By David Stoughton Santa Monica
Staff writer Kevin Herrera states, as the Santa Monica Daily Press (SMDP, June 9, page 1) has reported previously, that in a “catastrophic car accident” an elderly man drove through the crowded Farmers Market “avoiding parked cars but hurling pedestrians into the air.”
There are no parked cars at the Farmers Market. It is a posted tow zone, and all parked cars are removed by the city prior to the arrival of the farmers.
In particular, on the day when 10 people lost their lives, there were no parked cars. I ought to know. I was there. Also, though “catastrophic” is certainly an accurate and uncontroversial assessment, I object to the use of the word “accident” as a characterization of what happened. That it was an incident is indisputable. An “accident,” however, is by definition an event lacking in intent or volition. Whether such is the case in the Russell Weller matter is to yet be determined, and will be done in a court of law, not in a newspaper.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 14, 2006. Read the original PDF.