Written by Information from Chief Milosovich about the car-pedestrian accident on Duvall yesterday. The preliminary investigation seems to indicate that a Renton jogger was killed by a car which drifted across the oncoming traffic lanes. Here is the chief’s email, sent to our council inboxes from the field. I’m sure this report is subject to revision as the police interview witnesses and learn more.
From: “Kevin Milosevich” <kmilosevich@ci.renton.wa.us> [ Save Address ]
To: “Clark Wilcox” <cwilcox@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Daniel Clawson” <dclawson@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Denis Law” <dlaw@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Don Persson” <dpersson@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Jay Covington” <jcovington@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Kathy Keolker” <mayorkathy@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Marcie Palmer” <mpalmer@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Randy Corman” <rcorman@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Terri Briere” <tbriere@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Antonette Nelson” <tnelson@ci.renton.wa.us>
Subject: Car-pedestrian accident on Duvall this afternoon
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2007 16:36:52 -0800
We are at the scene of what will be a fatality accident on Duvall.
A little different than the two recent accidents.
A jogger was southbound on the east shoulder when the suspect vehicle was
southbound on Duvall.
The vehicle drove gradually across both northbound lanes and struck the jogger
from behind.
The vehicle drove into a ditch, up an embankment and through several sections of
fence before resting on it’s side against a tree.
The driver was injured, and will survive. We are investigating the cause.
Sgt Wilcox will provide additional information later in the evening.
Reminder from Randy, added Dec 17: Until we get more information, we need to presume that this is just a terrible accident of some kind. The police will conduct an extremely thorough investigation, and determine if the driver might have any criminal culpability. Meanwhile, presume innocent of course. (I don’t know any more than what is in this email at this point, but I’ll let you know as soon as the police release a public update)
Unless he fainted…
Unless he/she fainted or some other medical circumstances… that driver should spend the rest of it’s life behind bars. There should be no mercy for murders like this.
Even if the driver was drunk, tweaking, and talking on the cell phone – they will only get a year or two max.
Sad… how we value the life of a killer over the life of someone out for a jog.
Where’s the justice?
Tragedy
The saddest part of the whole tragedy is that the man killed was a proud new father of a 3 month old baby. He leaves behind a child who will never have a father.
The man killed dedicated his life to help troubled youth as a counselor. His son won’t have the opportunity to get any of his good advice as he gets older.
He was truly one of those people who deserved to live to help others.
Jogger
The jogger, who’s name has yet been released by the press so I won’t divulge, was one of the most kind individuals I have ever met. His wife is also incredibly sweet. My heart breaks for her and their infant son, who is never going to know his dad.
God bless him and his family
Re: Jogger
According to reports, the driver was 34 years old.
Given the age, it looks like the driver won’t have a medical excuse for wondering across traffic.
Shame!
Re: Jogger
do they check cell phone/texting records? so many kids are driving while they use their phones, and they don’t think it’s dangerous.
Re: Jogger
Good question. I think the police will check on this. I don’t have any information about the investigation to date, but I know with fatalities the police are very, very thorough. I’ll let you and other readers know when we get a public update from the police, and I will ask them this question about cell phones if it is not covered in their report.
Re: Jogger
I never heard what happened in this case. Was the driver ever charged? As a frequest pedestrian in the Highlands, I am interested in the outcome.
Tragedy
If there aren’t charges against the driver then it will truly be a tragedy where the only ones who have to pay for this senselessness is his young, beautiful, grieving wife with a brand new baby who will never know his father except through the stories that we, his grieving friends, can share with him.
Even if there is a medically viable reason for this driver to lose control or consciousness, there needs to be some retribution for driving while medically impaired. Or driving while sleep impaired. It is no better than driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Alas, in the midst of the pain I feel for my newly widowed friend and the pain I feel for the loss of her wonderful husband, I know that the driver has to deal with the truth that he caused this situation, even if it really was an “unpreventable accident”. We can only pray that he will suffer the remorse that is due.
Re: Tragedy
Every once in a wile, a driver will have a unanticipated heart attack or similar problem, or even mechanical failure of the auto itself. Both of these situations are very rare.
These and a few other reasons are the only excuses for what is otherwise a horrible murder.
It’s disgusting on how little we value the lives of innocent people – a few people need to rot in prison for vehicular murder.