Will the charge in Barrie Conrod's death be enough?

I wonder if this will be enough.

Monday, Waterloo Region Police announced that a 31-year-old St. Clements man has been charged with careless driving under the Highway Traffic Act in the June 25 death of 52-year-old Barrie Conrod of Waterloo.

You may recall that Conrod was killed after being struck from behind while on a Sunday ride with his wife, Heather Caron, on a Wellesley Township road. He died at the scene.

Dale Wideman will appear in court on Aug. 27 to face a single charge in Conrod's death.

Following the crash, there was an outpouring of support from family, friends and the greater cycling community for Caron, which developed into the memorial ride for Barrie Conrod. Some 500 cyclists of all types and stripes came out to show their support for Caron, and to make a statement about how safe they want to feel on our area roads.

The charge that has been laid is a Highway Traffic Act offence, not a Criminal Code offence. It is punishable, if there is a conviction, by a fine of $400 minimum and $2,000 maximum. There is also the possibility of a six-month jail term, but the jail term is not automatic on conviction, and there is also a possible loss of the motorist's licence for two years. On conviction, there is no criminal record.

I wonder if the cycling community will feel that this charge does not respect their greater interests. It is not that the cycling community will want to see the motorist face a heftier punishment, but that the cycling community will want to see this case be deemed worthy of a significant prosecution.

How much effort is the death of a cyclist worth?

Comments

[Mike]

What better charge did you have in mind?

[Evan Rosamond]

Better charge? What's wrong with criminal negligence causing death?

[Rob]

Manslaughter, maybe? The driver did kill a guy, after all. Is there not at least a careless driving causing death?

Bill, I'd be very interested in reading an article explaining why Police didn't press any more serious charges. Is it lack of evidence? I also wish the police could explain what Barrie could have done differently or how anybody but the driver is responsible for the death.

[Frank Xavier]

It is a positive step that a charge has been laid. Whether it is criminal or not has importance but so is honouring the wishes of Barry's widow who expressed strong view that there be no charges laid. Mr. Wideman has had a devastating experience, it didn't end his life but it sure ended it as it had been. He will never be the same again. It is more important to stay on the macro end of this tragic event. Get the community to recognize that all people's lives need to be respected regardless of whether they are walking, riding a bike or driving a car. All lives have equal value. It is all about a respect life campaign. In this case, it is not about fighting a disease, it is about changing our selfish behaviour towards one another. Punishing one individual will not much change make. Recognizing that a broader attitudinal change has to be promoted would be a major victory.

[Bill]

Just as a measure of comparison, the OPP this week charged a fellow OPP officer in Brant County with careless driving after his side-view mirror clipped a cyclist, doing minor injuries that were treated at the scene.

[Dave Brubacher]

Careless driving causing death would be a good charge. People need to start being held accountable for their actions. Lets set an example.

[J. J.]

The Police investigated and this is the charge they laid. It must be the correct charge based on evidence collected. Maybe the cyclist swerved toward the car by accident and the collision occured. If you were not there you don't know. The police have laid the charge they think the accident warented. It has nothing to do with the value of the life of a cyclist. Not all cyclist obey all the rules of the road and risk their lives and the lives of others everyday. This cyclist may not have been one of them but the police investigated the accident so stop trying to make it about something other than what it was.