Flint -Two families awaited Monday’s sentencing of the truck driver ruled responsible for an accident claiming three lives this spring.
Matthew Woods, 35, of Grand Blanc pleaded guilty to reckless driving that claimed the lives of Pamela Doyon, 36, Sam Doyon, 11 months, and Sandra Thrasher, 62.
Central District Judge Larry J. Stecco sentenced Woods to two years probation, 1,000 hours of community service, and ordered him not to drive commercially without the court’s approval. Woods was also given one week of jail time following the sentencing.
‘There’s nothing that I can do that’s fair and just,? said Stecco.
Amid a courtroom silent with grief, Stecco listened to the closing statements of assistant prosecutor Randy Petrides, grieving family members George Thrasher of Lake Orion and Robert Doyon of Atlas Township, attorney Stephen Matz, and Woods.
The prosecutors? office considered numerous letters from family members in the case, said Petrides, who recommended the maximum two-year probationary period be given.
‘I want the family to know I’m going to keep these letters, keep them perhaps for the rest of my career.?
‘I do not feel jail time would benefit anybody,? said George Thrasher, husband of the late Sandra Thrasher, who stated he was ‘not impressed with the investigation of the accident,? the extension granted, the plea bargain, or the lack of penalties for not following the Commercial Driver’s License
(CDL) manual.
‘It clearly states the brakes are not to be locked and to steer to the right, take extra care in carrying liquid. Based on this I feel Mr. Woods was negligent in operating the vehicle.?
‘I feel he’s a pretty good guy but I don’t think he should be allowed to drive a truck in the future, I suggest he spend some time at Hurley Trauma Center,? said Thrasher.
?(Woods) was not paying attention to the road ahead,? said Robert Doyon, husband and father of the late Pamela Doyon and Sam Doyon.
‘The accident…resulted in the death of three of my family members and lifelong medical attention of my son.?
‘Ninety days in jail is insignificant compared to the sentence he has given our family.?
‘These are the toughest cases because I have a gentleman standing beside me who did not wake up in the morning saying ‘I’m going to go out and hurt somebody,?? said Matz, Woods? attorney.
‘I want to assure the family my client assumes full responsibility. My client will do whatever this family wants him to do.?
‘I ask for mercy, I ask for compassion.
There’s nothing I can say to help ease your pain,? said Woods in an emotional statement to the family of the victims.
‘Please know that you have been in our thoughts and prayers every day. I hope you understand I did not set out to hurt anyone.
‘I will pray every day for you for the rest of my life and I hope someday you may forgive me.?
‘In a case like this, when it’s time to make that decision, I wish I were someone else,? said Stecco.
‘In this particular case it’s an enormous deal, three wonderful people lost their lives. I’ve had more letters in this case than I’ve ever had, marvelous letters, intelligent letters.?
‘I feel there’s negligence but I don’t feel I can convince a jury,? said Stecco, who agreed there is a need for stronger statutes regarding commercial drivers.
‘If I could do anything that would make these victims feel better, stop these kinds of things from happening in the future, I would do whatever I could. Unfortunately I don’t feel I have the power.
‘I can’t bring back these people, can’t relieve the suffering even if I gave the maximum penalty.
We hope sometimes criminal law is such that punishment will deter other people. That’s not always true,? said Stecco.
‘After work I see every car as a potential missile, (drivers) talking on cell phones, putting on makeup, it’s something you do day in and out and don’t realize the potential danger.
‘I think certainly Mr. Woods understands the danger now,? said Stecco.’I’ve never seen anyone in my courtroom appear to be so devastated, depressed.?
Community service will be carried out in accordance with the family’s wishes, said Stecco, who called the Thanksgiving week jail sentence a ‘token.?
‘I think it may do some good,? he said to Woods. ‘It appears you’re suffering from depression, maybe this will be some form of atonement.?
On April 9, Woods was driving a Ken’s Redi Mix truck’partially loaded with concrete’southbound on M-15 behind a pickup truck driven by Clifford Veit, 65, of Davison, who was attempting to turn left into a driveway.Woods glanced away to notice a car for sale parked near M-15, he told police, realized the pickup was attempting to turn, skidded and steered left into a Chevrolet Venture van driven by Pamela Doyon.
Woods originally was charged with three counts of negligent homicide in the accident.
A jury trial was expected last month but the case was remanded back to district court after Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving, a misdemeanor charge, said Petrides in an October interview with The Citizen.