The Contra Costa Office of the District Attorney has filed misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charges against Phyllis Meehan in the death of Stanley Middle School crossing guard Ashley Steven Dias.
“This tragic incident has impacted an entire community,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “The loss of Ashley Diaz is a solemn reminder that drivers must exercise caution and care when children and pedestrians are present.”
On September 8, 2021, Phyllis Meehan was picking her grandson up from the Lafayette middle school when she collided with a vehicle and proceeded to accelerate into a crosswalk, according to police. Witnesses observed Dias push a student out of the path of the GMC Yukon before the crossing guard was fatally struck by the driver.
The student suffered significant scrapes and bruises, and Dias succumbed to his injuries later that afternoon.
Women drivers are scary
I hate to agree but it’s true! Yesterday, as I was walking down a parking lot a woman didn’t yield and instead continue driving fast even though I was far ahead enough where she could see me and she could have slow. I could say more about female drivers but my comment wouldn’t get posted.
The correct sentence should be “some women drivers are scary” as are some male drivers. If you drive a lot, which I use to do (worked in Palo Alto lived in Concord) eventually, you will encounter scary women drivers, scary teen age drivers, scary every age and both sex drivers.
hanne jeppesen,
I thought the correct sentence included the word “SOME”? You didn’t use the word “SOME” in your comment after correcting Schmee in your first sentence, you said “The correct sentence should be “some women drivers are scary” as are some male drivers. If you drive a lot, which I used to do (worked in Palo Alto lived in Concord) eventually, you will encounter [SOME] scary women drivers, [SOME] scary teen age drivers, [SOME] scary every age and both sex drivers.”
misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter? seems a little watered down to me.
I read the article and got the impression she was involved in an accident, which caused her to lose control of her car and accelerate into the crosswalk where it struck the guard. I don’t see (so far!) any intent, just a tragic accident. If she tried to get away – different story – but I’m not seeing that. More info needed before I’d vote guilty.
Sounds like she hit the accelerator instead of the brake. She dragged him a surprising distance before stopping. If she hadn’t hit either pedal, Mr Dias likely would have survived a rolling car rather than an excel resting behemoth. It’s also likely the collision with the vehicle was her fault. Sounds to me like she should have stopped driving before this ever happened.
The DA wants to make a statement by charging a Grandma.
Yet murderers walk free.
Sad but true.
I get she did something horrible and probably shouldn’t have been driving. But if she didn’t do it purposely, what’s the point of charging a 79 year old?
If someone who refused to stop driving when they knew they weren’t a competent driver anymore killed your son, would you just say, “Oh, we’ll. She didn’t mean to”?
Very sad. Another big risk out there is how quiet the EV’s are. I’ve seen some very close calls where pedestrians in parking lots walk right in front of them. I’m talking about adult pedestrians who should know better, not millennials. We already know a millennial will walk right into an airplane propeller or speeding locomotive, but I digress……..
“You’re low down & dirty and everybody steps on you!”
Sorry…. I posted in the wrong place…….I meant to reply to Rico about depressing the brake pedal.