(Photo: Reed College)
The woman who was driving the car that killed Mark Angeles back in May has been given a traffic citation.
The Portland Police Bureau announced today that the Multnomah County District Attorney has decided to not pursue criminal charges in the case against Jolene Friedow. With their investigation concluded, Ms.Friedow has been issued a ticket for making a dangerous left turn, a violation that carries a maximum fine of $260.
Here’s more from the official statement:
On November 3, 2015, a Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division Fatal Investigator issued a traffic citation to a driver involved in a fatal crash with a bicycle rider in May 2015.
40-year-old Jolene Friedow was issued a traffic citation for Oregon Revised Statue 811.350 (Dangerous Left Turn) as a result of the investigation into the traffic death of 22-year-old Mark Angeles. The violation carries a fine of up to $260.00.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and determined it could not proceed with criminal charges against the driver and supports the issuance of a citation.This investigation started on May 27, 2015, at 12:02 p.m., when East Precinct officers responded to Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and Gladstone Street on the report of a traffic crash involving a bicyclist and a tow truck driver.
Officers and medical personnel arrived and located the bicyclist, Mark Angeles, who suffered fatal injuries.
The North Oregon Towing driver, Jolene Friedow, remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.
Investigators learned that Angeles was riding his bicycle westbound on Southeast Gladstone Street, approaching the intersection with Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard. Friedow was facing eastbound, towing another vehicle, waiting to turn left (northbound) on Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard. Friedow began turning left, and Angeles collided with the passenger side of the tow truck.
Without knowing more details about the DA’s investigation it’s difficult to understand the rationale behind their decision to not pursue more serious charges. However, this case seems to perfectly illustrate the problems we just discussed at our last Wonk Night. There’s a vast gap in Oregon law between a slap-on-the-wrist (traffic ticket) and what it takes for the DA to prove criminal negligence. As we heard from DA Rod Underhill at Wonk Night, this gap is such a significant problem that the DA’s office themselves plans to head to Salem to change the law.
We’ve reached out to the DA’s office and will update this story as soon as we hear back.
UPDATE: 11/9 at 1:27 pm: Please see this post for an update to this story.
— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org