Police find driver sought in Corzine crash, source tells AP

[rocktivity]

Source: CNN.com

CAMDEN, New Jersey (AP) -- ...A state official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said Saturday the driver of a truck involved in the wreck had been found, questioned, and would not be charged.

The official...said the driver, 20, who worked at an Atlantic City casino, didn't realize he had caused the crash and thought he actually avoided an accident.

He was described as a "special needs driver" who may have a mental impairment, the official said...

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/14/corzine.crash.ap/index.html

---

If his "special needs" or possible "mental impairment" caused him to end up driving on the shoulder and not make sure the traffic lane was clear before re-entering it, then taking his license and handing his insurance company the bill is punishment enough.

[Demeter]

1. Unbelieveable

No way in hell that's going to survive even 20 minutes' reflection.

[whistle]

2. Mentally impaired drivers are allowed to get away with causing accidents?

[rocktivity]

3. With a filthy rich governor involved,

Maybe they they feel that going after a special needs driver is bad PR. But his stating that he thought he'd avoided an accident suggests that he knows he did something wrong, which is why I think he should lose his license.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Gman]

13. We don't know anything so it's hard to conclude

he knows he did something wrong. I'd rather reserve judgement and wait to see an interview with whoever interviewed the guy. He very well may think that, however screwed up that is. I've seen some pretty slow people get behind the wheel of a car. Usually they're no danger to anyone.

But the question remains why he passed a car passing another car on a two lane road all the way over on the right shoulder. Perhaps he is that slow? Perhaps he saw something else coming from the other direction looking like a head-on was about to occur? Perhaps he was drunk and aggressive? That's why I'd like to see an interview.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

14. See post 12, the Gov had red lights flashing the kid pulled over.

He was following the law, not just driving on the shoulder of the road.

[SledDriver]

11. Ever drive in NJ?

Believe me, there are a LOT of "special" drivers on the roads.

[rocktivity]

30. It that's a reference to New Jersey drivers not using turn signals

we're VERY protective of our privacy!

:rofl:
rocknation

[bluerum]

24. Hells bells - we have mentally impaired pResident! His rule has been

one huge disaster. He has steered the ship of state headlong into and iceberg and he continues to pat his people on the back for it.

Completely oblivious.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. What is meant by the term?

"Special needs"? Was the person wheelchair bound, and driving with special hand operated brake/accellerator? Was the person missing an arm, and so had a special adapter on his steering wheel? Was he deaf? Was he epileptic?

[Pastiche423]

5. Please do not use the term "wheelchair bound"

We, that use wheelchairs are not bound by ropes, chains or any other apparatus to our chairs. The term is antiquated and offensive. (I am directing this to anyone reading the term, not just you.)

Hand controls are what I believe you are searching for. They are used by people that have no function in their legs.

If the guy was epileptic, he couldn't get a driver's license in most, if not all states.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

18. Sorry for the use of the term

I didn't know it was offensive. Yes, I meant hand controls.

I hope that you read my post about my friend Mikail Davenport, who just finishing handcycling across Texas. He is a polio survivor who works to make sure that Texas maintains and enforces Americans With Disabilities Act. Click on my journal to find out more about him.


Edited to add: I have a friend who has petit mal seizures but still has a driver's license.

[Pastiche423]

19. No problem. Just trying to educate

Maybe your friend (w/PPS ?)lives in a state that doesn't have a law about petit mals.

I have grand mals and I know I can not get a driver's license in California, Oregon and North Carolina as long as the DMV knows about my seizures.

When I 1st learned about my seizures, I cut up my driver's license because I would not have been able to live w/the fact that I could do harm to someone else by having a seizure while driving.

Living w/disabilities sux.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

25. She lives in Texas

as does my friend Mikail (hope you saw the post about his trek). And thanks for the education! Please know that I did not intend to hurt or offend in any way.

[jody]

6. He was a Repug. n/t

[Penndems]

7. What is the latest on Governor Corzine's condition?

I haven't listened to the news today. :shrug:

[mcscajun]

8. He's had necessary follow-up surgery to clean his leg wound.

Doctor Says Governor Is Doing Well After Surgery

CAMDEN, N.J. April 14 — Gov. Jon S. Corzine underwent an hour-long operation on Saturday to clean the leg wound he suffered during a car crash on Thursday, and doctors said he was exhibiting signs of improvement that bolstered their confidence that he had escaped any brain or spinal injury.

-snip-

Mr. Corzine remained in critical but stable condition in the trauma intensive care unit of Cooper University Hospital here after a procedure Dr. Robert F. Ostrum, an orthopedic surgeon, described as “routine and uneventful.” Dr. Ostrum said that Mr. Corzine experienced some bleeding during the surgery, but that that it was not life-threatening and that the governor’s vital signs appeared to be improving.

-snip-

Although the medication has left Mr. Corzine semiconscious, doctors said he had been able to respond to questions about his pain by nodding.

-snip-

Dr. Ross also said that the injuries to Mr. Corzine’s back did not harm his spinal cord or run the risk of any nerve damage. Doctors said he fractured the outer portion of one lower vertebra and had a serious bruise near his spine, but the break occurred on a spot where the bone attached to muscle and was far from the spinal cord.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/nyregion/15surgery.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1176593479-FiT9dbik9h0NskaD5gsK+A

[Penndems]

15. ". . . the injuries to Mr. Corzine’s back did not harm his spinal cord"

Thank God. The Governor is in my prayers.

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

[burrowowl]

9. Anyone know how the state trooper is doing? eom

[rocktivity]

10. Both of Corzine's other passengers had minor injuries and have been released

But then again, they were both wearing their safety belts.

:headbang:
rocknation

[mcscajun]

16. Apparently the trooper asked that no information on him be released

this was quite early in the story.

I think I can find the link...

==================================================
Trooper injured in Corzine accident will go home soon
Posted by The Star-Ledger April 13, 2007 2:35PM
Categories: Corzine crash

State Trooper Robert Rasinksi, who was also injured in the accident with Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday, is doing well and is expected to be released from Cooper University Hospital in Camden later today, Acting Gov. Richard Codey said a few moments ago.

http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/2007/04/corzine_presser.html

==========================================================
The trooper driving the vehicle, Robert Rasinksi, suffered minor injuries but was resting comfortably, Fuentes said.

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/topstories_story_102184419.html

==========================================================
Also injured was Robert Rasinski, the state trooper driving Corzine's Tahoe, who was also treated at Cooper. Officials said Rasinski asked that his injuries not be disclosed.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20070413_Corzine_hurt_in_crash.html

==============
Of course, the trooper was wearing his seat belt.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

12. I looked for the video of the match box cars they used on NBC10

Philly to show the accident but didn't see it. Apparently, the Gov's. vehicle had the red lights flashing so the kid (they didn't show his face, because he wasn't being charged, but they said he was young), pulled off the road, and he swerved a little because the wheels were in a rut. He (the kid)pulled over to the shoulder, and the guy in the left lane pulled over into the kids lane, to let the flashing lights (Gov's vehicle) go by and the kids car swerved a little back onto the road (he over compensated a little too much), and the guy who pulled into the kids lane swerved into the Gov's. vehicle thinking the kid was gonna hit him.

It was probably those ruts to arouse sleepy drivers that they are leaving the road, they at least pull on my car, so I can see how the whole thing went down.

The State Trooper went out of his way to say the kid was shaken, was really a good kid and didn't even think he was involved with the accident because he didn't hit anyone.

As for an update, they said that Corzine was able to answer yes/no questions, but was not really aware of where he was and what was going on. They have to clean his wound again tomorrow, I am not a doctor, but the area of the fractures was large, and they are doing this to prevent any infection.

The doc's., said that the Gov., was doing much better then they expected, they were cautiously optimistic. I think the sternum/rib area, is a worry for possible respiratory problems, but that is possibility not a given.

Edit to add: I wonder what the policy for the Gov's use of the flashing lights is? Can they use them at anytime?

[rocktivity]

17. That explains what he was doing on the shoulder

...Apparently, the Gov's. vehicle had the red lights flashing so the kid...pulled over to the shoulder, and the guy in the left lane pulled over into the kids lane, to let the...(Gov's vehicle) go by and the kids car swerved a little back onto the road (he overcompensated a little too much)...

I'll say he overcompensated! Once on the shoulder, he should have STOPPED and made sure traffic was clear before pulling back onto the right lane. If that's what he said, he's definitely guilty, special needs or not.

:headbang:
rocknation

[I_Make_Mistakes]

22. How do you come to a complete stop when driving 65mph (my

assumption because that was probably the speed limit on the Expressway at that location, and if you aren't doing 65 even in the right lane, you will be headlight flashed and horn blasted here in NJ!), and everyone around you is doing the same speed? If everyone was pulling over to the shoulder to get out of the way, there would be a back up of cars, slowing down, but not stopped on the shoulder and way more accidents. The kid was basically boxed in (surrounded by cars) going 65 easy, there is no where to go!

I was in a similar situation, boxed in, when the guy behind me, was all of a sudden on the shoulder of the road parallel to my car. I was like WTF, and applied a little more gas, remember it was 55mph and there were cars all around me. The next thing I know, the car (now on the shoulder) swerves and completely crosses 2 lanes of traffic and hits the center median. You can't stop! I was not involved in the accident, but cars are swerving every which way trying to avoid the runaway car, and if you stop, you will cause an accident. I didn't have a cell phone at the time, but just went as fast as I could to make sure that I was able to alert someone that was able to make the call.

I wonder why they had the lights on in the first place and just how fast they were moving (Gov's vehicle)?

[brentspeak]

31. A driver shouldn't pull into the shoulder on the highway unless they mean to stop

Until this incident, I've never heard of anyone pulling into the shoulder to make room for lights.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

37. I just got off the phone with the local PD (It's been many yrs since

I took my driver's test and that was in PA), if you DO NOT pullover for either RED or BLUE flashing lights then you are in violation of the traffic law. According to the Police operator, this is universal and required in all states, so, even if you had taken your test in another state, you should have been informed as to this requirement.

Edit to add: see post #36 below as well.

[rocktivity]

33. According the the NYT diagram, at least, the Gov's car was in the LEFT lane

(link) Unless the gov's car was trying to CHANGE lanes instead of trying to clear the left one (in which case it should have signaled), maybe there was no need for him to pull over at all.

:shrug:
rocknation

[davepc]

26. Whenever the Govenor is in transit on the highway, the cherries are flashing

Big black SUV's roaring down the highway.

[FarCenter]

27. What is the legal basis for this?

Is there some enabling legislation in New Jersey that provides for a Governor to exceed the speed limit with emergency lights flashing in the normal course of business, i.e. driving from an Atlantic City mayors conference to a meeting at Drumthwaket with Don Imus and the Rutgers Scarlet Ladies?

[davepc]

28. I don't know if there is any. But i've witneesedd it myself 1st hand

and an acquaintance of mine who is a state trooper told me that as far as he knew, it's standard procedure.

One time I was on the Turnpike and a multi-vehicle convoy came roaring down the road with a few police cruisers out front, 3-4 big black SUV's and a few motorcycle cops in tail.

thing is, two of the SUV's were traveling down the center of the two laid highway. they were blatantly driving with half the vehicle in one land, and half in another.

I figured it must of been either a high level foreign dignitary or the Vice-President (this was on a stretch that leads from New York City to Newark Airport). I know they drive like that for a reason, but as as traveler on the road, to have that coming at you at a high rate of speed and with no warning is seriously disorienting and annoying.

[brentspeak]

32. I haven't read anything stating that the Governor's vehicle was exceeding the speed limit

[Miss Chybil]

20. Will the Governor get a ticket for not having his seat belt on?

Surely his injuries are enough punishment for such an oversight, but it really does make you wonder sometimes.

[Doctor Venmkan]

21. What about the TROOPER that was driving him...?

"Dereliction of duty" maybe...? Yeah, it's the Governor...but I'll bet that that trooper wishes he had insisted that he wear a seatbelt now...:(

[Miss Chybil]

29. Yes, I didn't think of that. Nobody rides with me without their seatbelt on.

If my grandfather had worn his seatbelt back in 1970, I might have had 25 to 30 more years to spend with him.

[brentspeak]

34. The news stories have said that troopers and others have asked Corzine to pull his seatbelt on

but that he usually refuses. Dumb move on his part.

[razzleberry]

23. moving to the shoulder ... correct move?

(my computer doesn't seem to like internet video,
so I have to make some guesses)

why didn't car in right lane slow down,
which would allow 'blocking vehicles' to
get out of the way, by moving
to the now open right lane?

edited for typo

[FarCenter]

36. New Jersey law requires that you pull to the right and stop

See below from the New Jersey Driver's Manual www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/Licenses/Driver%20Manual/Chapter_4.pdf

If you are driving on the Parkway, it is difficult to distinguish between a legitimate Emergency Vehicle and an arrogant politician in a hurry.

"Pulling Over and Stopping for Emergency Vehicles"

""New Jersey law requires all motorists to yield to emergency vehicles sounding sirens or flashing red and/or blue emergency lights. Steer to the extreme right of the roadway and stop. Wait for the emergency vehicle to pass."

[Jack_DeLeon]

35. It seems to me that the driver that actually hit the governor's vehicle is the one that...

cause the crash, not this guy.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

38. But the guy to his right (he pulled over) I believe was straying into

the lane of the driver who crashed into Corzines vehicle (because his tires got stuck in the ruts on the shoulder). I think it was purely and simply an accident, however, it would have never happened without the flashing lights, which is why I asked if the flashing lights were necessary.