There was a great article written about
Maria and Robin
in the Seattle based Evergreen
Safety Council newsletter
We'd like to share this with you. You can read the article
here.
Sims: Secure loads to prevent more traffic tragedies
Countywide campaign includes public education, stiff fines
April 13, 2006 News Release From King County
View
the entire news release, it's great and important work!
Another local Tragic Unsecured load
accident.
It began when a rolled up tarp fell off a truck and onto
the freeway. The tarp was about two feet thick and 10 feet
long when it fell over the truck. Drivers swerved, and the
result was a collision which forced one of the cars into a
Class A tow truck, pulling an out-of-service bus.
23-year-old Sandy Harmon died in the collision with the tow
truck. Harmon's car was destroyed. His fiancee, Christina
Wheeler, was in the front passenger seat. She is being treated
for possible internal injuries. Their 3-month-old daughter
Violet was in a child seat. She was uninjured. Five-year-old
Austin Hardy was sitting behind his step-father. He is fighting
for life with head, spleen and liver injuries along with numerous
broken bones...
To read more, check out the news story from KOMO
TV's website from January 24, 2006
Or the Seattle
Times article which is a bit more detailed.
First accident since new legislation
being investigated.
To read more check out the front page article in the Seattle
Times, Friday October 7th 2005
Bill
1478 Passed by Washington State Legislators!
This bill
not only increases penalties for failure to
secure a vehicle load on a public highway,
is also makes that failure to secure a load
in the first degree (which causes harm or
death) a gross misdemeanor making it possible
for victims who are harmed can apply for for
assistance under the Crime Victims' Compensation
Act.
View
the Wa State Legislature site for more info.
Background of existing
legislation:
A vehicle driven or moved on a public highway
must be loaded in such a manner as to prevent
any contents from escaping, except that dropping
sand for the purpose of securing traction
is permissible. Violations of this requirement
are designated as traffic infractions, subject
to a monetary penalty not to exceed $250 per
infraction.
Summary of Substitute
Bill (1478):
Failure to secure a load in the first or second
degree is a gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor,
respectively.
Failure to secure a load in the first degree
is committed when a person negligently fails
to secure all or part of a load to his or
her vehicle and, as a result, causes bodily
injury to another. Failure to secure a load
in the second degree is committed when a person
negligently fails to secure all or part of
a load to his or her vehicle and, as a result,
causes damage to the property of another.
Other failures to secure a load to a vehicle
that do not rise to the level of first or
second degree continue to be designated as
traffic infractions and are subject only to
monetary penalties.
The bill takes effect 90 days after
adjournment of session in which bill
is passed.
Testimony For:
This bill is an effort to address the harm
caused to people like Maria Federici, where
the failure to secure a load causes a person
severe physical injury. By making this conduct
a crime, victims who are harmed can become
eligible for assistance under the Crime Victims'
Compensation Act. The bill does not change
the current standards regarding the proper
securing of a vehicle's load. Vehicle-related
road debris poses a very significant hazard.
People need to know that there will be significant
consequences for failing to secure a load
and causing bodily harm to another. Items
falling off a vehicle can be just as dangerous
as a driver who is under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.
Testimony For:
The King County Prosecutor's Office got involved
with this legislation because of the terrible
tragedy suffered by Maria Federici. The purpose
of this bill is to get people to change their
behavior. It is important that the first degree
offense created under the bill be a gross
misdemeanor so that victims can access crime
victims compensation. There is concern that
this will result in a large number of crimes,
but that is not going to happen because people
will change their behavior. If passed, the
bill would not change the standards for commercial
vehicles. In fact, the Washington State Truckers
Association supports this legislation.
Testimony Against: None.
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Walk
with Me, (Maria's song)
A wonderful tribute
created and donated by a group of
loving dedicated friend's of Maria
and Robin.
Listen to a small
sample of this beautiful
song! |
Monday, August 9th,
another tragic road debris accident occurred
on our local highways. Maria was devastated
to hear this news and is so eager to connect
with the victim and her family. Learn more
about this tragedy by visiting the Seattle
Times site.
Maria and
those of us who have been playing supportive
roles in her recovery and outreach,
realize that there must be change NOW!
Changes in how safe our roads are and the
systems to educate drivers to
support those important changes.
We are currently
creating a Nonprofit Foundation to address
these issues. We are calling for those of
you who might have skills and time to volunteer
to make this foundation possible.
Look for
information on our Volunteer
page.
|
Today
Maria and Robin will be interviewed on Seattle's
Northwest Afternoon. This local program
has been interested in meeting Maria and has
been talking with Robin for months about having
them on their show. Maria is ready and eager
to reach out and thank all those people who
have sent prayers, and good wishes. She also
wants to thank all the folks who have given
so much of their time and energy to help her
and her family during this difficult time.
The show airs today at 3:00pm
on ABC, channel 4.
|
This
morning, July 13th, CBS television, and The
Early Show, showed the recent interview with
Maria about her story. Our local CBS station,
KIRO, was unable to run the story this morning
but after connecting with a representative
at KIRO, they stated that they intend to run
the story today during the 5pm news this evening.
|
| Saturday
July 10th a day of hope and disappointment
for Maria Federici |
 |
| Don Stevenson,
right, walks with Maria Federici's mother,
Robin. |
|
Federici
has friends she's never met - like Don Stevenson
of Auburn, Wash., who started walking 200
miles Saturday morning to Mount Rainier from
Auburn and back to support Federici.
Her family and friends were there for the
send off. They weren't there to talk about
the accident or the decision not to prosecute
the suspect, but rather to honor those who
honor Maria.
Stevenson, who is famous for his charity walks,
admires Maria's strength and hopes he can
raise awareness that will prevent similar
tragedies.
"I've walked on the highways for over
25,000 miles and I've seen a lot of big stuff
on the road and I'm amazed that there haven't
been more accidents like this," he said. |
| To
contact Don, you can email him at donlssixty-two@juno.com
Don is also organizing a hike
(around 100 miles) across the Cascades blindfolded
for Maria sometime the first week of August.
It'll be on the John Wayne Trail, starting
at North Bend. More information will follow
as it is made available.
|
| CBS's
The Early Show to air Maria's first interview
on July 13th. |
| Visit the Early
Show web site for more information
on where you can view this program in
your area. |
 |
|
| Police
release a statement that no serious charges
will be filed against the man tied to the traffic
accident that left Maria Federici blinded. |
| Authorities said
the 28-year-old man was towing furniture on
a trailer when a piece of his entertainment
center flew off the back, crashing into Federici's
windshield. The board tore into her face causing
significant injuries. By the time police arrived,
the man was long gone.
The man later told police he didn't realize
anything had fallen from his truck and slammed
into Federici's jeep. After months of reviewing
the case, prosecutors say the man will not
be charged with hit-and-run. King County prosecutors
say they don't have enough evidence to warrant
charges against the man.
The maximum penalty the man can receive is
an $82 fine – a minor infraction for
failing to secure his load.
Federici is permanently blind and still needs
extensive rehabilitation and physical therapy.
This is obviously disappointing to loved ones
close to Maria. Maria herself is struggling
to understand it. |
| Dangerous
and unpredictable, vehicle-related road debris
(VRRD) can kill, injure, or cause significant
vehicle damage. |
|
Study: Most Road-Debris Accidents can be Prevented
Panic shoots through the stomach of a driver
who suddenly encounters something in the road
that shouldn't be there.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Saftey's latest
research analyzes the VRRD problem and offers
ideas for prevention and education. |
|
|
Visit their site for more information. http://www.aaafoundation.org/home |
|
| When people
come together with a common awareness, anything
everything is possible! |
| Each person can
make a difference, and when many people make
even the smallest effort collaboratively,
big changes are possible.
Maria, and her family & friends know the
wonderful benefits that loving effort can
make in life.
Many people have given so much of their time,
money and/or best wishes and prayers, to assist
Maria on her journey of recovery. She is eager
to continue that positive, loving energy,
and share what she can with the world.
|
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| "She is
so inspiring, it's hard for me to explain
just how much her positive attitude has effected
me and my own attitude!" -Sherry P.
It seems that Maria and her story has touched
so many lives. The proof is in all the wonderful
comments on her discussion
page, and in all the letters and cards Maria
and her family have received since her accident.
|
| The Irish
proverb goes like this: "It is in the
shelter of each other that people live." |
 |
Those words speak
to the power of a community to come together
in times of trouble.
Monday night was one of those special times;
the compassion of the Seattle area and kindness
of the human spirit glowed.
Hundreds of people gathered at a benefit and
auction to help Maria Federici, the Renton
woman who was blinded in a freeway accident
on Feb. 22.
Maria's story was told recently in a column
by Robert Jamieson. Maria, a bartender
looking to pursue her master's degree, now
faces astronomical hospital and rehab bills.
The accident seriously injured her brain.
From the beginning, friends and family vowed
to stand by Maria and her mother, Robin Abel |
| Maria's mother,
Robin Abel, and Maria's golden retriever
Beau visited her Easter Sunday at Harborview
Medical Center. |
Maria and her mother often talked about doing
something to help people with disabilities.
They decided to raise service or guide dogs. |
|
|
| Just before midnight
Sunday, February 22nd, Maria Federici was driving
home from work. She was in the southbound lanes
of I-405 at Renton near Northeast 30th, when an
entertainment center fell from the back of a trailer
in front of her. A 2-by-6-foot piece of particle
board flew through her windshield, hitting her in
the face.
The other driver did not stop.
She was critically injured and taken to Harborview
Medical Center in Seattle.
She has permanently lost her eyesight and has had
to endure a complete facial
reconstruction.
To find an update on her condition, visit our medical
update link.
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Maria Federici graduated
with honors last summer from the UW with her degree in
Speech Communications and was planning on going back for
her masters.
Maria is somebody who is full of life, and spirit, she
has a great sense of humor, a real wit with a sense of
irony. Maria is a beautiful young lady who is mature beyond
her 24 years. She’s very bright & extremely independent
and was on the Deans list in college while working two
jobs to pay for her education.
Maria is in very critical shape. She's had some very
bad injuries to her head.
The family is doing about as well as they can under the
circumstances, but this is obviously devastating. |
|
What are Maria's Miracles?
- She survived after the doctors told her
mother her injuries were so severe that her survival
was hopeless.
- It was Maria's wish to donate her organs.
- Robin immediately requested prayers from
many close friends. –Many of these friends sent
the word out right away and prayer chains began.
- Several hours later, her mom received
a call from the doctors at Harborview to come back,
stating that Maria had purposely moved.
- MariasMiracle.com Website is put on-line.
–The immediate response to this site and her story
is amazing.
- It took 15 hours of surgery, to construct
a new face for Maria.
- The doctors told the family that she
probably would not hear. –She can now hear.
- The doctors thought that she may never
be able to swallow or speak. –2 weeks later, her
first words (Assisted by a trach tube in her throat)
were “Mom”
- The doctors were unclear as to the extent
of her brain damage. –Maria’s 2nd words were
her name. –She is now able to sit up and even get
out of bed and take a few assisted walks in the hall
of the hospital.
- The doctors have said that Maria will
never see, that her optic nerves were severed and her
eyes badly damaged.
- What miracles are next for Maria…
|
|
The piece of wood hit Maria Federici when she was
driving her Jeep Liberty southbound on Interstate
405 near Northeast 30th.
"Everybody is in complete shock," said
Steve Hansen, Federici's uncle.
The piece of wood is a six-foot-by-two-foot piece
of heavy pressboard, apparently part of a piece
of furniture.
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Latest Police Case Information: Almost
1 month to the day, police arrest a local man suspected
of driving the truck and trailer involved in Maria's
accident. They connected this man from fingerprints
found on the piece of furniture left at the scene.
He had a previous record in Oregon. Police traced
his name to a trailer he had rented to move from
Tacoma. They have also linked him with the only
eye witness statement about a truck/trailer pulled
over a short distance from the accident scene.
This man has a suspended license and
no insurance.
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