So I know most of you who actually read my blog already know what happened to my Uncle Lynn and are with us in doing what we can to get his murderer off of the streets. But just in case there's even one person who comes to my blog who doesn't know, and is willing to join our cause, I'll post information again. Here's the contents of an email I sent to some friends and family members. Let me know if you have any questions or are willing to join the fight!...
Hi Everybody!
I am writing with a plea for help. As many of you know, my Uncle Lynn Patterson recently passed away after sustaining injuries in a hit-and-run accident with a drunk driver last month. As of right now, the man who is responsible has only served 5 hours in jail and is working on a plea deal that could give him a mere 9 month sentence in jail after he not only rear ended my Uncles car, but then ran him over before fleeing the scene, causing his death. Many friends and family are writing letters to the Mayor, the attorney general, and anyone else that might be able to make this repeat offender serve his full sentence.
If any of you (and anyone else you know) wouldn't mind joining me in writing the officials, I will give you contact info and even a copy of the letter I am sending to them. You can just copy this letter, or write your own. I think that what has happened is absolutely ridiculous, and any assistance our family can get to accomplish justice would be hugely appreciated!
Here's a link to the one and ONLY news report about the accident:
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=8432975&nid=148
Here's my version of the letter I am sending to officials:
"Dear ,
I am writing to you as a very concerned citizen who is deeply disappointed in how justice is not being served in regards to the hit-and-run death of Milton Lynn Patterson.
Lynn Patterson, was tragically murdered by a repeat offender (DUI), Ron Torres, in West Valley City late on the night of October 23, 2009. After having part of his skull removed and remaining unconscious in the ICU, he passed away on October 30. He was only 58 years old. He is the father and step-father to 12 children. His youngest child is barely 14. She keeps hoping she'll wake up and these events will have all been a bad dream.
I say "murdered" because after rear-ending Lynn at a red light on Bangerter Highway, Torres ran him down with his car when Lynn got out to assess the vehicle’s damage. There were witnesses to the accident, including a Deputy. Torres’ defense is that he was scared because he was driving on a denied license with prior offenses. How does he think Lynn's family has felt?!
I heard that Torres' attorney is working on a plea deal. This should not be allowed to happen. As of May 12, 2009, the new hit-and-run law on the Utah books (H.B. 237), sponsored by Rep. Chris Herrod, states that motorists involved in a hit-and-run collision in which there is death or serious bodily injury can be charged with a felony if they previously were convicted of DUI. Torres has been previously convicted of 2 DUIs, and on October 23; fled the scene, falsely called in his vehicle as stolen, and even disabled the court mandated breathalyzer interlock system in his car. Letting him plea and get off with a slap on the wrist would be an enormous perversion of justice, and the biggest disrespect to his Wife--who now must make ends meet on her own. She has severe type 1 diabetes and is a kidney transplant survivor. Lynn took amazing care of his wife and his family, along with every person he ever met. This injustice would also extend to the children who have been robbed of their father, to the grandchildren who have been robbed of their grandfather, to the extended family who have been robbed of their Patriarch, and to the community who has been robbed of a true Angel among men.
Lynn Patterson was a hard-working, honest man. He was a man who delighted in serving others and did so at every opportunity. He was a man who proudly served his country in the U.S Navy protecting our freedoms. He was a man who did not deserve to be run down like a dog and left to die on the side of the road just because another man made completely irresponsible, and might I add criminal, choices.
Please do all that you can to see that Ron Torres is made to take full responsibility for the hundreds and hundreds of people he has affected with his careless and reprehensible behavior (Lynn Patterson had an extremely large heart, and an even larger circle of family and friends).
In light of the seemingly ever increasing number of hit-and-run crimes, I sincerely hope that you, and all of our elected officials, will do whatever you can to see that laws are put in place and upheld to protect the citizens of this state and not the offenders. Hit-and-run crimes need to be a felony, period! We need to join the rest of the country (except Montana and Kentucky) in ALWAYS classifying these serious crimes as felonious--not just when a previous DUI is involved.
Thank you very much for your time."
Here is contact information for the people I am sending this letter to:
West Valley City Mayor and City Manager
Mayor Dennis J. Nordfelt
Wayne Pyle,City Manager
3600 S. Constitution Blvd.
West Valley City, UT 84119
Ph: (801) 963-3220
Fax: (801) 966-8455
http://www.wvc-ut.gov/index.aspx?nid=98
You can also go to this webpage and fill out an online statement to the mayor
West Jordan Mayor
Mayor David B. Newton
City of West Jordan
8000 S. Redwood Rd.
West Jordan, UT 84088
City phone: (801) 569-5105
Cell phone: (801) 381-8111
Home phone: (801) 255-5415
e-mail: daven@wjordan.com
Attorney General Mark Shurtleff
Questions, Complaints, Requests, or Suggestions
General Office Numbers: (801) 366-0260, (801) 538-9600, (801) 366-0300
Toll Free within the State of Utah: (800) AG4 INFO (244-4636)
E-Mail: uag@utah.gov
Please leave your name, phone number or address so you can be contacted.
Utah State Capitol Office
Office of the Attorney General
Utah State Capitol Complex
350 North State Street Suite 230
SLC UT 84114-2320
FAX: (801) 538-1121
Utah State Capitol Office Mailing Address
Office of the Attorney General
PO Box 142320
SLC UT 84114-2320
Heber M. Wells Building Offices
P.O. Box 140811
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
FAX: (801) 366-0221
I am also seeking out who the judge is in this case so that I may write to him or her as well.
You can check out more pictures and information on Facebook in the group "In Memory of Lynn Patterson we should have stricter laws for DUI "
Thanks to anyone who wants to help with this cause. Bless you all and I will let you know (if you want) what happens as this process comes along.
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