This blog has been created to educate the public about the consequences of operating anything without due care and attention to properly managing Diabetes or any medical condition.
This Blog is dedicated to Patrick Smith who lost his life to an individual without consideration.
My brother Patrick Smith was killed December 5, 2007 by an impaired driver in Mansfield, CT. This was a hit and run accident involving a self medicating hypoglycemic diabetic who did not even have a glucosemeter in his truck.
The State of Connecticut decided not to prosecute the driver, Wilfrid Lebeau of Mansfield Center, CT as his hypoglycemic state “prevented him from know knowing what he was doing” therefore Tolland County District Attorney Matt Gedansky decided he would not press charges against Mr. Lebeau.
To date Mr. Lebeau has yet to receive even a traffic ticket despite the fact that he backed up and left the scene only to cause a second accident 1/2 mile up the road. Because Mr. Lebeau evaded the scene & there was a fatality Connecticut law required that my brother undergo an autopsy. Patrick has a short military style haircut that unfortunately did not cover the huge incision and subsequent scar across his scalp which became his sons lasting memory of his father at his wake and funeral.
I have created www.raaid.org (Responsible Adults Against Impaired Drivers) as well as a Yahoo Groups site JusticeForPat in order to spread information and hopefully make lawmakers understand that impaired driving is a serious problem in this country and just because alcohol or illegal drugs aren’t involved that should not make a person less accountable for maintaining their health and being responsible enough to take your medications correctly AND check blood sugar levels prior to getting behind the wheel.
