VENICE -- In a case that became a
flashpoint in the controversy over regulating senior drivers, a 75-year-old
Venice woman was fined $78 and lost her license for a year for causing a wreck
that killed a motorcyclist and critically injured another last spring in
Nokomis.
Sarasota County Judge Barbara Briggs ruled that Edwina Thompson made an improper
left turn from U.S. 41 toward Nokomis Village Shopping Center on April 6,
pulling in front of the two motorcyclists who were traveling south on U.S. 41.
By law, the judge could have fined
Thompson $1,000 and sent her to driving school. Instead, at the hearing last
Thursday, the judge ordered Thompson to pay the $78 fine and $38 in court costs.
The judge also gave her the option of applying for a limited-use driver's
license.
The wreck led Nokomis resident Charlotte Draganov, a friend of the two victims,
to collect more than 5,000 signatures in a petition urging the Florida
Legislature to pass a law requiring drivers 69 and older to pass agility and
driving tests to renew their licenses.
No legislation has been enacted, but the
number of accidents involving seniors prompted the state to form a commission to
study the problem. The commission's recommendations are expected early next
year.
Thompson said at the hearing that she was "devastated" by the wreck
that killed Charles "Buddy" Potts and critically injured Jesse Arfa.
But she denied she was at fault.
Responding to questions from her attorney, William McGrew, Thompson said she had
no vision problems and had taken AARP's driver refresher courses every three
years.
Representatives from an investigative
company Thompson hired blamed the wreck on the motorcyclists. Henry Courten of
Forensic Engineering Investigations Inc. of Fort Myers said Potts and Arfa were
riding "extremely fast" motorcycles -- Harley-Davidsons -- capable of
going from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. Courten claimed the motorcyclists' speed
and inattention led to the wreck.
Florida Highway Patrol Cpl. Lona Mitchell said her investigation showed the
motorcyclists appeared to be traveling between 17 mph and 32 mph, below the
speed limit of 50 mph, and were not driving erratically.
A witness, Margorie Keen, testified that
she was traveling behind Potts and Arfa for a couple of miles before the wreck.
She said neither motorcyclist was speeding and both were driving safely.
Witnesses described a horrific explosion when the motorcyclists struck
Thompson's 1991 Buick. Potts, 45, was transported by helicopter to Bayfront
Hospital in St. Petersburg, where he was pronounced dead. Arfa recovered and is
living in Clearwater. He could not be reached for comment.
I have several thoughts on this. Knowing both of these riders for many years, I know them both to be very cautious riders. In fact I rode with Jesse the night before the accident. 1)Why would the Judge only fine Mrs Thompson. and take away her license. Instead of mandatory jail time? Since when is a bikers life only worth $116.00. 2) It appears that Forensic Engineering Investigations is the best that money can buy. For them to suggest that Jesse and Buddy were contributing factors due to speed is irresponsible and insulting. The troopers investigation shows that they were not even doing the speed limit. I guess they were contributing by way of being on the road at the same time as Mrs. Thompson. Shame on them for such a misjudgment. I'm sorry to hear that Mrs. Thompson is 'devastated' by the accident. She should be. She took the life of an innocent person and then was slapped on the wrist. Justice failed in this case.