17-year-old runs out into highway, hit by car
Witness says incident one of most ‘disturbing’ things she’s seen
A 17-year-old Auburn teen escaped with minor injuries after she reportedly ran out into Highway 49 traffic and was hit by a vehicle late Wednesday night. The teen, whose name was not released because she is a minor, was hit at about 10 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 49 and Elm Avenue, according to Capt. John Ruffcorn with the Auburn Police Department. “The investigation revealed that the pedestrian was near the curb and suddenly ran out into the street and got hit by a car traveling approximately 10 miles per hour,” Ruffcorn said Thursday. “It appeared that she had been drinking alcoholic beverages,” Ruffcorn said. But he could not say whether or not that was the cause of the collision. Ruffcorn said authorities concluded that the minor was responsible for the accident and did not cite the driver of the vehicle. The minor was transported to Sutter Roseville Hospital to treat contusions and lacerations to her head, Ruffcorn said. She was not arrested, according to Ruffcorn.
Witness account Debbie Grant was riding home with her family from an all-star baseball game in Rocklin when they were stopped at the intersection. While waiting for the light to change, Grant said she, her husband and her two children watched as the young girl ran out in front of the cars ahead of them and then into the path of the vehicle that hit her. “He knocked her up off the ground and he wasn’t going that fast,” Grant said. “It was one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever seen.” Grant, a Grass Valley resident, said the family pulled off to the side of the road and she used their vehicle’s OnStar system to call the police. She described the incident as “bizarre” as she watched another man try to pull the young woman away from the scene. “I yelled out the window, ‘She’s injured, don’t move her!’” Grant recalled. She said the driver of the vehicle stopped them and told them to wait until police arrived. Grant said it was an “eye-opening” experience, especially for her 15-year-old son. “It was a good lesson for my kids,” Grant said. “I tell them anything can happen anytime so you always have to pay attention, especially since my son is going to be driving really soon. It was definitely an eye-opener for him.” Grant said she had to return to Rocklin again Thursday night. “I think I’m going to avoid that intersection,” she said. The Journal's Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment.
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Stupid is as stupid does, im glad she wasnt hurt badly...and I hope the driver that hit her was not traumatized..
I too am happy to hear that she wasn't injured more than apparently she was. I would also like to know why law breakers (if in fact she had been drinking) cannot be listed in the paper. The Journal states that it is due to the fact that she is a juvenile. In many areas juveniles who commit crimes are named in the local paper. Perhaps there's a law preventing it here...what with it being California.
I too agree that just because someone is a juvenile they shouldn't be named in the paper.. If they are so tough that they can be in public alone, under the influence, then they deserve something written up. So hopefully it won't happen again. Catch them while they are young, instead of waiting till it's too late to do something about. I would not have liked being notified about my daughter if that would of happened to her. I do feel for the parents..
I disagree with some of the above comments... juveniles should not have their names posted in the paper. If they're habitual criminals they're will be time to see them in the paper as adults, especially if drugs or alcohol are in their lives. Otherwise... let their parents deal with them.
Saladin: Of course you're correct. Juveniles aren't named for a reason. We protect children in our society--unless the naysayers are prepared to give children the power of consent, their identities will continue to be RIGHTFULLY protected. Teenagers who are accused of horrendous crimes can be prosecuted as adults in which case their identities become public knowledge. Petty crimes such as underage drinking don't even begin to rise to that level.
So let's stop with the erroneous assumption that this girl's identity should be made public.
Steelybob,
Some people need to be protected, I agree. I suppose I should have gone on with my comment. The Auburn Journal has no problem posting the names of adults who are 'suspected' of a crime. Imagine the devestation of a bogus child molest claim on an adult. I think good for one segment, good for all. If a juvenile is out commiting a crime, and it's proven, why are we so inclined to protect that person?
"We protect children in our society," Certainly we do, from harm, undue influence, drugs (we hope) and aggressive persons who would cause them injury. But, when they choose to engage in crime, I'm all for letting the public know...when convicted.
Give me one good reason why you need to know her name. Because adults have their name posted is not a good reason. It has nothing to do with knowing who she is for your protection, you do not need to know the name of this underage girl who was drinking. I'm betting it has more to do with the desire to gossip than anything else. Also, the assertion that posting her name and being in the paper will prevent her from doing it again is absurd. Hello, she was hit by a car and pretty banged up, somehow I think if that isn't a wake up call than not much will be. There will be plenty of consequences and publicly shaming her in the paper for your enjoyment would probably make it WORSE for her, not better, so please don't make it out to be for her own good, because it wouldn't be.
kittyv: Exactly, the only reason someone would want this girl's name published is the same reason people browse through those rags while waiting in the checkout line.
I don't NEED to know her name. I asked a question, and stated my feelings about the issue. Also, no one has addressed the point I made about accused adults having their names printed. That's all...and kittyv, where have you read in either of my posts that it would be for her own good?
steelybob? What the heck? That is one l o n g stretch. I haven't said that I wanted her name published, I asked why it cannot be. You've all responded as to why it shouldn't be.
cgslane: I realized what you are saying--your not one of those who want names published just for pure curiosity. I don't believe even adult suspects' names & pics should be published until conviction--mainly because newspapers love publishing that stuff, but never think it's important enough to publish follow-ups when that someone is found not guilty or charges are dropped.
cgslane, that part wasn't directed at you, it was to another poster. Sorry, sometimes I don't specify, my bad.
As for your question, absolutely, state your feelings, never meant to imply otherwise. Of course, if I disagree, I will do the same. If you feel it is wrong to do to an adult, then why would you want to do it to a minor? Steelybob addressed your question in his post above mine as well as in his 7/4 10:14am post, of why it can't be and why it shouldn't be. I understand the point you are trying to make about adults names being printed, but you also said, in part, "If a juvenile is out commiting a crime, and it's proven, why are we so inclined to protect that person?" That would imply you want a juvenile's name printed. Hence, my response.