A Biker’s Life <= $538
Friday, August 24th, 2007 at 8:30 am by retrorider
On June 19 Raquel Cherie Lemos, 24, pulled out into traffic at the intersection of Tieton Drive and 15th Avenue in Yakima, WA. She did this despite being unable to see through the heavy traffic.
Dean Wilson, 41, was riding his Kawasaki motorcycle when Lemos pulled into traffic directly in front of him. Wilson struck Lemos and suffered massive head injuries that led to his death at Harborview Medical Center four days later.
City prosecuters concluded that criminal charges against Lemos were not warranted. Instead she was issued a citation for second-degree negligent driving; an infraction that carries a maximum penalty of $538.
Lemos is scheduled to appear before Judge Susan Woodard on November 13. Not to contest the ticket; she apparently feels that she is guilty. No, Lemos is contesting the fine. As if $538 for a man’s life is too much.
Source: Yakima Herald
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Interesting how that story contrasts to chopper builder Billy Lane’s situation and also how it doesn’t. Lane is rightly being prosecuted with serious charges (and rightly so) for killing the scooter rider but I’ve read that Lane is claiming to be only partly at fault because the guy he took out had some alcohol in his blood too. Seems even some motorcycle guys want to devalue the life of another rider if it’s their own neck on the line.
Prison and new friends named “Ramrod” for all of them!
Doug