A Timely Reminder of Why You Shouldn't Approve the Road Patrol Millage

[XLFD]

This morning, the Mason County Commission approved placing a proposal to request up to .3 of a mill for eight years to provide four additional road patrol deputies to the Mason County Sheriff’s Office on the August ballot.  Yesterday afternoon around 2:00, a car-motorcycle accident happened which illustrated why the sheriff's office has a long way to go in justifying why they deserve any more tax dollars.

Originally there were few details other than the basics of what an observer of the scene might deduce in the original MCP article.  By this morning, an article promising more details in the headline appeared, More details released on Monday motorcycle/car crash, which is reproduced under the accident scene.

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The Mason County Sheriff’s Office has released more details on the car/motorcycle crash that occurred Monday afternoon on US 10 near the Nelson Road intersection.
According to Sheriff Kim Cole, the crash occurred at 2:05 p.m. when Carol Ann Wilson, 77, of Mears was operating a 2009 BMW 328xi westbound on US 10 and attempted a left turn into driveway of the plaza located at 5773 W. US 10. In doing so she turned into the path of an eastbound 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle, driven by Pierre Andre Marcoux, 65, of Ludington.
Marcoux, who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected off the motorcycle and onto the pavement. He sustained serious head injuries as a result and was transported by ambulance to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital and then flown to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, by AeroMed helicopter, for further treatment, Cole said. Wilson received minor injuries.
Neither alcohol, drugs nor speed appear to have played a role in the crash, Cole said.
Responding to the scene were Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Ludington Police Department, Pere Marquette Township Fire Department, Ludington Fire Department, and Life EMS.
The crash remains under investigation.  [End of Article]

The article by the COLDNews explains:  "Her vehicle hit the man's motorcycle, ejecting him, according to the Mason County Sheriff's Office.  The man was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident..."  

These and the other media like Mlive and TV 9&10 who have covered the incident like to focus on the motorcyclist not wearing a helmet when the vehicle turned in front of him, just like Sheriff Cole:  "Marcoux was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, Cole added."  

 

What Marcoux was wearing on his head was irrelevant except to the statistician, riding without a helmet is legal in Michigan.  The MCP photograph clearly shows that the motorcycle ran into the car, the silver BMW piloted by Carol Ann Wilson that recklessly turned into his pathway making the collision unavoidable and likely subjecting him to a life where he won't ever be able to ride his motorcycle again, if he survives. 

The relevant fact is that her negligent action alone caused this needless accident, and yet the sheriff's office, despite all the eyewitnesses and the crash-scene evidence can't even cite the BMW driver for a minor violation or determine that she is at fault and charges are pending based on the ultimate condition of the motorcyclist.  Instead we get the next day (my highlighting included):

"The crash occurred when the driver... attempted to turn left into a business driveway, Cole said. Wilson had allegedly turned into the path of a 2004 Harley Davidson driven by Marcoux who was traveling eastbound on US-10.  Marcoux was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, Cole added."

How many ways can you try to absolve the driver of guilt and paint the victim as the guy who had the nerve to use the highway to ride his motorcycle on, especially without a helmet?  This foolishness will not improve with the hiring of two more road patrol officers trained to think the same way.

[Robert]

They want to hire 4 more officers, one for each shift and an off man. 

If they want to hire more officers go for it but don't do it as a voter approved millage, make room in the budget to do it.  Dump some of the off hand spending and make it happen without reaching further in to my pocket.  I cant afford to "give" more, I budget my income as needed.  I don't walk to the bank and ask for more each time I have a want!!! 

[AQUAMAN]

MCSO budget currently at about $3 Million in Mason County. That's just NOT enough spending yet? Similar sized counties have no where's near this budget, and the man power, but, Cole always can spend more.

[XLFD]

The MCSO/jail annual budget is actually a little under $2 million, when you add the $1.6 million for LPD and $200K for SPD, we spend close to $4 million per year for this county's security forces.  Every single person in Mason County pays about $1400 per year for these guys and gals, and that doesn't include our share of the payments for the $700 million + MSP forces, which pushes it up to the $2000 per capita rate.

This doesn't seem to me to be very cost effective. 

[XLFD]

Kudos to Sheriff Cole and the County Prosecutor for getting some justice for the victim in this situation.  Better late than never, but it looks like the arraignment is taking place nearly four months after the investigation should have been finished.  Why the time lapse? :

LUDINGTON — A 77-year-old Mears woman faces a misdemeanor of “moving violation causing serious impairment” stemming from a crash last May in which a Ludington motorcyclist was seriously injured.
Carol Ann Wilson, of 5215 W. Fox Rd., was arraigned Monday, Sept. 24, in 79th District Court, according to court records.
The car/motorcycle crash occurred May 14, 2018 on US 10 near the Nelson Road intersection in Pere Marquette Township.
Wilson was driving a 2009 BMW westbound on US 10. As she attempted to turn left into a plaza driveway, she turned into the path of an eastbound 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle, driven by 65-year-old Pierre Andre Marcoux, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole.
Marcoux, who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected off the motorcycle and onto the pavement. He sustained serious head injuries and was transported by ambulance to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital and then flown to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, by an AeroMed helicopter, for further treatment, Cole said. Wilson received minor injuries.
Neither alcohol, drugs nor speed appeared to have played a role in the crash, Cole said.
Wilson’s bail was set at $3,500/personal recognizance, and she has permission from the court to leave the state to travel to Arizona.

[AQUAMAN]

How is Marcoux's condition now? And, as for a misdemeanor violation, I think that's light, very light. And able to travel to Az. too? C'mon now, any normal ticket should be for careless/reckless/failure to yield driving imho.

[XLFD]

A misdemeanor is a good start, if it was simple negligence I think a felony may be harder to prosecute.  As for Marcoux, I have looked for an update and could find none; however, I didn't find an obituary either, so that may be good news.  We may hear about his condition as this goes through the court system.