Driver's citation not warranted in tanker rollover, D.A.'s office says
NEWARK TOWNSHIP — A missing traffic sign means a citation is not appropriate for the driver of an Orfordville Fire Department tanker that rolled over on the way to a May fire, according to the Rock County District Attorney’s Office.
Michael Ponkauskas, 54, Orfordville, was cited for driving too fast for conditions, but the DA’s Office advised the Rock County Sheriff’s Office that the citation was not appropriate because a “turn ahead” sign had been knocked down just before the accident scene.
The sign has been replaced since the accident, according to the sheriff’s office.
The firefighters were traveling south on County H to a fire at 8314 W. St. Lawrence Road on May 5 when the tanker full of water rolled over. The accident happened south of Mill Pond Road where the road makes an 80-degree turn.
Ponkauskas is quoted in an accident report as saying he braked before the curve “but was not soon enough to slow down enough to take the curve safely.”
Ponkauskas was treated at Beloit Memorial Hospital while a passenger, Chad Cleasby, 31, Orfordville, was treated at Rockford Memorial Hospital.
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Jun 6, 2008 at 2:28 p.m.
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I would agree with ChsMkr, most volunteers would be very familiar with the area roads. He was simply going to fast to safely negotiate the curve. The statute involved is used all the time with marked and unmarked curves. One wonders if the same courtesy would be extended, had it been Joe citizen in his pickup truck?
Jun 5, 2008 at 1:35 p.m.
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I was for the driver being cited until finding out about the missing sign. The sign was there for a reason, so accept my apologies...I am glad the citation was removed.
Jun 5, 2008 at 12:50 p.m.
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I never thought the driver should be charged because he was just doing his best to respond to an emergency situation. However my hope is that the DA office just had to make a statement or ruling such as this to fill in some blanks to close a file. Otherwise, it's bogus because these volunteers live in these areas and are very familiar with the roads and where the curves are. They don't need a sign.
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