A Different Version Of An Accident

To the Editor:

Last week I was in an accident, and it was reported in the police reports section of your paper. I am writing this letter because I am very unpleased with the false justifications that were made concerning my accident. To refresh your memory, I was driving down Grays Plain Road on New Year’s Day and a truck was over the yellow line, I hit my brakes and moved to the right to avoid the truck on this tight street. The road had close to an inch of snow and a thick layer of ice over it, so my car began to skid after I hit the brakes. I lost control and slowly hit the telephone pole. To say that there was no evidence of the truck is simply ludicrous. From the time of my accident, several other cars drove by while we waited on the rather slow response from the police. The truck never hit anything, so what kind of evidence were they looking for?

Also stated in the section was that I was verbally warned by the police officer for speeding. This is absolutely false and made up out of thin air. The only thing the police officer said to me or those there with me was “these roads are in bad condition, and did you have your seatbelt on.” I was not speeding which is clearly obvious to tell by anyone who has any knowledge of cars whatsoever. The only damage to my car that is being repaired at the auto shop is a new front bumper, and a hood. My air bags did not deploy. If I was speeding, I would have been far more injured, the air bags would have deployed and I believe I would have had engine damage as compared to just a bumper and a hood. The auto shop technician repairing my vehicle said the most I was doing was 15–20 mph due to the damage done. The only reason these false statements were made was to cover up for the inadequate street conditions and to make just another teenager look reckless and irresponsible. It was 24 hours after the present storm and the roads were as if the storm happened only an hour ago. The roads were not properly maintained even though residents spend countless tax dollars on town road snowplowing and sanding.

If you are to put a picture of mine or anyone else’s car, and include their name, age, and address at least have the correct information, and do not twist the story. It is bad enough to get into an accident, and then to have the story twisted makes everything worse.

Katie Miranti

199 Great Quarter Road, Sandy Hook                    January 14, 2009

(Editor’s Note: All of the information accompanying The Bee’s photograph of the accident involving Ms Miranti on Gray’s Plain Road on January 1 was provided by the Newtown Police Department.)