July 24, 2008
Novak Run-In a Serious Matter
There was plenty of snickering in the media yesterday about Robert Novak's very literal run-in with a pedestrian. Heck, we snickered ourselves silly, and even Jon Stewart couldn't resist making jokes — "You know what Washington needs? More vigilante bicyclists!" (see video above).
As we mentioned earlier, today WJLA is reporting that the victim of Novak's negligence might be worse off than originally thought:
The victim, a 66-year-old Don Lilkinquist, appeared somewhat incoherent, said the source who had seen the victim. The man appeared to have casts on his neck and back. The victim was X-rayed and a surgical team plans to evaluate him, the source said.Additionally, the cyclist who flagged Novak down about a block away from the incident claims that the man who was struck rolled off of Novak's windshield, calling into question the conservative commentator's claim that he didn't even know he had hit someone.
Beyond the possibility that Novak may have tried to flee the scene of a more serious accident than originally reported, we're a little miffed that he was only given a $50 ticket for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a walkway. That's the District's standard, but it starts seeming awfully low when you consider that many parking D.C. tickets start at $30 and that Arlington County charges up to 10 times the amount for the same offense. The D.C. Council has been debating raising the fines since late last year, but not much movement has been seen on that front.
So what will come of the Prince of Darkness and his pedestrian problem? Since Novak writes about pretty much anything -- including things that are classified -- maybe he can write a column about what happened.
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i am more than willing to take up jon stewart's call for more vigilante cyclists here in DC. consider me a recruit!
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I'm gonna throw a thought out here, as much as I enjoy seeing Novak in trouble, but does anyone know what the standard procedure is for investigating these sort of incidents? I mean, if a guy goes a block and then comes back, is it still considered "hit & run"? Is it normal for MPD to give the failure to yield to a pedestrian ticket at the scene, and then do follow up investigation (after all, might help if they can talk to the guy in the hospital first) ... and then file charges? Or would they normally just arrest the guy at the scene, where there was a witness? I just haven't really seen any of that explained.
Maybe they can just junkpunch him at the scene?
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I can believe that a $50 ticket is appropriate for "failing to yield." Every time you don't stop for a pedestrian at a crosswalk, something that happens a thousand times a day in DC, that's failure to yield.
But when you actually HIT someone (not just fail to yield) there should be a more serious charge. Not stopping for a pedestrian is NOT the same thing as running one over, much like reckless endangerment is not the same thing as manslaughter.
Finally, anyone who doesn't notice that they've hit a pedestrian should have their license revoked immediately. The man is either a bald-faced liar, or physically unfit to operate a motor vehicle. Either way it's offensive that no other charges are being filed against him.
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In response to MikeB's question:
He failed to report the accident.
He left the scene of the accident.
He failed to yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk.
He struck and injured the person with his vehicle.
I seems to me that there is a crime in there somewhere, one for which MPD standard procedure dictates a little more scrutiny of the perp than the 10 minute catch & release treatment Novak got.
I wonder what a drug test would've turned up.
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"I wonder what a drug test would've turned up."
Probably Viagra.
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bikerbikerbiker: That's sort of my point. I'm asking that given these various things - he left, he came back, he didn't yield, he injured the guy -- what exactly is supposed to be standard procedure. Is it give a minor ticket first, investigate more and then arrest later? Is it, arrest right away? Has MPD said anything publicly on this?
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Post update now says victim is 86 years old, not 66.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/24/AR2008072402099.html?hpid=moreheadlines
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Checkpoints on K Street, beginning tonight!
"Sir, I'm going to jump up on your windshield and roll around a little. I want you to let me know when you notice."
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Thanks MPD for trying to curry favor with junkhats like Novak!
The cyclist who stopped Novak is probably why MPD is ticketing cyclists now. Can't have civilian doing the job they refuse to do.
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How did all these people get to the scene yesterday (there's footage of Novak in the cop car) and not take a picture of his car???
There's got to be make-or-break damage on the car. If the guy rolled up the hood, it's going to leave a mark on the car, particularly the windshield.
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WMAL Radio in Washington tracked down the elderly man who was struck - and he seemed incredulous to learn that it was BOB NOVAK who hit him. The entire interview can be heard at:
http://www.630wmal.com/Article.asp?id=807132