DEC 1, 2011: I just found out from the Cheshire CT Public (I hate the word public and the word count-one slip and it turns into something else)-anyway, I just found out from the DPW that the branch cleanup from Winter Storm Alfred is continuing. The DPW is now on Section Two-going into Section Three-which is near the Correctional Center. The cleanup should be completed by Christmas.
I asked what section the DPW did first-of course they did Section One near North Brooksvale Road. (Isn’t that where the Town Manager lives?). Of COURSE THEY DID SECTION ONE FIRST! DUH!
A few readers asked about Thomas Dolby. From time to time I run his music videos as I am doing at the moment. Thomas Dolby is 56 years old now. Besides his music-he is famous for one other invention-ALL OF YOU USE THIS EVERY DAY.
In the 1990s, Dolby re-created himself as a digital-musical entrepreneur, founding Beatnik, which developed the polyphonic ringtone software used in more than half a billion cell phones.
A friend told me she noticed in the Cheshire CT Herald that the Town is looking for a Town Historian. This is a two-year volunteer position. She told me I should apply. Maybe I will. I know I am not here all the time, but I could probably do it. I am running my project “Cheshire: Then and Now” that I did a few years ago. I will think about it.
NOV. 30. 2011- Here is the text of the traffic accident report on the local Cheshire CT resident which occurred on Nov, 19, 2011 at 10:45 a.m. as obtained from the Cheshire CT Police Dept. I am redacting the names.
THE OPERATOR OF TRAFFIC UNIT 1 (TU1) WAS PULLING OUT OF A PRIVATE COMMON DRIVEWAY AT 1074 S. MAIN ST. WHEN HE STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN IN THE ROADWAY. TU1 STATED HE WAS APPROACHING S. MAIN ST FROM THE PRIVATE DRIVEWAY. HE STATED HE LOOKED TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT, HE OBSERVED HEAVY TRAFFIC TRAVELING NORTH ON S. MAIN STREET. WHEN HE LOOKED TO THE RIGHT, HE STATED HE DID NOT SEE ANYONE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK. HE STATED HIS VIEW OF THE SIDEWALK WAS PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED BY A SIGN. AS HE STARTED TO PULL ONTO S. MAIN ST, HE STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN ATTEMPTING TO CROSS THE ENTRANCE TO THE PRIVATE DRIVEWAY FROM THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PRIVATE DRIVEWAY. HE CONTINUED TO STATE THAT THE PEDESTRIAN WALKED INTO HIS VEHICLE, NOT THAT HE STRUCK THE PEDESTRIAN.
A WITNESS WHO WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON S. MAIN ST, JUST SOUTH OF THE ENTRANCE TO THE PRIVATE DRIVEWAY AT 1074 S. MAIN ST., STATED HE OBSERVED TU1 APPROACHING THE ENTRANCE TO S. MAIN ST. THE WITNESS STATED HE OBSERVED TU1 LOOK TO THE LEFT, AT ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THEN PROCEED TO START TO PULL ONTO S. MAIN ST. THE WITNESS RELATED THAT HE COULD SEE THE PEDESTRIAN APPROACHING THE PRIVATE DRIVEWAY AND BEGIN TO CROSS THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY TU1. THE WITNESS STATED IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE PEDESTRIAN WAS “PULLED” UNDER TU1.
THE PEDESTRIAN WAS LOCATED APPROX. 5 FT INTO THE DRIVEWAY, IN THE PATH OF THE SIDEWALK AS IT WOULD EXTEND INTO THE DRIVEWAY.
THE AFOREMENTIONED SIGN IS LOCATED JUST EAST OF THE SIDEWALK, APPROX. 4 FT OFF THE GROUND AND MEASURES APPROX 15 INCHES BY 6 FEET.
TU1 WAS MOVED BY THE OPERATOR PRIOR TO OFFICERS ARRIVAL ON SCENE.
I did ask the Police Dept. about the diagram. It shows the stick figure (pedestrian) lying where the crosswalk would be-head facing towards S. Main St. The photo I took shows “a square” that is the pedestrian, who is 87 years old, but it shows the location out in the breakdown lane, not in the crosswalk at all.
The police explained they do not do an outline of the victim in the event of a death-that would be inappropriate. So, they outline the top half of the body with a square figure.
If the local resident obtains the police accident report-he should be able to measure (from the catch basin) on S. Main St. “63.8 ft N and 2.1 ft E and this would give him the exact location of the pedestrian after he was hit. The diagram as I stated previously, shows the stick figure “in the sidewalk area” (if the sidewalk were extended across the road-the pedestrian is shown in that area).
The police report does show under “Enforcement Action Taken”—Arrest. (which means he was given a ticket).
I have found all sorts of conflicting information-one site says the pedestrian has to yield to the driver in an unmarked crosswalk-another says motorists have to yield to the pedestrian whether the crosswalk is marked or not.
This website says that usually police don’t issue a report of an accident ON A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY OR ROADWAY. I sort of believe this because years ago, I took my kids to McDonald’s in Meriden CT and I got hit from behind by a motorist IN THE DRIVE THRU. How brain dead was this guy?
The motorist did give me his information-come to find out-the person I was working for at the time knew the owner of the vehicle-this man owned a popular banquet hall in Wallingford, CT, so he paid the damage. BUT, the Meriden CT police did NOT file a report-they said it was private property and they were not obligated to do so. This sounds like the cop who said he wasn’t OBLIGATED to stop at a stop sign in a PRIVATE lot. Hmm!
From the “Answers” website
Typically, a law enforcement agency will not do an accident report on private property. Since you have no documentation, it will be hard for you to pursuit any action. Your sole course of action anyway would be civil or small claims court. Then it is your word against their word. It is a good idea to carry a disposable camera in your car to take photos. Most States require that both parties provide basic information such as name, address and telephone numbers when involved in an accident, whether on private or public property.
Also, I did speak with Mansfield, Mass, population 24,000, Electric Division. They have had their own Electric Division since 1902 so it was not just started. The man I spoke with gave me a name of a local activist who is interested in this issue. I will be e-mailing him later on in the week. Mansfield Mass is located near Foxboro.
I did receive a copy of the local resident’s (Cheshire CT) accident report from the local police records department. I did discuss the report with them. Apparently the pedestrian sustained injuries. All I know is-”Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian” in Connecticut is an infraction and THREE points are assessed on the driver license. I did notice however, the police report NEVER MENTIONED the driver received a ticket for “Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian.” There was also a witness to the accident.
In know the local resident received a ticket-I was there when it was given to him.
In the meantime, here is a video I did a few years ago for the holiday season.
