Georgia: Don't Punish Pedestrians for Driver's Mistakes!
- by: Care2.com
- recipient: Georgia Governor Nathan Deal
Raquel Nelson is convicted of homicide by vehicle in the second degree in the death of her 4 year-old son, just for trying to help him cross a notoriously dangerous street in Marietta, Georgia.
Raquel and her three children were crossing the street when they were struck by Jerry L. Guy, a driver with a record of hit-and-runs. Jerry, who admitted to having "a little" alcohol before getting into his car, served 6 months in jail. Raquel, who will be sentenced on July 26, faces up to 3 years in prison.
Marietta is ranked 11th in the nation for dangerousness to pedestrians, meaning that Raquel had little other choice than to brave the streets with her children. Pedestrians have rights as well as drivers, and should never be punished because of someone else's negligence.
Demand that Raquel's homicide conviction be overturned and make sure she does not serve time for simply crossing the street.
(Your Comments Here)
In rough economic times such as these, the public should not be punished for walking instead of driving to their destinations. Raquel Nelson and her children were only trying to cross the street when they were the victims of a tragic hit-and-run that took her 4 year old son's life. Now, the lives of she and her daughters are at stake as she faces up to 3 years in prison after being charged of homicide by vehicle in the second degree.
Raquel, her daughters and her son were the victims of a man with a record of hit-and-run incidences, including one on the very same street they were hit. He has also admitted to having alcohol and pain medicine in his system.
The state of Georgia should be ashamed of punishing a mother for crossing the street instead of the intoxicated man who struck them with his car and then left.
I demand that you uphold pedestrians rights and overturn the conviction of Raquel Nelson in her son's death. Make sure that she does not pay for someone else's crime and that her family is caused no more pain in these difficult times by having their mother taken from them.
