Skateboarder Hits And Kills 83-Year-Old Woman

by The Editors on July 7, 2011

A 17-year-old skateboarder hit and killed 83-year-old Maryann Slettehaugh as she was crossing a Capitola, California street on Tuesday, July 5, 2011, according to a story in the San Jose Mercury News.

Traffic was backed up from the hill toward the village, and a box truck was stopped at a crosswalk for an 83-year-old Capitola woman who was crossing the street toward the ocean, Dally said. . . The boy on a skateboard was going about 15 mph when he apparently spotted the woman and jumped off his skateboard to try to avoid her, Dally said. The woman was about a step from the sidewalk when the pair collided, Capitola police Sgt. Andrew Dally said.

According to the story the skateboarder immediately tried to help the woman, but she died eight hours later at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Our thoughts are with the woman’s family (especially her husband of 64 years) and the skateboarder who was reportedly arrested following this tragic accident.

[Link: San Jose Mercury News and KTVU.com]

Estes July 7, 2011 at 11:41 am: My thoughts are with everyone involved. The skateboarder made a bad judgement and the end result is tragic. Keep us updated, curious if this goes to trial.
rowe July 7, 2011 at 1:43 pm: so sick of every accident being elevated to a crime. if it was an Al Gore tree hugging greeny biker who was trying to save the planet who hit this woman her demise would equally be assured, only it would be labeled a tragic accident.
JoFF July 7, 2011 at 4:27 pm: an accident does not make a crime.
Oh yeah? July 7, 2011 at 10:45 pm: If a person drove a car through a crosswalk and killed a skateboarder would you still feel the same?
Ian July 8, 2011 at 10:38 am: Yes. I would feel the same. The person has to live with the tragic consequences of the accident. That’s punishment enough. There is no good reason to add more suffering to an already terrible situation.
HARDA$$ July 8, 2011 at 12:46 pm: THESE CHILDISH WHEELY BOARDS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN ANY PUBLIC AREAS. THEY SHOULD BE LIMITED TO SPECIAL TRACKS ONLY WHERE THE PERSON PLAYING WITH IT MAY ONLY HURT THEMSELVES OR OTHERS WHO CHOOSE TO BE THERE. THIS PUNK KILLED THIS WOMAN. IT IS OUTRIGHT MANSLAUGHTER. DO NOT TRY TO CALL IT AN ACCIDENT.
rowe July 8, 2011 at 3:59 pm: if the person driving tried to avoid the skateboard then it is accident. if the person was speeding,drinking, or intentionaly drove into the skateboarder then it is a crime. in general not seeing or being aware of a pedestrian or road hazard is just operater error. Also the story reads that the skater jumped off to try to avoid a conlision, so clearly there was no malice.

I wish no injury to any old people, skaters or even tree huggers but accidents happen and bad things happen equally to good and bad people.
redneck bob July 14, 2011 at 8:34 pm: I don’t like them skateboarders. They take all the women!!!!