Looks like someone at wastatepatrol finally figured this out. It's always been illegal for pedestrians to be on the freeway for a really good reason.
https://heavy.com/news/2020/07/dawit-kelete/After the tragedy, the State Patrol announced it wasn’t letting protesters on the freeway, writing, “The @wastatepatrol will not be allowing protesters to enter I-5. For the safety of all citizens including protesters and motorists, pedestrians walking on the freeway will be arrested.”
In the P-F basket of deplorables.
I wonder what the first clue was...
There's nothing civil about this war.
Probably when an attorney told them what they were doing was a yuge legal liability for the state. By closing a freeway the state is signaling to the public that the freeway is being made safe for them and they, being the legal authority here, are taking responsibility for pedestrians safety in an otherwise unsafe place.
It won't surprise when Kelete uses the I was confused and disoriented as a defense. I don't think he was but how is someone to know for sure that he wasn't? Someone on a jury can't possibly know that unless some evidence is presented that he wasn't.
Plus the WSP is going to be sued for creating the environment where pedestrians were allowed to be on the freeway, especially at night. That was an administrative train wreck that won't go unnoticed when the WSP has to pay out a few million after the law suits all get settled.
In the P-F basket of deplorables.
I certainly hope the survivor of the incident sues the ever living crap out if the state/city whoever was involved with making a decision that set up a dangerous protest area, then failed to protect it or whatever legal beagle word smithing is required.
I’d even love it if the driver sued for the emotional trauma the city/state whatever caused him with the totality negligent attempt at keeping protestors and drivers safe.
I can tell you from my experience that one will be a slam dunk for a quick million or two from the state. Especially given that a liberal judge will probably determine the settlement. The state is so f'd here and they know it. I've been involved in a few of these and the outcome was never good for us.
Last edited by Borderland; 07-06-2020 at 04:05 PM.
In the P-F basket of deplorables.