R.I.P--SHOOTINIRON--James Ruman

[Warthog]

Just an update.

The driver of the semi was convicted of negligent homicide back in March. She was sentenced to 60 days in jail and 2 years probation.

http://m.sltrib.com/sltrib/mobile3/56011368-219/yates-skordas-ruman-accident.html.csp

Woman gets jail time for 2011 fatal Cedar City crash Courts » She was driving truck that hit vehicle, killing man.

By Jessica Miller
The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Mar 15 2013 01:34 pm
Last Updated Mar 19 2013 01:44 pm

A 51-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to negligent homicide for causing a 2011 fatal crash in Iron County will spend 60 days in jail.

Shari Yates was charged in 5th District Court with negligent homicide, a class A misdemeanor, in November 2011 — five months after the July 1 accident that killed 50-year-old James D. Ruman, of St. George.

Yates pleaded guilty in December. On Tuesday, Judge Jeffrey Wilcox sentenced her to 60 days in the Iron County jail and 24 months probation. As part of her probation, the judge ordered Yates to adhere to a strict curfew, maintain full-time employment and write a letter of explanation to Ruman’s family.

According to her attorney, Greg Skordas, Yates was driving a semitrailer truck north on Interstate 15 near Cedar City when she came up behind Ruman at a high rate of speed and rear-ended him. Ruman was driving a surplus military vehicle in the right lane and was "not going very fast," Skordas said.

Skordas said there was no evidence that Yates was distracted or that there was poor visibility at the time of the crash.
"There was no evidence of impairment of alcohol or drugs," he said Friday. "There was no evidence of cellphone texting or distraction. But, on the other hand, she was unable to explain her conduct."

Skordas said witnesses described Yates as going "pretty fast" before the collision, but exact speeds for Ruman’s vehicle and Yate’s truck could not be determined. Skordas, however, said Yates was likely going at least 20 to 30 mph faster than Ruman.

A van travelling in the left lane of traffic also was also involved in the accident, but no one in the van was seriously injured, Skordas said.
jmiller@sltrib.com
Twitter: @jm_miller

 

[doghead]

60 days for a life, makes me sick.

 

[clinto]

60 days for a life, makes me sick.

So disgusting, just repulsive.

She would have gotten 100 times longer a sentence for smoking a little weed, but killing a guy in a gruesome and obscenely negligent way? Oh, just a few weeks.

 

[wheelspinner]

60 days for a life, makes me sick.

I can't even understand how that "judge" can sleep at night. Truly unbelievable......

 

[The King Machine]

Cheri,

It's been a couple years since his passing, and I never knew him but you should know that I understand he was a great man and is missed by many. Having lost a loved one I know the pain never goes away. His memory is still alive even in the minds of people like me the ones that never knew him.
It's the sound of their voice I find the hardest, yet the most soothing.

RIP and you take care

 

[Durango_USMC]

I can't even understand how that "judge" can sleep at night. Truly unbelievable......

Id like to say its unbelievable but sadly its completely and totally 100% believable to me. I dont know how a lot of people sleep at night.

 

[CARNAC]

I wonder what would have happened if someone in a deuce had killed someone?

Dreadful crash that I think of often.

 

[m16ty]

The truck driver and/or the trucking company could still get hit with a civil suit.

After reading the article, it almost sounds like they think deuce driver was partially at fault for going so slow. They don't come out and say it but they mention a couple of times that he was going "slow".

 

[swbradley1]

The accident came up in a thread yesterday. It's a shameful sentence.


I think about it when I get on the interstate, even in my 5-ton. 20,000lbs is still no match for 80,000 coming up behind you.

 

[cj8scrambler]

Unbelievable. I've seen shoplifters get harsher sentences.

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

When I first noticed the revival of this thread yesterday and the initial reactions to the sentencing, I took pause and "bit my tongue" before posting my own thoughts and reactions.

To sum up:
I pray for the driver, her peace and "survival" following what surely must be the life-changing consequences of her operation of a heavy motor-vehicle. I pray a lesson learned by not only this one, but for everyone impacted as a first-person, second-person, or just a media-absorbing bystander. Motor vehicle operation is NOT CHILD'S PLAY! We have the power of life and death at our fingertips. I PRAY that we all act responsibly. AMEN.

I do not ignore, but simply choose not to comment on or criticize the legal decisions or outcomes related to this matter. I can add nothing constructive.

I wonder what would have happened if someone in a deuce had killed someone?

Dreadful crash that I think of often.

There HAVE been threads and discussions of actual incidents involving civilian owned (some SS members) MVs involved in other fatal collisions and rolllovers. If you look, you can find the threads, brother CARNAC. The fallout of such is never pretty, and always life-changing for the survivors.

The truck driver and/or the trucking company could still get hit with a civil suit.

After reading the article, it almost sounds like they think deuce driver was partially at fault for going so slow. They don't come out and say it but they mention a couple of times that he was going "slow".

For those "tuning in late", I strongly suggest that reading this ENTIRE THREAD from its first post to present in order to clear up any faulty perspectives or irrelevant assumptions. Let's remember - the media seldom gets all the details recorded or reported accurately.

Specifically, as I recall, this fatality was at least in part the result of our Member, the driver of the MV, intentionally doing some serious "collision avoidance" in an attempt to prevent further collateral damage and mayhem with other nearby vehicles. PLEASE UNDERSTAND: This cost him his life that others might live. Let us do him NO dishonor here.

Thank you.

Carry on.

 

[Petesos]

Hi All
Reading this post saddens me so much , I never new him personally and being over here in the UK would never had met him , But like most folk on this site he would have served his country well and would have laid his life on the line if asked .
And I hold my head in my hands and ask myself WHY/HOW/. As many of you may have heard about recent events here in the UK and not only the recent events but past ones too , And it appears to me that life has little value , little virtue , and little meaning to some of the folk we entrust to lay down justice in the right proportions.
Not so long ago a similar event happened to a good friend of mine , he lost his life to and the perpetrator got a fine and a slap on the wrist sentence.
How sad , How very sad
All I can say is you will never be forgotten Sir
Rest in Peace
Pete

 

[stampy]

Honorable men think of others first and themselves second. Sounds like she is not honorable. Sad we lost one of our own, but glad that he chose to save others. He is a hero to those people. The lack of "justice" in our justice system never ceases to amaze me. God bless you all and drive safe out there.

 

[The King Machine]

Honorable men think of others first and themselves second. Sounds like she is not honorable. Sad we lost one of our own, but glad that he chose to save others. He is a hero to those people. The lack of "justice" in our justice system never ceases to amaze me. God bless you all and drive safe out there.

Lack of justice? come to Canada and check out how we do things. Just bring the barf bucket cause it will make you sick. The criminal here has more rights than the every day joe.

 

[Dave Kay]

A sad ending to a tragic incident, because many here interacted with and knew Jim personally. That seems to hurt for always. And it may further sadden some hearts to know that the negligence by this 'professional' truck driver is, by our laws, seemingly, lightly punished. But this person's life is changed forever. For those of us who do, prayers for this driver are in order.

Yet to me, the most disturbing fact that a glaring spotlight should be shed upon is that statistically, over 30,000 men, women and children are killed on our nations roadways every single year. I'll wager that there is hardly a person here that doesn't know at least SOMEONE in their extended family who has lost a loved one in an auto related accident. And of course the causes are varied and many but to this I ask: Why do we as a society tolerate this? Do we?

And I digress...

 

[m16ty]

Specifically, as I recall, this fatality was at least in part the result of our Member, the driver of the MV, intentionally doing some serious "collision avoidance" in an attempt to prevent further collateral damage and mayhem with other nearby vehicles. PLEASE UNDERSTAND: This cost him his life that others might live. Let us do him NO dishonor here.

Thank you.

Carry on.

Please let me clear up my post. I meant no disrespect and was in no way laying any fault on Shootiniron. I was just saying that the article seemed to lean that way from the way it was written.

I've read this thread from the beginning and know what happened. I was just commenting on the way the article was written, right or wrong.

 

[caliber1]

60 days for a life, makes me sick.

Exactly, which worries me about my trip north. What a waste.

 

[stampy]

M16ty I don't think anyone took it that you were blaming shootiniron. I didn't. My comment was more grateful that he tried to save others.

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

Please let me clear up my post. I meant no disrespect and was in no way laying any fault on Shootiniron. I was just saying that the article seemed to lean that way from the way it was written.

I've read this thread from the beginning and know what happened. I was just commenting on the way the article was written, right or wrong.

Your post was quite clear, and you need not feel any reservations to revise it.
The paragraph you quoted from my subsequent post was not directed to you, sir, but to the thread participant body as a whole.

We can easily be drawn in to the vortext by the words chosen by the media. While "they" seemed to emphasize the slow movement of the vehicle, I simply thought it prudent to encourage "our troops" to read what's been made public here in the forum before jumping into commentary.

Thank you to ALL of our Steel Soldiers for you care and compassion toward everyone involved. Especially to the family of our Member (who just might still be recieving updates on this thread and reading its content). I again encourage your caution in any comments posted.

John aka: Chappy

Carry on.

 

[M35A2-AZ]

I think of him each time I get in one of my trucks, he is missed for sure!!!!