RIP: Prabhdeep Ranahawa, 13, Cyclist
On a local cycling listserv, someone just asked - why haven’t we heard more about this?
A 13-year-old boy was hit by a car and killed yesterday evening while riding his bicycle in Prince William County, police said.
The boy was identified as Prabhdeep Ranahawa of the 13000 block of Thrift Lane in Dale City [Virginia].
The boy was crossing Hoadly Road near Olivewood Drive, less than half a mile from his home, about 6:45 p.m., when the crash occurred, according to Officer Erika M. Hernandez, a spokeswoman for the county police.
She said the boy was hit by a 2003 BMW driven by a 61-year-old Manassas woman.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, the spokeswoman said.
This happened last Wednesday, and yesterday was the first I’d heard about it. As best I can tell, there were only three brief notices about it (at WashingtonPost.com, WTOP.com, and InsideNova.com), all rewrites of the same few sentences. Why did I hear about Alice Swanson within hours, and Prabhdeep just now? There are many reasons, I’m guessing. Some understandable, some outrageous. I don’t know why we don’t know more about what happened. I’m not sure if we ever will. But I didn’t want to let his death go without mention.
James Young says:
Mainly ‘burbs vs. city, I’d guess.
August 5th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
freewheel says:
Do you know whether the motorist was charged?
Re: Alice Swanson. Have you heard any news on that case? Would it be correct to assume that MPD considers the case closed?
August 6th, 2008 at 8:51 am
MB says:
That’s part of it, James. But not mainly, I’d bet.
~
No news anywhere of charges in either case, Freewheel. Last week Eric Gilliand (WABA Exec Dir.) said that the MPD wasn’t even returning his calls on the case. He has said (on the Washington Bike listserv) that WABA’s trying to get more info about Ranahawa’s case.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:55 am
andy says:
my officemate lives next door to that kids family.
he said the lady told the officer she had been drinking, and that the officer let her drive away from the scene (instead of arresting her for dui or for killing someone).
either he didn’t get the story straight or marilyn j freeman is an important lady.
apparently they charged her with reckless or something at some point.
http://www.dcexaminer.com/local/blotter/Woman_61_charged_in_fatal_bike_crash.html
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
andy says:
wow. apparently he was biking on the shoulder of the road, not crossing it.
http://www.individual.com/story.php?story=87477792
for info on the case, go here:
http://epwsgdp1.courts.state.va.us/gdcourts/caseSearch.do?index=index
and search for case # GT08056426-00 in the Prince William County General District court
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:33 pm
MB says:
Thanks very much for that, Andy. Will look further into it and update with a post.
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
dui california (chi) says:
now that is ridiculous to let someone just drive away from the incident especially when they had been drinking. we don’t know the full details though. reckless driving is not bad as a DUI charge so she must of had some good lawyers.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:17 am
andy says:
Seems that killing children with your car is treated just like a DUI, given the 6 month suspension and the $1000 fine. I don’t think she even got any jail time.
In Virginia you can get in more trouble for selling pot than she did for killing someone with her car. Do we really care more about stopping people from smoking weed than we do about stopping people from driving recklessly?
Operator License Suspension Time: 6 Months
Fine: $1,000.00
Operator License Restriction Codes:
License Is Restricted To Use To And From ASAP Meetings , To And From Court Ordered Facility , License Is Restricted To Use For Medically Necessary Travel
October 8th, 2008 at 9:27 am