DENVER—The Colorado State Patrol has withdrawn the $22 jaywalking ticket issued to a good Samaritan who was seriously injured by a pickup after he pushed three people out of its path.
Bus driver Jim Moffett of Denver and another man were helping two elderly women cross a busy Denver street in a snowstorm when he was hit Feb. 20.
Moffett, 58, was treated for bleeding in the brain, broken bones and a dislocated shoulder. He remained hospitalized in serious condition Friday.
The State Patrol said in a written release it was withdrawing the citation “after examining the totality of the circumstances” and consulting with prosecutors. Colorado State Patrol spokesman Sgt. John Hahn said the citation didn’t meet the standard to be filed in court.
The review was done by Lt. Col. Doyle S. Eicher. In the statement, Eicher cited “the complexities that a trooper faces when investigating a crash” and said some cases warrant a review.
The patrol originally said that despite Moffett’s intentions, jaywalking contributed to the accident.
“We can certainly appreicate the good deeds of anybody who puts themselsves in harms way,” Hahn said. “But obviously we would like for people to consider their own safety when they act.”
The patrol also withdrew jaywalking citations against the other good Samaritan and one of the two women. The other woman wasn’t cited because troopers said she wasn’t directly involved.
The women and the other good Samaritan were passengers on Moffett’s Regional Transportation District bus.
The pickup driver was cited for careless driving resulting in injury. That citation still stands.
Moffett’s wife, Donna, didn’t immediately return a call after the ticket was withdrawn. She said earlier Friday that Moffett was doing better but he faces a long recovery.
“His knee is just completely destroyed, his shoulder was badly dislocated, he’s got a lot of internal injuries,” she said.
“He told his son he’d do it again, which really upsets me because he almost lost his life,” Donna Moffett said. “When I saw him in the emergency room, I didn’t think he was going to make it.”
She said her husband got plenty of support.
“We’ve had calls from all over the country—people wanting to pay for his ticket and help pay for his medical bills,” she said.
The pickup driver, Steve David, 48, of Denver, said he has contacted Moffett and has been praying for him. David said he wasn’t speeding and visibility was poor from a snow storm and the lack of street lights.
“It’s just horrible to ruin somebody’s life like that,” David said, adding that he will contest the ticket. “I haven’t really eaten or slept much since it happened.”
