Letters to the Editor

To The Editor,

The Utah Highway Patrol should issue an apology for the speculation that Lt. Doug McCleve made in the Tribune [Sept. 30] that had Evan Parker survived the horrific van accident in Tremonton that killed 9 he might have been charged with negligent homicide. I cannot understand how with so many variables, many unascertainable and unquantifiable, the UHP can conclusively determine the van was traveling at 95-100 MPH. These conclusions have been made even though the only eyewitnesses to the event have yet to speak. There were two other certified drivers in that van and we don’t even know for certain the Parker was the driver. In addition, the UHP made an early conclusion that no one was wearing seat belts. Now, as more information has surfaced – information that the UHP did not seek nor consider – it appears that at least the two surviving victims were wearing seatbelts. This has been manifest by the seatbelt burns across their chest. But let us assume for just a moment that Parker was the driver and the van was traveling at the speed the UHP speculates. Even if that is true, the UHP went beyond issuing facts and rendered a judgment – a posthumous indictment. Stating the speed of the van is fine, speculating that Parker would have been charged with negligent homocide is not. If Parker had lived this might be fair. He could answer the charge of negligent homocide. The matter could be cleared in court. But tragically, Parker is no longer with us. He cannot answer the charges of Lt. McCleve. The matter will most likely never be cleared in court and Lt. McCleve’s posthumous indictment, if left unchecked and unretracted, has the potential to unfairly convict Parker. Lt. McCleve’s speculations were unprofessional, unnecessary, unfair and inconsiderate to the families of the deceased. Shame on the Utah Highway Patrol.

Thomas Grover