Comments on: Aaron Fine and Rosie Shatz

By: karyn

karyn — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:25:41 +0000

First of all the little girl was only ten and did not know any better i knew he personally! she was a sweetheart! secondly i know many people who know the man who hit her and regaurdless of what happened tha day he suffers enough and everyone needs to sto judging him. how you feel if you were in either of the positions… it could happen to anyone. leave your opinions to yourself because you dont know who is reading this.. people love rossie and people love Aaron and neither one of their families should have to read your crude comments!!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:23:07 +0000

He WAS NOT speeding. Please do not post false information.

By: Beth Martinez

Beth Martinez — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:51:59 +0000

She was TEN. It’s up to drivers to be cautious and not fly around corners on populated streets in gigantic trucks. Especially without the proper license. And drivers are expected to slow down around children. She was TEN.

The guy was a POLICE OFFICER and should have known better.

Let me restate. She was TEN. He was speeding. Who cares what side of the road she was on. Her father held her while she died.

By: Peter O

Peter O — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:09:45 +0000

I’m not sure how folks may speculate such about the young girl being in the wrong when you read the following, “He faces charges of motor vehicle homicide, operating a motor vehicle without a license, failure to safely pass a bicyclist and operating at an unsafe speed”.

By: David Traub

David Traub — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:13:42 +0000

I am the press officer for the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, the agency that prosecuted this case.
Your analysis here is based on incorrect initial press statements. The State Police collision reconstruction specialist showed conclusively that the truck and the bicycle were traveling in the same direction. Additionally, the truck was overloaded by several thousand pounds, decreasing the effectiveness of the brakes. And the driver was driving the truck, which required a commercial driver’s license, despite having failed the test for that license. Mr. Fine opted for a bench trial (before a judge without a jury) and was found guilty of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and driving without a license. He is due back in Norfolk Superior Court for sentencing June 25.
Best regards,
David Traub

By: SiteAdmin

SiteAdmin — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:21:18 +0000

In reply to Patsy:
It is very unlikely the driver could have stopped in time. Let’s assume he was going 30 mph and the bicyclist was going 10 mph. So they were closing at 40 mph. That’s one of the problems with wrong-way riding: the closing speed is the sum of the two speeds, rather than the difference.
In addition, it looks from the photo that there may have a been a bend in the road at that spot that may have limited the truck driver’s visibility.

By: patsy

patsy — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:44:48 +0000

a ten year old child in a panic situation. could the driver possibly also have slowed down to a near stop, or stopped to let the child pass.

By: SiteAdmin

SiteAdmin — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:44:41 +0000

Presumably she moved right because she thought it was the best way to avoid the crash. Neither would have moved at all if she had been on the right side (it was a narrow road, but with plenty of room for a truck and bicycle to pass in opposite directions on opposite sides of the road). No matter what you call the “cause” of the crash, it does not seem to be Officer Fine’s negligence.

By: John Allen

John Allen — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:35:25 +0000

As the crash was described in the media and as photos suggest, Rosie Shatz’s swerving out into the road caused the crash. If she had stayed at the side of the road, even though she was riding on the left side, Fine would have passed her safely.

That is, to be sure, assuming that the description of the crash is accurate. The lateral position of the point of impact on the roadway is the crucial issue. Perhaps the police report casts further light on this issue.
Unfortunately, we can never hear Shatz’s description of what she did, or why.