Colorado has an when it comes to reporting medical conditions that could impair one’s ability to drive safely.
The state counts on motorists to tell the truth when applying for a driver’s license. And the case of Christopher Booker offers a cautionary tale about the tragedy that can ensue when drivers ignore that responsibility.
Booker reportedly had a seizure before hitting four Denver police officers in December, grievously injuring one, John Adsit. Booker faces serious charges, including first-degree assault and vehicular assault.
Even though there has been no indication that Booker intentionally caused the accident, which happened after a protest involving East High School students, neglect matters, too. A lot, in fact.
Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey that even with a known history of seizures, Booker failed to reveal his condition in nine applications for driver’s licenses between 2006 and 2015.
If true — and prosecutors obviously still must prove their case — that’s an enormously troubling flouting of the rules.
According to a Denver Post story, Morrissey said he plans to file 20 charges against Booker, who allegedly lost control of his car and a group of bicycle cops on East Colfax Avenue.
Shortly after the accident, there was speculation about a cover-up. The speed with which police attributed the accident to a medical condition showed the truth was being suppressed, according to accusations leveled via talk radio and social media.
The charges against Booker, which were announced Wednesday, should put to rest any . The reason it took so long to file charges is that investigators extensively reviewed medical and driver’s license records to build a case.
And they were right to do so. This is a serious case, and not just because of the injuries that Adsit suffered. It goes to the integrity of Colorado’s driver’s license system.
The state is rightly showing it takes seriously the obligation of drivers to be scrupulously honest about their fitness to take the wheel and the penalty that comes with not doing so.
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