[nagdu] Blind man struck, dog killed this morning in Burlco, New Jersey

Thu Oct 7 22:25:20 UTC 2010

It isn't in Morristown but is nearby, I understand. The news article I read says he's still in critical condition; I'll forward the article after I find it in my stack of mail. What struck me was that everyone seemed toknow this guy and how unusual it was for him to cross where he did, at such a knon dangerous street. As I speculated elsewhere, usually it's the simplest explanations that are the right ones, so I wonder if something prevented his crossing at the corner, or if he or his dog *perceived* that there was an impediment to the crossing? Or, as you say, he could have gotten confused.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY


On Oct 7, 2010, at 6:14 PM, Jewel S. wrote:

> Oh, not at the intersection...ok, that's one less for him. Maybe he
> got confused. I'm going to look up the White Cane Safety Law for that
> state...that's New Jersey, isn't it? Morristown, isn't that the home
> of the Seeing Eye?
> 
> Still, he was wearing a reflective vest, so he was clearly visible,
> and most White Cane Safety Laws have something about crossings not at
> intersections...anymore updates on this? Any updates on his condition?
> 
> On 10/7/10, Buddy Brannan <buddy at brannan.name> wrote:
>> I just saw an article that says he was not at the intersection, a fact that
>> was noted as highly unusual for this guy, who appears to be very well known
>> in his neck of the woods.
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Oct 7, 2010, at 5:58 PM, Jewel S. wrote:
>> 
>>> What I don't get is why they don't immediately arrest the driver for
>>> assault with a deadly weapon! A vehicle, in legal terms, is a deadly
>>> weapon when it strikes another person, unless it is not the driver's
>>> fault (such as a person jumping in front of the vehicle). If the man
>>> was wearing a reflective vest, crossing at an intersection and walking
>>> with a guide dog, why the hell didn't the truck stop?
>>> 
>>> Over and over, I see "no charges have been pressed and it's under
>>> investigation," but in a case like this, isn't it obvious it was the
>>> driver's fault? White Cane Laws protect blind pedestrians from fault
>>> at intersections,a nd some protect blind pedestrians even if they
>>> cross where there is no intersection or crosswalk. The fault *always*
>>> ies ith the driver at intersections if the person is obviously holding
>>> a white cane or working with a guide dog.
>>> 
>>> Things like this is why I want to see police stings at intersections,
>>> with people crossing with a white cane and requiring people to
>>> completely yield. Here in North Carolina, that means coming to a
>>> complete stop until the blind pedestrian (with white cane or guide
>>> dog) is completely across the crosswalk (on the sidewalk or over the
>>> curb). This means you can't zoom in front of the pedestrian (as I've
>>> seen many times, where they decide they have just enough time to sneak
>>> in front of the pedestrian), and they can't zoom behind the pedestrian
>>> because hey, the pedestrian isn't on *that* part of the crosswalk
>>> anymore...but what if the blind person gets confused by the sound of a
>>> car moving behind him and turns back? Not everyone has good O&M
>>> skills, and some people have additional disabilities that mean they
>>> are disoriented. I know this from personal experiences. I have days
>>> where I am in a fog. A friend told me she saw me crossing a street,
>>> wavering and looking obviously confused, turning around in the middle
>>> of the crosswalk, and walking back a few steps. I don't remember the
>>> situation, as I was in a bad fog due to a new medication I was taken
>>> (a strong pain killer that affects memory and orientation). She told
>>> me later that she pulled over, stepped over to me and gestured for
>>> cars to stop, because they were zooming around me on the crosswalk
>>> since they had the green light and didn't want to wait for me...this
>>> left me stranded in the middle of the crosswalk between traffic. Thank
>>> goodness my friend came along when I was completely out of it.
>>> 
>>> It is absolutely ridiculous all these pedestrians getting hit in
>>> crosswalks. It is not just blind pedestrians, though they are more
>>> likely to get in the papers. Hundred of pedestrians get hit by
>>> vehicles while crossing at a crosswalk, and many more get hit while
>>> jaywalking (a no-no, but it happens). There needs to be some kind of
>>> program to enforce the law and force drivers to pay attention to
>>> pedestrians. For one, they need to stop texting, talking on the phone,
>>> reading, eating cereal (I've seen this!), applying makeup, and
>>> browsing the internet while driving. They need to pay attention to the
>>> road and their surroundings, not what is going on in the vehicle. I
>>> think for one, driver's education should be stricter, and all states
>>> should require full driver's education classes before taking the test.
>>> Here in North Carolina, driver's education is not mandatory, and I
>>> think this is part of the reason there are so many horrid drivers in
>>> North Carolina.
>>> 
>>> Ok, rant over. Back to your friendly chat.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 10/6/10, Ginger Kutsch <gingerKutsch at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>> Blind man struck, dog killed this morning in Burlco
>>>> CourierPostOnline.com . October 6, 2010
>>>> http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20101006/NEWS01/10100605
>>>> 9/Blind-man-struck-dog-killed-this-morning-in-Burlco
>>>> A blind Moorestown man and his guide dog were struck by a vehicle
>>>> while crossing a township street this morning.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Gordon Parks, 68, of New Albany Road, was crossing Camden Avenue
>>>> with his guide dog Wendy about 9:30 a.m. when they were struck by
>>>> an eastbound pickup driven by Tabernacle resident Wayne T.
>>>> Morris, 72, police said.
>>>> 
>>>> The dog, Wendy, was killed by the impact and Parks, who was
>>>> wearing an orange reflective vest, was thrown into the westbound
>>>> lane of Camden Avenue, police said.
>>>> 
>>>> Parks was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden,
>>>> police said. Park's condition was not immediately available. N
>>>> 
>>>> No charges have been filed in relation to the accident, which
>>>> remains under investigation.
>>>> 
>>>> Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact
>>>> Sgt. Randy Pugh or Patrolman George Hubel at (856) 914-3045.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> ~Jewel
>>> Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
>>> Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
> -- 
> ~Jewel
> Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
> Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
> 
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