What? No jail time? Not even a ticket? No lawsuit? Not even one?! No one is blaming anyone? What age do these people think they are living in, an era of civility, responsibility and forgiveness?
The County Sheriff and his good buddy Mr. School Superintendent got hit by a pickup truck and were seriously injured while jogging together. Now these guys have some pull. They could make the driver miserable for rest of his life if they were so inclined. Sheriff McCoy suffered a broken pelvis. Polly has had a bruised pelvis. It hurt like hell. I don't even want to imagine what hot, white blinding pain a broken pelvis would cause. According to McCoy the worst part of the event wasn't the pain. The pelvic injury prevented McCoy from coming to the aid of his friend, Superintendent Tom Kahn, who was lying bleeding and unconscious from a head wound. Got to say, I think I might be a bit bitter.
What about the driver? Mr. Moritz immediately took responsibility. He saw the pain and turmoil he caused but didn't turn and run like a coward. He went straight to the aid of the men saying, "I hit you. I didn't see you." Wow. Unusual these days. Every insurance company instructs their clientele, "Do not take responsibility at the scene of an accident, even if you believe you are at fault." They teach this tactic in Driver's Education courses now. Pathetic.
Nonetheless, Mr. Moritz stands like a man and accepts his role. Me. I did it. I hurt you. I was looking to the left and you were on the right. I am an imperfect human being. Have no doubt Mr. Moritz could have been throwing out excuses left and right. Had it been me, I might have asked, "Why in the heck are you two jogging on a busy street?"
McCoy and Kahn take it on the chin. Actually, on the pelvis and skull to be precise. Are they suing the guy? Nah. It was an
accident. A horrible, terrible, painful
ACCIDENT. What, no demand for a Sidewalk Commission? Nah. Because, you see, it was an
ACCIDENT. Even if there had been sidewalks, accidents will continue to happen.
Well, what about the brightly colored reflective vests the joggers were wearing? Come on, not even one lawsuit against the manufacture of the reflective vests? Surely they could have been louder, brighter, bolder? Sigh. No. Human beings have and will always make mistakes. Even if the pair had been running while carrying a hot pink and day glow green neon billboard which read, "
JOGGERS HERE. PLEASE DON'T HIT US." horrible, terrible accidents will still happen.
Had the driver been using a cell phone at the time of the accident, well, yes, a ticket would be justified. If he had been recklessly speeding, yeah, we would want some penalty for the guy. If he had been drunk or ran away like a sniveling little kid instead of a mature adult, we would be screaming for jail time. But none of those things apply here. It was an unintended act with unforeseen consequences. You know, an
ACCIDENT.
The two injured men? Back at work less than two weeks after the event. What? Not going to take every last morsel of sick/disability time off? What's the rush? Why not take it easy in the barcolounger for a few months? No one would blame you. You've earned it, Guys! Nah. Not the style of real men. Got to get back to work.
McCoy returned to work in a wheelchair wearing pajama bottoms. What a man.
