Staplehurst trucker sentenced to six months for crash
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By The Associated Press
SALINA, Kan. — A truck driver involved in a head-on collision two years ago that killed a Salina woman and her 10-month-old son has been sentenced to six months in jail.
Scott A. Wegrzyn, 40, of Staplehurst, Neb., pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide, avoiding a trial that may have explained whether a prior medical condition caused Wegrzyn to fall asleep at the wheel.
In May 2005, Wegrzyn’s semi crossed the median on Interstate 135 and struck an SUV, killing Amanda Hieronymus, 25, and William Hieronymus, 10 months, as well as critically injuring Amy Keller, also of Salina, and her son, Kolton Keller, 18 months.
“There is a certain degree of mystery in this case,” Saline County District Judge Dan Boyer told Wegrzyn Friday. “Only you know what caused you to lose control of your vehicle.”
In tearful testimony, the victims’ family asked Boyer to sentence Wegrzyn to the maximum of two years in prison.
William Hieronymus II said he remembered his old routine of getting his son ready each morning and how the two would eat cereal and watch television together. He also said he remembered the knock on the door as a state trooper informed him of his wife’s death and that his son was being flown to a Wichita hospital.
By the time he got there, he said, his son was brain dead.
“I try to go through a day without crying,” Hieronymus said. “I wonder every day what (Will) would have grown up to be, what he would have stood for.”
Prosecutors claim that Wegrzyn knew he suffered from sleep apnea, a medical condition that interferes with sleep, causing fatigue and drowsiness, but that he disregarded it.
Amy Hanley, as assistant Saline County attorney, said Wegrzyn couldn’t get a clear commercial driver’s license in 2004 because of his condition. She said driver’s license regulations require medical treatment if the driver’s sleep apnea is scored at 10 or more and Wegrzyn’s condition was rated at 62.
Hanley said after his regular doctor gave him a provisional medical certificate, he went to another doctor.
“He didn’t say a word about his sleep apnea,” she said. “he was doctor-shopping, and he was getting around the rules.”
Wegrzyn’s attorney, Carl Cornwell, presented the court with letters from his client’s acquaintances, attesting to his character. One letter said Wegrzyn had pulled an accident victim from a burning car, saving the person’s life.
“This is not a case involving bad people,” Boyer said.
Boyer sentenced Wegrzyn to two consecutive, one-year jail terms but suspended that in lieu of six months in jail and three years probation.
Wegrzyn showed little emotion during the hearing until asked if he had anything to say, at which point he fought back tears.
“The worst thing is there’s a group of people that’s going to hate me for the rest of my life,” he said. “And I truly am sorry.”
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Doug; I believe that it is inadequate to leave as his punishment whatever internal pain he feels, since that is entirely subjective. In his own words, he thinks the worst thing is that some people will hate HIM. He should have said the worst thing was ending a 10-month old life. If he is a decent person, then yes, he will be punished for the rest of his life. But neither you or I can say for certain how much.
Also, you mentioned "intent." There was no hateful intent, true, and the judge was right to take that into account. But his selfishness was a violation of something nearly as important, responsibility. The moment a man undertakes any action, such as driving a vehicle, he should be responsible for any result of that action (since his was the only vehicle violating the rules of the road, we can say the responsibility is entirely his). What if, for example, you walked down the street, swinging a bat yelling "get out of my way!" Most people would get out of your way, but if you happened to hit somebody you can't then argue you gave due warning and had no hateful intent. Responsibility follows action. The victims here were entirely blameless, and the truck driver was entirely responsible.
If somebody got 6 months for causing the death of my daughter, I would be waiting for them when they got out. "
The government is part to blame because they tell drivers when and when not they can drive. They have no clue when a driver is tired or not. The first doctor should of sent a report to the government. But there is no such system in place.
I too think I suffer from sleep apnea. But in fear of losing my career and livelyhood, I keep it hidden. Even if you are diagnosed and treated, you lose your medical certificate for 6 months. Only a fool would come forward.
I get my rest everyday by sleeping when my body says so. I can assure you I never drive tired and pull over when I do.
With the shortage of drivers and the government trying to keep costs down, they won't crackdown. I'd say 70% of drivers would lose their jobs.
Truth be known, I'd say the driver was sleepy because the shipper wanted the freight delivered in an unrealistic time frame. Many times I am pushed to the limits because because dispatchers, shippers think we are robots and bounce around different work shifts.
My condolences to the family and I believe the driver got what he had coming to him. "