4/23/2019 ~ 8:30PM Pedestrian walking along an unmarked crosswalk struck in center of road by a driver who was swerving around other traffic who had stopped in compliance with the law; to allow the pedestrian to cross in the unmarked crosswalk at the intersection of 59th Avenue and McLellan Road.
Are these news stories written so as to be intentionally misleading?
Shelia Cooper, 49, was walking west across 59th Avenue, along the south side of McLellan Road, when she was struck around 8:30 p.m., Glendale police said. That side of McLellan Road does not have a marked pedestrian crosswalk as the north side does, police added.
Traffic stopped to allow Cooper to cross, police said, but a vehicle driven by Gregory Sebion, 52, swerved into the center turn lane and struck Cooper as she crossed, police said.
A crosswalk is a crosswalk whether or not marked. The crosswalk on the south side of this intersection is just as legal to walk along, and just as “protected” as the crosswalk on the north side of this intersection.
So we’ll see what police and prosecutors come up with; from the description this is less about “distraction” than about reckless driving — why would a driver be swerving around stopped traffic in the center turn lane? Maricopa County prosecutors are consistently weak on this; but failing a more serious charge, a driver who violates the crosswalk statute and causes death is liable for a 28-672 charge, which is a city charge.
Media bias (or police bias?) implies “jaywalking” — which is the victim-blamers go-to taunt.
p.s. according to Stellar, Tucson is in the process of removing some marked crosswalks; see April 2019 update.
Criminal Case?
The driver, Gregory Sebion, has a bunch of listed cases; some criminal stuff as well as a string of traffic violations, including a DUI charge in 2010 in Maricopa Co Justice court that was apparently plead down to Reckless Driving.
This case in Glendale muni court appears to be a 28-672; filed 2/19/2020 (the case can be filed any time within 2 years) 0073435 1 ACCID SERIOUS PHYS INJ/DEATH TR-2020002952; the notations seem to indicate he can’t be located.
He also got a speeding ticket in July 2019 in Flagstaff; you would think after killing somebody he’d be more careful.
J-0710-CT-2006204073 GREG ALLEN SEBION DEFENDANT 10/1966 Peoria, AZ 85385 Arrowhead Justice
J-0703-TR-2010103048 GREGORY ALLAN SEBION DEFENDANT 10/1966 Peoria, AZ 85345 White Tank/Estrella Mnt Justice
M-0747-TR-2013015859 GREGORY ALLAN SEBION DEFENDANT 10/1966 PHOENIX, AZ 85022 Glendale Municipal
M-0751-CR-2015003908 GREGORY ALLAN SEBION DEFENDANT 10/1966 PHOENIX, AZ 85022 Scottsdale City Court
M-0751-CR-2015007884 GREGORY ALLAN SEBION DEFENDANT 10/1966 PHOENIX, AZ 85022 Scottsdale City Court
S-0700-CR-2016119797 GREGORY ALLAN SEBION DEFENDANT 10/1966 Tucson, AZ 85704 Maricopa County Superior
S-0700-CR-2007138358 GREGORY ALLAN SEBION DEFENDANT 10/1966 Peoria, AZ 85345 Maricopa County Superior
S-0700-CR-1996002030 GREGORY ALLAN SEBION DEFENDANT 10/1966 GLENDALE, AZ 85029 Maricopa County Superior
M-0741-5424398 GREGORY ALLAN SEBION DEFENDANT 10/1966 GLENDALE, AZ 85303 Phoenix Municipal
J-0301-CT-2019003947 GREGORY ALLAN SEBION DEFENDANT 10/1966 TUCSON, AZ 85704 Flagstaff Justice
maricopa co justice court:
Party Name ARSCode Description Crime Date Disposition Code Disposition Date
Gregory Allan Sebion 28-1381A1 (M) DUI-LIQUOR/DRUGS/VAPORS/COMBO 1/2/2010 10:17:00 PM 67 Charge amended. 3/4/2010
Gregory Allan Sebion 28-1381A2 (M) DUI W/BAC OF .08 OR MORE 1/2/2010 10:17:00 PM 44 Dismissed on motion/request of prosecutor 3/4/2010
Gregory Allan Sebion 28-693A (M2) RECKLESS DRIVING 1/2/2010 10:17:00 PM 11 Plea of guilty or responsible; sentence imposed. 3/4/2010
This is my mother. The police and a lawyer firm all said he didn’t have insurance so it wouldn’t be worth going after him because it would be futile efforts.