after the crash, at 1:02 p.m. on Feb. 24, Mr. Turoni's body and his vehicle were found by 74-year-old Mike Drost, of Old Forge, who was driving by and stopped to check on the vehicle. Two women who stopped to make sure Mr. Drost was OK were with him when the body was found.
"I don't know how police didn't see this," said one of the women, who identified herself as Tasha when she called 911.
The autopsy report found Mr. Turoni suffered multiple rib fractures, contusions, lacerations and a pelvic fracture, but managed to get out of his car. He walked around the front of the vehicle and reached the passenger side before collapsing.
While the county communications center released audio recordings and time response logs related to the crash, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and state police have refused to release unredacted time response logs for state police responding to the incident.
While the Right to Know Law may allow an agency to withhold records such as investigative reports, it does not require they be withheld if releasing them is in the public interest, said Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.
"There is a common misperception it limits access," she said. "That's not what the Right to Know Law does. An agency is allowed to withhold information, but they're not required to withhold it - that's a significant difference."
Mr. Turoni, a native of Wilkes-Barre, owned Sam's Deli in Taylor and, most recently, the Convenient Food Mart on Main Street in Old Forge.
His family has not returned calls for comment. His family filed a missing person report at 3:45 p.m. on Feb. 22, which states he was last seen by family at noon on Feb. 21.
He has made it clear as mud, much like something puked out by the U. S. Congress.
That was probably his intent.
Pennsylvania State Police ping.
The police will find
A crash in a donut shop,
But not on the road!
A drunk cop or politician may have caused the accident and the HP was waiting for him to sober up the next day. Happens all the time amongst government emplyees.
IIRC earlier reports said there was some snow and the driver lost it on the slippery road. There was an eye witness going the opposite direction who called 911 and gave the mile marker.
ping
PA in February. Ice, snow. Hmmm. Wonder why the troopers didn’t find the car? Too warm and cozy inside?
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