Lauren Roady killed in accident with Fire Truck at Club Nats

Bought the shirt wrote:

With the lack of facts that are being shared it is impossible to know what to think of driver and crew. Perhaps if you know, you could help us to understand the first puzzle. Who reported the accident, and why was it reported as a hit and run?

Without knowing anything beyond what has been reported (although I did see the scene in Kentucky):

I think it was probably reported as a hit and run because only emergency vehicles were on the scene. Someone probably thought that all of the vehicles, including the fire truck, had responded to the emergency call, and only later did they realize that a fire truck had hit the pedestrian.

If emergency trucks were already on the scene, why would someone have called 911 to report an accident?

Either way, this incident was tragic for ALL involved. How could it not be?

I'm just a regular visitor on LR and after reading this story, my heart and prayers go out to her family and friends. Very sad to hear the loss of someone who was very young, accomplished and just starting her life.

Running Family,

If you'd like to do something in Lauren's memory, please consider a donation to Friends of the Great Smoky Mtns.

Please see a message from Lauren's husband below:

"The thing that would mean the most to Lauren and her family is to make a donation in her honor to an organization called the Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They help take care of Cade's Cove, a magical place in the Great Smoky Mountains that is one of Lauren's most treasured places. She and her family spent lots of time camping and hiking there, and Lauren goes back runs around Cade's Cove every time she returns to Knoxville. She was so excited about running two laps, more than 20 miles, around Cade's Cove at Christmas. On multiple occasions in recent years, Lauren lamented that the budget for maintaining the park was declining. If you want to learn more about this organization, you can visit:

http://www.friendsofthesmokies.org

A donation can be made in Lauren's honor to:

Lauren Woodall Roady Fund

Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

P.O. Box 1660

Kodak, TN 37764-7660

Her family returns to Cade's Cove many times each year, and it will comfort them to know that the people who care about Lauren are helping care for one of Lauren's most cherished places."

Many on LetsRun have heard of this loop, some have likely run it. Here is a chance to honor a fellow runner by preserving a place all of us would like to take a run.

Thanks.

Who knows wrote:

Either way, this incident was tragic for ALL involved. How could it not be?

My heart goes out to the victim, but I don't automatically feel sympathy towards someone who just struck a pedestrian with their car. At least not without asking some tough questions and getting some honest answers in return.

Otis Allan Glazebrook wrote:

My heart goes out to the victim, but I don't automatically feel sympathy towards someone who just struck a pedestrian with their car. At least not without asking some tough questions and getting some honest answers in return.

I do, especially if it is a first responder driving a fire truck. If it is a crowded SUV full of drunk frat guys, that is one thing, but you know this guy was likely headed to check something out (albeit non-emergency).

Even if he didn't look properly, I still feel for him, greatly. Think about where his head is right now. Sometimes an accident has two victims, even if one is in the wrong. It's not like this has to have a good guy and a bad guy.

Hold It Now wrote:

I do, especially if it is a first responder driving a fire truck. If it is a crowded SUV full of drunk frat guys, that is one thing, but you know this guy was likely headed to check something out (albeit non-emergency).

Since you refuse to read the printed report in the links above I'll read it for you. The firetruck was returning from an emergency call. Both of the firefighters who would normally travel back with the driver stayed at the site to assist, while the driver headed back home.

lazy boy wrote:

Since you refuse to read the printed report in the links above I'll read it for you. The firetruck was returning from an emergency call. Both of the firefighters who would normally travel back with the driver stayed at the site to assist, while the driver headed back home.

I'm sorry, does that change anything?

Why was this reported as a hit and run? Who called it in?

Hold It Now wrote:

lazy boy wrote:

Since you refuse to read the printed report in the links above I'll read it for you. The firetruck was returning from an emergency call. Both of the firefighters who would normally travel back with the driver stayed at the site to assist, while the driver headed back home.

I'm sorry, does that change anything?

An earlier report (from page 1) stated that Lauren walked into (or hit) the side of the fire truck.

Initially an EC unit from another county that was in Lexington witnessed an accident involving two vehicles at the intersection One block away. While they were on scene assisting those occupants someone ran up to their ambulance exclaiming someone has just been hit. They proceeded to the scene 20-30 yards away to assist. Only then did they too realize the fire truck was involved. Who called it in as a hit and run is unknown. Again as stated by others above I feel that due to the scene with all the emergency vehicles present one may have thought it was a hit and run because there weren't any non-emergency vehicles on scene.

The fire truck was en route to pick up personnel from the hospital that had assisted the EMS personnel on a previous call. No lights, no sirens. Regular speed, routine travel. Tragic accident. One might speculate that her umbrella blocked her peripheral vision as she was crossing making it impossible fir her to see the truck, or maybe she was not seen by the driver due to glares off the roadway from the rain, dark clothing making it hard to see her. There are so many factors and one could go crazy just speculating. Again there are Several cameras at that intersection by PD, news channels, ect.

The firefighter involved is now on administrative leave pending the investigaton. Please keep him in your thoughts and hope that he will be able to manage his feelings/stress from this tragedy that he is involved in and may find a way to return to the department.

Mrs Roady along with her family is in all our thoughts and prayers.

This article says that the fireman called it in:

http://www.kentucky.com/2012/12/10/2439011/lexington-firefighter-put-on-leave.html

Maybe there was a miscommunication between the fireman and the emergency operator. Or perhaps a witness reported it as well.

Okay, this was a tragic event and a terrible loss for her friends and family. But why make this an occasion to solicit donations?

Nobody is forcing you to donate and nobody is using her accident to solicit donations.

This tragic accident touched a lot of us in different ways. Most of us didn't know Lauren, but would still like to do something to help the family. It is tradition that a family chooses a worthy cause that people can make donations to in the loved one's name.

The post is providing information that people have requested.

I will be sending a check tomorrow after I go for a run in Lauren's honor.

Dumbash - it is pretty common when someone dies (in lieu of flowers...)

From what I've read the turn signal and the crosswalk are both "green" at the same time. It's pretty obvious that she was just walking in the crosswalk according to the light, and he was turning left and did not see her. I bet he was on a cell phone or something. It's his fault. I'm sure he feels bad. He should. He killed an innocent person.

If you wanted to know more about Lauren, here is a great read:

http://georgetownrunningcompany.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-duel-on-mall_11.html

............. wrote:

From what I've read the turn signal and the crosswalk are both "green" at the same time. It's pretty obvious that she was just walking in the crosswalk according to the light, and he was turning left and did not see her. .

If this is the case, it's such BS that they design lights like this, and they are everywhere. SO many places, I wait for the crossing signal with my kid (to be safe with him), and sure enough, the traffic running parallel to me (crossing the street I am crossing) of course has a green and has barely any reason to consider slowing down as they take a left (if heading in opposite direction as I am ) or right (if heading in same direction as I am). They just see green. Sure, if they spot someone in the crosswalk, they are supposed to stop, but I am sure they often don't.

This is a bad system. Don't give people the CROSS NOW signal as traffic is coming at you from two potential directions. It gives people a fall sense of security. They need to have red arrows stopping people from turning as people cross, with a green light for straight ahead traffic. This would solve this dangerous situation.

(this is also why, when I am alone, often I don't even wait for the damn signal [unless extremely busy road] because it barely gives me any more safety/security than just crossing in the crosswalk. Either way I have cars coming at me)

Damn, I went to high school with her. Was a wonderfully, nice girl back then. Never knew she got into running; she rode horses back then. What a shame. Best wishes to her family, friends, and running buddies.

Peter