Jenny Crain hit by car

Update on Jenny Crain. Keep her in your thoughts.

August 27, 2007

A SLIGHTLY BETTER DAY & JENNY CRAIN -- MAKE IT HAPPEN FUND LAUNCHED

Jenny had a slightly better day today with her brain condition stabilizing in the past 12 hours. Jenny had been tentatively scheduled to have surgery on her neck injury. With the brain condition fluctuating over the past few days, her medical team has postponed that operation. A benchmark to watch for in the next several days will be when she undergoes surgery. That will tell us that her doctors believe that her brain recovery has improved enough to proceed with surgery.

She is in a very tough battle with a long way to go. Jenny needs all of our help now more than ever.

There are two important ways you can help Jenny now:

Make a donation and/or send a card.

Today the “Jenny Crain -- Make It Happen Fund” was established with the help of M&I Bank. Jenny’s family created this fund so Jenny’s relatives, friends, teammates, and colleagues can help with Jenny’s care. There are two ways you can make a donation.

1. Send a card with your donation to:

Jenny Crain – Make It Happen Fund

c/o M&I Bank – Mail 098-9120

Attn: Cathy Haukedahl

651 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, MN 55402

2. Visit any M&I Bank and let the teller know you want to contribute to the Jenny Crain – Make it Happen Fund

To find an M&I Bank locations please visit:

http://www.mibank.com/mibanknew/atmbranchlocator.html

Please send your cards only to:

Jenny Crain

1952 Commerce Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

Jenny’s family sincerely appreciates everyone’s love and support during this difficult time. With your help Jenny Will Make It Happen!

A witness saw her standing on THE CURB running in place. THEN she stepped out -- AGAINST THE LIGHT. If you're halfway across and it changes, that's a difference story. If you're ON THE CURB, and it changes to a blinking "don't walk", YOU ARE CROSSING AGAINST THE LIGHT.

If it was the driver's fault, this would have been all over the news. Since the accident was her own fault, and she's such a sympathetic character, the press buries it.

It's a tragedy all around, but lay off the driver. He/she probably feels bad enough already.

Okay, then... would anyone else like to change the subject back to Jenny's health?

A Driver wrote:

A witness saw her standing on THE CURB running in place. THEN she stepped out -- AGAINST THE LIGHT. If you're halfway across and it changes, that's a difference story. If you're ON THE CURB, and it changes to a blinking "don't walk", YOU ARE CROSSING AGAINST THE LIGHT.

If it was the driver's fault, this would have been all over the news. Since the accident was her own fault, and she's such a sympathetic character, the press buries it.

It's a tragedy all around, but lay off the driver. He/she probably feels bad enough already.

My friend's sister had a very similar accident 5 years ago while running - very similar injuries to Jenny's that I've read here.

It took a lot of hard work, but after 24 months of healing and physical therapy, she was running again and you'd never know she'd had such an accident.

Hope all turns out well.

Fault is a dicey issue.

The newspaper article reports that the light was "about to change." Is it possible - or even likely - that the male Acura driver accelerated to make the light, knowing that it would change? I suspect that the insurance profile of male Acura drivers would suggest that this behaviour is not unusual. Is it possible that the runner may have observed the changing light and incorrectly assumed that the driver would stop, not accelerate? Yellow lights are an indication to stop not accelerate, according to traffic law, but are rarely treated as such by drivers.

Is it possible that the driver was exceeding the speed limit at the time of the accident? In a 30 mph city speed zone, how frequently do we all find ourselves exceeding the specified limit? These speed limits are designed not only for our own protection, but for the protection of pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers that co-utilize city roadways. Do police reports indicate that the police measured the skid marks left by the offending driver's car to ensure that he was not exceeding the posted speed limit at the time of the accident?

I believe that when one individuals wields a deadly weapon (a 1000 lb steel car travelling at >30mph) against another defenseless citizen (an unprotected runner), the burden of proof should be on him or her to proove that they were operating the vehicle safely, and according to the rules of the road, at the time of the accident. I think that municipal, state, and federal laws should protect pedestrians, cyclists, and runners that co-utilize urban roadways. It's good for public health and the environment to do so. Unfortunately most voting citizens are motorists, not runners; and unfortunately the insurance industry (who would need to pay expensive settlements if traffic law was modified to better protect potential pedestrian victims of irresponsible motorists) has a very powerful lobby; so laws protecting pedestrians from harm are unlikely to change.

I hope that Jenny Crain recovers, but I also hope the

Meant to say that I also hope that we can learn to better protect pedestrians, cyclists and runners in the city, but I cut it off by accident.

liamrevell wrote:

Fault is a dicey issue.

Exactly, and I trust the word of the police who investigated the incident more than and idiot thinking up scenarios to support his view.

I particularly enjoyed your dramatic use of " when one individuals wields a deadly weapon (a 1000 lb steel car travelling at >30mph)".

You are a talented fiction writer. Watching all those CSI episodes are paying off.

First and foremost, its called an accident. No one meant to hurt anyone and trying to put fault on Jenny or the Driver is pretty much pointless at this junction.

Second, the intersection in question sucks. I've run it quite a few times and have driven through it a ton. The problem that occcurs for pedestrians crossing brady street the direction she was, is that its difficult to tell which street has the light.

Cambridge and Farwell are both One ways that cross brady and connect. If your going west on brady, you look at the lights and its difficult to tell if its farwell or cambridge who's got the green. My guess is she thought it was cambridge, so when the light turned yellow, she didn't see any cars comming and started to run and got smacked by the acura driver comming down farwell.

Its a complete accident and the focus needs to be on her recovery instead of trying to find blame. Accidents happen everyday.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?address=E%20Brady%20St%20%26%20N%20Farwell%20Ave&city=Milwaukee&state=WI&zipcode=53202&country=US&title=%3cb%20class%3d%22fn%20org%22%3eE%20Brady%20St%20%26amp%3b%20N%20Farwell%20Ave%3c%2fb%3e%3cbr%20%2f%3e%20%3cspan%20style%3d%22display%3ainline%3bmargin%2dbottom%3a0px%3b%22%20class%3d%22locality%22%3eMilwaukee%3c%2fspan%3e%2c%20%3cspan%20style%3d%22display%3ainline%3bmargin%2dbottom%3a0px%3b%22%20class%3d%22region%22%3eWI%3c%2fspan%3e%20%3cspan%20style%3d%22display%3ainline%3bmargin%2dbottom%3a0px%3b%22%20class%3d%22postal%2dcode%22%3e53202%3c%2fspan%3e%2c%20%20%3cspan%20style%3d%22display%3ainline%3bmargin%2dbottom%3a0px%3b%22%20class%3d%22country%2dname%22%3eUS%3c%2fspan%3e%3c%2fspan%3e&cid=lfmaplink2&name=&dtype=h

Re-re-hijacking this thread...

Jenny is one of the most likable people in T&F. Hoping she gets back to 100% soon.

From blog.silentsportsonline.com:

Milwaukee police said Crain ran against a “Don’t Walk” traffic signal when she was struck in the crosswalk by a southbound car in the left lane of N. Farwell Ave. approaching E. Brady St. at 7:44 a.m. The driver, a 22-year-old, was not charged and no tickets will be issued, a police spokesperson said.

Silent Sports columnist Teri Dwyer – also a Milwaukee native the same age as Crain but not an acquaintance – is among the many runners who have said “it could have been any of us.”

“I literally count my near misses with cars every time I go out for a run in Saint Paul. It sounds like she may have crossed against a light, but even still, running can be pretty scary,” Dwyer said.

...to you

Head hurting wrote:

liamrevell wrote:

Fault is a dicey issue.

Exactly, and I trust the word of the police who investigated the incident more than and idiot thinking up scenarios to support his view.

I particularly enjoyed your dramatic use of " when one individuals wields a deadly weapon (a 1000 lb steel car travelling at >30mph)".

My views are simple - laws should be modified, or existing laws enforced, to ensure the multiple uses of city roadways (such as by cyclists, pedestrians, and runners) are possible. This is good for everyone - it's good for public health, because it increases the safety of exercising out of doors; it is good for the environment, because it protects commuter cyclists who are protecting the environment - so I'm surprised that you find the idea so objectionable. That means that a motorist should be held accountable for his use of the vehicle. It means that vehicular manslaughter is not protected by so-called "right of way." I think most runners would agree that the more drivers are forced to slow down and be aware of cyclists and runners the safer we all will be on the roads and the more seldom tragic injuries and loss of life will take place.

Good luck on the roads.

- Liam

I am all for runners safety and a discussion on runners issues re: drivers, safety, etc. I've been hit twice I know the story, but can we discuss that in another thread and keep this line of communication open to keep up positive vibes for Jenny? Thank you to those keeping us posted on Jenny's condition. Please contribute if you have the means. And please stop speculating on fault.

I'm crushed! Man, what a shock. What a horrible reminder of how fragile we all are.

Who ever is posting updates, thank you for doing so.

My prayers to you Jenny. GET BETTER!!

Mike Black- Eugene, Oregon

Thank you Mike. Things can happen so quickly.

August 28, 2007

TWO IN A ROW

Tuesday saw small yet measured improvement in Jenny’s brain condition. The brain related measures being monitored by her doctors showed improvement throughout the day. That’s two days in a row. Jenny remains in critical condition.

As noted yesterday, the next key benchmark is the operation needed for her neck and other injuries. There is some hope that the surgery can occur soon if she continues to move in a positive direction.

Remarkably it has been one week since the accident. All of you continue to be great champions supporting Jenny. Thank you.

August 29, 2007

ANOTHER BETTER DAY

Jenny today showed continued minimal measured improvement in her condition. While Jenny remains unconscious and in critical condition some hopeful signs emerged today: some blinking of her eyes and periodic coughs. Jenny continues to make baby steps in her fight to get to the next benchmark the surgery we have addressed in previous updates. The doctors suggested that Friday might be the day. However, they made it clear that her condition will dictate when the operation will occur. It remains a day-to-day assessment. As soon as they believe she can handle the stress of surgery it will be performed.

We remain hopeful that Jenny will continue to make incremental improvements.

The family will be meeting with the care team on Thursday evening and we will post an update after that or if new information becomes available sooner.

Jenny’s family is deeply appreciative of all the love and prayers for Jenny. It makes a huge difference in this difficult time. Please keep your voice of support coming to this site and to the Jenny Crain -- Make it Happen Fund.

liamrevell wrote:

Fault is a dicey issue.

Is it possible - or even likely - ...I suspect...suggest... Is it possible...Is it possible ...

I believe that when one individuals wields a deadly weapon (a 1000 lb steel car travelling at >30mph) against another defenseless citizen (an unprotected runner), the burden of proof should be on him or her to proove that they were operating the vehicle safely, and according to the rules of the road, at the time of the accident.

The "burden of proof" is on the accuser. In this case, that appears to be you. We do not require people to prove their innocence.

Your entire post is a series of "possibilities," for which you have no proof. Contrary to everything that you posted, the police investigated and did not even issue a ticket to the driver. There was a witness. Yet YOU continue to assert that this is not enough for you and your "possibilities" and "suggestions."

So basically what you are saying is you have nothing to actually add to the subject of this thread.

sam w wrote:

The "burden of proof" is on the accuser. In this case, that appears to be you. We do not require people to prove their innocence.

Your entire post is a series of "possibilities," for which you have no proof. Contrary to everything that you posted, the police investigated and did not even issue a ticket to the driver. There was a witness. Yet YOU continue to assert that this is not enough for you and your "possibilities" and "suggestions."