Crosswalk death may bring charges

From Staff Reports
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 | 8 comment(s)

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The Coos County District Attorney said he is awaiting reports from law enforcement before he will decide whether to criminally charge a Coos Bay man in a Sept. 17 pedestrian vs. vehicle crash that killed a French man. 

Michel Bernard, 71, and Marie-Therese Pradel, both of France had been crossing at Sherman and Virginia avenues that day, when a Toyota 4Runner, driven by 24-year-old Jared Bechtel, struck them. Medics airlifted Bernard to Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland, where he died from complications of blunt force head injuries.

Pradel suffered only minor injuries.

North Bend Police Chief Steve Scibelli said Monday that his office is waiting for word from District Attorney R. Paul Frasier.

“That case has been referred to the DA for an evaluation to see if there’s some charge that would be levied that would be higher than the citation,” Scibelli said. “We’re waiting for their review, and then once we get their advice and counsel, we’ll take the other appropriate action.”

Bechtel has not been cited, and Frasier said he doesn’t know if he’ll face any criminal charges because he simply doesn’t have all of the information. He noted that one key document he needs is a crash reconstruction report from the Coos County Crash Team, which conducted the investigation.
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Dragonman wrote on Oct 15, 2009 10:18 PM:

KIKIlongbean, Yep I know what happened. This French couple was crossing the street and a guy ran over dude now he's dead.

kikilongbean wrote on Oct 12, 2009 8:46 AM:

I agree - let due process take its course, but does anyone know what really happened?

duckpower wrote on Oct 7, 2009 3:07 PM:

Now that is the most sensible comment I have read so far concerning this matter.Lets let "due process" run the course. There may be other factors that need to be explored. Do not convict the young man before evaluating all the facts thoroughly.

Now Listen wrote on Oct 7, 2009 2:03 PM:

You should not judge until you know the the whole situation. Have you ever hear the saying "Innocent until PROVEN guilty". Let's let the police do their job before we throw stones!!!

Now Listen wrote on Oct 7, 2009 1:59 PM:

You should not speak so harshly until you know the whole situation. Have you ever hear the saying "Innocent until PROVEN guilty"?

coquillian wrote on Oct 7, 2009 10:53 AM:

You guys don't have a clue. They can cite immediately, but if other greater charges are brought the citations would be dropped and the higher charges would be pursued. And a reconstruction, why would you question that? Maybe those people stepped out between two cars, maybe the sun blinded someone, maybe just maybe a thorough investigation is in order. And MAYBE just as in the death of Mr. Farr, it was an accident. Nothing intentional.

themom wrote on Oct 6, 2009 2:04 PM:

Un-freaking-believable! They need a "crash reconstruction report"? Do they honestly think that 71 year old Michel Bernard intentionally DARTED out in front of that Toyota 4Runner? Did he intentionally drag Marie-Therese Pradel into it's path also?

CB Lifer wrote on Oct 6, 2009 12:10 PM:

Why would this young man NOT be cited at bare minimum, if not have much more severe charges brought against him? This man is dead, his wife and family have no more chances to be with him! Why, why, why would he not be charged? In fact, why hasn't he been charged with anything already? Simple things in the county send you to prison, and Major crimes = killing someone = not even a slap on the wrist. I don't get it. Negligent at least...


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