Posted on 04/22/2008 7:01:07 PM PDT by buccaneer81
Fight at scene of crash tragic, Circleville official says Dad charged with misconduct for wrestling with deputy as crews worked to extricate son Tuesday, April 22, 2008 7:52 PM By Randy Ludlow The Columbus Dispatch Adam Carter Adam Carter It unfolded March 25 along London Road in Pickaway County.
Sixteen-year-old Adam Carter was driving to school when his car crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a dump truck.
Paul Carter soon arrived. As he ran toward his son's crushed car, he was intercepted by Sgt. Cory Bachnicki.
Bachnicki said he told the man to stay back, to let the emergency crew go about its job of freeing Adam.
Carter shoved Bachnicki several times, yelling that he would have to be shot to be kept from his son, the sergeant said.
Carter continued trying to push past, Bachnicki said, and they started wrestling on the ground.
Carter, 46, ended up in handcuffs in a cruiser and later was charged with misconduct at an emergency scene, a misdemeanor.
Bachnicki suffered an injury to his left rotator cuff and cuts to a knee and hand. His shirt lapel was ripped and his radio microphone was broken.
Adam, a popular kid whose bright red hair made him stand out at Westfall High School, was flown to a Columbus hospital. He died about five hours later.
After burying his son, Paul Carter pleaded not guilty to the charge in Circleville Municipal Court.
Today, Circleville Law Director Gary Kenworthy talked with Carter's attorney about what is to become of the charge. It carries a sentence of up to six months in jail.
“It's tragic all the way around,” Kenworthy said. “I can understand both sides of the circumstances.
“I'll discuss the case with the officer and see what his thoughts are now on whether the case should go forward.”
Carter's attorney, John Farthing of Circleville, did not return telephone calls yesterday. Carter could not be reached for comment.
Sheriff Dwight Radcliff is not without sympathy for the family. However, he still believes Carter crossed the line.
“It was the last thing in the world we wanted to do, but we had a situation there with someone's life at stake. We feel bad about it, but we have a job to do.”
rludlow@dispatch.org
stand between a man and his and you’ve got it coming to you.
tragedy and I can understand the father. hopfully the charges will be dropped but they appear to be the least of his worries.
Good grief!
Leave the DAD alone. If I were him, I’d do the same thing. If I couldn’t directly help, I’d want to be near the crew verbally encouraging my son. How dare these arseholes. Have a heart for the Dad.
I agree.
They are behaving like cold hearted Nazis.
The law better find WMDs.
It was a stupid decision to charge him. Restrain him, yes, because you don’t want to stop the emergency workers from doing their job. But charging him was absolutely insane.
er..the master.
Agreed. He could have been speaking to his son anyway. Why wouldn’t they let him go near him??? That’s ludicrous. He didn’t have to be in the way while the experts were doing their jobs of course however, they COULD have let him stand by and try to speak to his son. It would have been comforting to his son and to him. Tragic.
Yep this cop kept this man being with his son the last minutes of his son’s life. I don’t know from what I read whether the son was out cold or not, but what a jerk. Did he go over to the guys house and shoot his dog after the accident scene was taken care of?
Yep this cop kept this man being with his son the last minutes of his son’s life. I don’t know from what I read whether the son was out cold or not, but what a jerk. Did he go over to the guys house and shoot his dog after the accident scene was taken care of?
God bless all the state troopers, who deal with this kind of tragedy week in and week out.
Agreed. He could have been speaking to his son anyway. Why wouldn’t they let him go near him??? That’s ludicrous. He didn’t have to be in the way while the experts were doing their jobs of course however, they COULD have let him stand by and try to speak to his son. It would have been comforting to his son and to him. Tragic.
But why charge the man? No jury will convict him. Temporary insanity. Whatever.
This is a police state run wild. The sheriff's opinion that he 'crossed a line' is self-important bilge. Guess what, Mr. High Sheriff, the world does not revolve around you and your department, especially when a man's son is dead. He's got more on his plate than he can handle, already.
Don’t these people have common sense?
Agree with everything you said.
I share your sentiments.
I’d do the same, and I’d probably wind up in cuffs too. The cop way over reacted. That said, imagine handling fatal MVA scenes every week for years. It’s got to wear on you. I have a special place in my heart for the highway patrol officers, who have to bear that burden.
Do not think boys, in particular; or 'kids' in general; should be driving at sixteen. . .up the age requirement.
That said, prayers for this family.
What a bunch of Nazis!
That father may not have been able to physically help them, but he could have spoke to his son and encouraged him - even if he was unconscious. As it turned out, he lost that opportunity on this earth. Hope these pompous, control freaks are pleased with themselves.
Dad will spend the rest of his life muttering to himself .. "I could have done it ... I could have done it ... "
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