Missouri Bicycle News :: Driver who struck Springfield student in crosswalk was going 55MPH <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blogger.com/static/v1/common/js/82548021-csitaillib.js"></script> <script>if (typeof(window.attachCsiOnload) != 'undefined' && window.attachCsiOnload != null) { window.attachCsiOnload('ext_blogspot'); }</script>

Police have laid charges against a driver who struck and very seriously injured student Kimberly Armstrong as she crossed a crosswalk at Broadway and Kearney on her way to school in September.

The injury is one of a string of Springfield students injured walking or bicycling to school this year.

The Springfield News-Leader reports:

The man who hit a Hillcrest High student with his car Sept. 22 was speeding and has been charged with careless and imprudent driving, according to the Greene County Prosecutor's office.

If convicted, Scott Harper, 28, faces up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Harper's vehicle struck Kimberly Armstrong, who was age 15 at the time, as she crossed the intersection of Kearney Street and Broadway Avenue.

An accident investigator found that Harper was going 55 mph and concluded the accident "would have been avoided entirely" if he had been driving the speed limit.

Very often charges against drivers in cases like this are completely justified--but rarely are they brought by prosecutors, as in this case.

Springfield police are to be congratulated for thoroughly investigating this situation to find the ultimate cause:

Officer James Hinkle concluded Harper was traveling 15 miles above the 40 mph speed limit, and that was a key factor in the collision.

"It is my opinion that this crash is the result of inattention and excessive speed of Mr. Harper," Hinkle wrote in his report.

"If Mr. Harper had seen Ms. Armstrong in the crosswalk when he crested the hill, he would have had time to react to either avoid the accident or reduce his speed substantially.

"Had he been going the speed limit, this collision would have been avoided entirely."

Comments: 3 comments on this article

acline wrote:

12/02/09 12:57pm • 146.7.83.210

What I found interesting: That the family forgives the driver -- a noble and good gesture. But it seems their forgiveness may color their interpretation the nature of the crash -- as an accident. It was not an accident. It was the predictable outcome of this driver's behavior.

More on Carbon Trace: http://isocrates.us/bike/2009/12/of-accidents-and-forgiveness/

Web link: http://isocrates.us/bike/

r wrote:

12/03/09 12:55am • 97.115.17.165

forty is a ridiculous limit on this street anyway

Brent wrote:

12/03/09 10:51pm • 65.70.156.216

"their forgiveness may color their interpretation the nature of the crash"

Also I will say that the girl is very worried about the driver getting a prison sentence.

Given the reality of our legal system, a prison sentence is very, very unlikely.

Most likely is a fine a few hundred dollars and that's about it.

Judges always have the option of jail time for misdemeanors like this but they very, very rarely choose to actually give jail time.

What I would actually like to see in cases like this is some kind of a consequence that will actually affect their driving and perhaps even (heaven forbid!) make them better, safer, more careful drivers.

How about something like mandatory driver training and then going around speaking to community groups about the danger and stupidity of driving too fast?

Related:: News: Spring rash of bicycle-related accidents continues; News: Springfield uses electronic speed boards to slow traffic near schools; News: What will the proposed MO highway safety law do for cyclists? (Part 1); News: "Sharing the road" in Press Journal; News: Safe Routes: MoDOT funds speed reduction measures near schools

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