Readers share their anger, acceptance
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By ROD STETZER rod.stetzer@lee.net
Tuesday, May 1, 2007 10:23 AM CDT
They may not have liked it. But many of the readers commenting on the Chippewa Herald’s Web site, Chippewa.com, on Monday said they understood why a jury cleared Michael Kozlowski of charges in the Chi-Hi bus crash case.
Kozlowski was charged with five counts of homicide by negligent operation of a motor vehicle, seven counts of reckless driving causing great bodily harm and 21 misdemeanor counts of causing injury by reckless driving.
The aftermath of the jury’s finding of Kozlowski not guilty of all charges in the Oct. 16, 2005 crash drew many comments, such as this one from a reader using the name of “Think About It” (Readers leaving comments on Chippewa.com do not have to list their real names):
“First of all this was a tragic accident that has affected so many people’s lives. After following the case I think there were poor choices made by a lot of people.
“It seems to me from the testimony that Kozlowski probably was falling asleep behind the wheel.
“I also feel the school district made a poor choice by not demanding that the band stay overnight. What parent wouldn’t send money with their kid to stay overnight after a very long day, safety first.
“The bus company also made poor choices for allowing a man (bus driver) Paul Rasmus to be up without sleep that long and expect him to safely drive the students back to Chippewa Falls. Again, why not stay the night?! What about the mechanical condition of the bus also? Lastly, Paul made a poor choice in not wearing his glasses. Although we will never know, but it may have made a difference. Regarding the defense strategy, like it or not that is why lawyers make $250 per hour to find loopholes.”
Another reader, calling himself Steve, said: “It is sad what happened but wasn’t the bus driver (Paul Rasmus), which I understand was 78 years old, required, as stated on his driver’s license, to be wearing corrective eyeglasses when he was driving, and he was not. A 78- year-old’s reflexes are not the same as a 24 year-old. I applaud the jury for understanding the law and not emotions.”
“Relieved” said: “It was a sad accident and I’m glad the jury saw the truth. My sympathy goes out to those who died.”
But others were upset over the acquittal.
One, called “Former Chippewa resident,” stuck up for Paul Rasmus:
“I can accept the verdict, but what I can’t stomach was the way the attorney for the semi driver attacked repeatedly Mr.Rasmus. This was a man who died in this accident along with those other souls. They went out and ‘recreated this accident’ and to prove what?That driving upon a turned semi that you know is lying in the road should’ve been seen?
“Unfortunately, Mr.Rasmus did not have the luxury of a recreation and the knowledge that this incompetent semidriver had turned his truck.We don’t know what was going through Mr. Rasmus’ mind in his final moments.But maybe, just maybe, he was trying his best to avoid it and saved more lives by his actions.
“Acquitted? Fine, but to trash a man in his death, just to get a not guilty verdict of a 24 year-old inexperienced driver? I am guessing this ‘young’ man will continue to get behind the wheel and continue to party and drive with little sleep in his young life.
“Meanwhile, five people are dead.I don’t know how that attorney is able to sleep at night, putting Mr. Rasmus’ wife and family through the ordeal of pointing fingers at a man who was simply driving home. Shame on him.”
There was this reaction from “Chippewalifer”: “This is a travesty! My condolences go out to the families affected by this. It’s terrible that they should lose, yet again. ”
“Rez” simply said: “What a shame.”
Another, using the name “Reader,” asked about the school district’s decisions leading up to the crash: “I think a review of how the school district picks their charter bus company is in order. Does the school take the time to examine who they are trusting the children with? Why was the Chippewa Trails charter company chosen?”
The acquittal stunned one reader by the name of Katie:
“I don’t care what anyone says,” she wrote.
“This man deserves to serve life in prison . . . A good friend of mine was stuck in a hospital bed for months after the crash. Her college education was put on hold as well as her life in general because of a careless delinquent who shouldn’t have been trusted to drive that semi in the first place!”
But that drew this reaction from a reader calling himself Jeff: “The whole thing was a terrible tragedy. Errors from both sides caused this crash. It is done, let it go. Katie, you have a personal, emotional stake in this, and it is hard for you to be objective. . .
“It’s over. Everyone now needs to work on healing.”
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