Posted on 11/18/2023 10:02:27 PM PST by Morgana
The driver of a Sysco truck that struck and killed a five-year-old girl earlier this year will not face criminal charges, prosecutors have announced.
Essex District Attorney Paul F. Tucker made the revelation Friday, a little more than six months after Sidney Olson was struck on the streets of small-town Massachusetts.
The family is still pursuing civil charges against the driver, who hit the child as she was walking to an art class with a relative in Andover on May 9.
Relatives said she had the 'walk' signal, but that the driver didn't see the child when he moved forward when his light turned green.
The often busy intersection gives pedestrians the right of way, but Essex District Attorney Paul F. Tucker on Friday said the girl's death was not the result of a criminal act.
Scroll down for video:
He said in a statement: 'The investigative findings do not provide sufficient evidence to seek criminal charges against the driver of the tractor-trailer.'
Citing a 'thorough and detailed' police probe that included video from inside the food transport truck, he added: 'The driver was stopped at the intersection.
'As he began to advance forward on the light turning green, he was unable to see Ms. Olson traveling on her scooter in the crosswalk below.
'The driver was not impaired by any substances and immediately came to a controlled stop after the collision.'
The DA's office added that lawmen carried out toxicology screens on the driver and a mechanical inspection of he vehicle, after he immediately stopped to cooperate with cops.
Prosecutors also used several witness interviews when making their decision - after several described a female relative cradling the child's lifeless body.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
One of the things they do in Illinois that seems like a really good idea is they put the name of the agency responsible for a traffic signal on the controller cabinet. There, it could be the state, the county, or the city/town depending on the road.
Thank you, sir, for illustrating exactly why I made that comment.
That would certainly open their eyes and adjust their attitudes.
Thank you! I had the exact same question when I read the article and am glad I started reading replies before posting myself.
You are 🎯
This is it and not just in Massachusetts. In the Albany area of NY, they insist that pedestrians have this absolute right of way that supersedes everything. Where we were taught to look both ways before crossing any street, they teach kids that vehicles must stop for them. Period. You see kids and adults just walk across the road like they own it, and too many times, not paying a bit of attention.
To me, it's another aspect of the parental indulgence of millennials. They've been raised that anything objectionable in their environment will be removed and we are seeing the ramifications whether it's peanut bans or safe spaces or not having to wait for 2,000 pound vehicles to pass by. The left has been utilizing this to drive its agenda which is why social media censorship—among other things—slipped in so easily and is so widely accepted by too many young people.
I have not driven one but I know those who have.
There is no way in hell that guy could have seen that kid.
In my opinion? They were bad parents for letting her cross the street while on a scooter. My parents would have held me by the hand at that age at such a dangerous intersection.
“My son talked about the spandex bicyclists who would get in front of his fully loaded construction trucks and slow down to show him who was the boss of the roads particularly on hilly upscale rural suburban areas. He said they never knew how much their lives were depending on his brakes and skills.”
I know you are telling the truth because I’ve seen video after video of this on youtube.
Yes, similar has happened to me also. Several times I had to swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid those kind of things and end up in a near miss but fortunately got back over just in time. Twice I had four wheelers pass me going too fast pulling a trailer and lose it right in front of my bumper. Had to ditch it over onto the shoulder to miss these but fortunately again was able to keep it on the wheels even though I was sure I was history. Thank God for power steering and the seal belt holding my butt in the seat, or I would not have been able to keep it upright, I was all over the place with the trailer switching back and forth from right to left in the side mirrors before I could get stopped.
I have seen this in Los Angeles, as well. Until Congress gets around to repealing the Laws of Physics, "Right of Way by Law of Gross Tonnage" supersedes any "right" pedestrians may think they have.
Same thing happened to me, but I did get hit by a woman turning left from a strip mall. My leg and ankles got beat up as I found myself on the hood of her car and then slid off to the road. I knew I’d be OK, but it’s been 4 weeks of pain/discomfort, ibuprofen, stretching exercises, lack of productivity, and poor sleep. I did file a police report, but haven’t decided to pursue compensation. To her credit she stopped and took me to a clinic. I am up to a slow 16-mile bike ride and respectable walks with knee and ankle sleeves.
...free range children...
Was that the case here?
Laid on the horn of my Chevy Blazer and then yelled at them:
What color is my green light?
What color is your red crosswalk light?
What state is my Texas license plates?
Do you really want to walk out in from of me?
.
They just had a stupid look on their faces.
WTH???
I just stated what the existing
laws are. Pedestrians have the
right of way regardless of the
situation. An operator of a motor
vehicle must make every effort
to avoid hitting a pedestrian.
Plain and simple.
Sad circumstance for the truck
driver. Could be he just wasn’t
paying attention. Who the hell
knows?
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