Today’s column is my pick for the top story of the year.
I wish it were
”
Downtown Open!
”
but unfortunately, it’s not. We’ve had four recent deaths in
auto accidents. Two of these deaths were young children, one a
respected elder, and the last a young man as a result of criminal
activity.
Today’s column is my pick for the top story of the year.
I wish it were “Downtown Open!” but unfortunately, it’s not. We’ve had four recent deaths in auto accidents. Two of these deaths were young children, one a respected elder, and the last a young man as a result of criminal activity.
I’ve been a driver for 43 years now. Like everyone I conversed with about these accidents, I was sickened that these young people and Mr. Watenpaugh were killed. But also like many, I could see it happening to me, and that changes things. This editorial page had lively letters both for and against criminalizing these accidents. I found myself agreeing with both one side and then the other as arguments were made.
One driver has been charged. The other two are under investigation. The crash that took the life of Rudy Martinez III is different; a suspect has been arrested. More on that below.
How do you really evaluate something like this? Three are dead.
There are three drivers out there who were having ordinary days and now have lives that are changed forever, perhaps even by criminal charges. All three would certainly give all they had to undo the mistake of an inattentive moment, and yet, they cannot. And, there are three lives that ended abruptly, too soon, and tragically; survivors are hurting.
I thought as I wrote these words that an automobile, that most ubiquitous of modern conveniences, is the one invention that is likely to send ordinary people to jail for just a moment of inattentive driving. As you can tell, I’m still of two minds on this, except to say, for God’s sake, pay attention behind the wheel.
Now, as to the death of Rudy Martinez III, a passenger in a stolen car driven by, police say, Tony Lujan, a juvenile of 17. Mr. Martinez’s death was not an accident, it was a crime caused by Lujan fleeing the police. Lujan has been charged; whether he will face the music as a juvenile or adult is up to a judge.
I have a bone to pick with the cops and the city about this. Lujan’s name was not released before his arrest because he is a juvenile. If there are state laws to back that up, they need to be changed pronto.
Lujan fled from the police, crashed and left his passenger to die. In that case, I don’t want to hear about “privacy.” His immediate apprehension was a matter of public safety, and all people in town knew was that the perpetrator was a “17-year-old male juvenile.”
Sorry, that doesn’t fly. Some people knew him by sight. Had they been informed by this paper that he was the suspect, he probably could have been arrested much earlier. Given his actions, there is little doubt he was a threat to public safety. Criminals like Lujan, whether juveniles or adults, are the reason this paper publishes the pictures of “Gilroy’s Most Wanted” weekly, an idea which has been quite successful. Change the policy, or the law.
n n n
Tough as an old boot department: Last week, I received that phone call that all baby boomers dread. It was my sister in Ohio, telling me that a certain octogenarian nicknamed “Big Daze” was in the hospital with a nasty pneumonia. Sis told me I’d better get a ticket home, it was very serious, mom was in the intensive care unit.
I set about rearranging my schedule, got onto the last-minute airline ticket Web sites, and generally steeled myself for a rush trip home. Eight hours later, my sister called again and advised me to wait a day or two.
Why? Well, it seems Big Daze had gotten 86ed from the ICU for complaining about the food, noise, medicine schedule and lumpy bed.
Her pulmonologist also came in and said the CAT scan showed the pneumonia clearing with antibiotics. She advised a week in the hospital, at least, and said she could stay in a private room. E-mails and phone calls from my family flew back and forth over the next 48 hours.
Then, I returned home last Thursday and checked my voice mail. There was one from Mom, and I was astonished to hear her say she was home. She said she hated hospitals (did I mention she’s an RN?) and figured she’d do just as well at home, and to please not call, she was going to take a nap.
This woman is going to outlive me – her mother died at 95. So, get well, Big Daze, and our family’s apologies to the hospital staff.
Bob Dillon is a former Gilroy city councilman and a longtime scribe. His column is published each Thursday. Reach him at rt******@ga****.com
