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Family shows compassion, mercy to man who caused traffic death

LISBON — The family of the county probate court retiree killed in a traffic accident last year did not request jail time for the man who caused the crash.

Speaking through sobs of anguish and comforted by her son and daughter-in-law, Stanley Miller’s widow, Joyce Miller, asked county Municipal Court Judge Mark Frost to only impose a maximum two-year driver’s license suspension for Paul Strawbridge, who was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter by the court in December.

Strawbridge, 78, of New Waterford, had pleaded no contest to the second-degree misdemeanor charge at that time and appeared for sentencing on Friday.

“As you know, my life and my family’s life was forever changed June 17,” said Mrs. Miller, who attended the hearing with son Rich and daughter-in-law Lorraine. “I lost my best friend of 45 years. The pain is unbearable.”

Miller, 68, of Salem, was killed when the vehicle he was driving eastbound on U.S. 62 was struck by the vehicle driven by Strawbridge, who failed to yield turning left.

Both assistant county prosecutor Don Humphrey Jr. and Strawbridge’s attorney, Gerald Ingram, agreed the accident was the result of a “mental lapse” in judgment on Strawbridge’s part.

Ingram pointed out during the sentencing that Strawbridge has never been in trouble with the law and didn’t even have a juvenile record.

“This is the only time he has been in trouble in his entire life,” Ingram said.

His only other violation prior to the accident was a traffic ticket for a valid sticker back in 1998.

“He doesn’t have a history of careless or reckless driving. Mr. Strawbridge is a good man,” Ingram said.

A blood sample provided at the scene of the crash revealed Strawbridge was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and he was not speeding, he added.

Ingram went on to say that Strawbridge has shown remorse for the death, and that the recollection of the crash also rekindles thoughts of his own family loss.

Ingram said Strawbridge lost his father in a traffic crash several years ago and his son to a fireworks accident on Western Reserve Road near state Route 7.

His son was in his early 20s and was a week shy from his next birthday.

“My heart goes out to these people because I have been there,” Strawbridge said, choking back emotion. “Words can’t express it. The pain never goes away. I am sorry. There is no easy answer.”

Ingram was impressed with the Miller family.

“A lot of times I am in a court where people are pounding the table and asking for a maximum sentence,” he said.

Humphrey also did not request jail time, but did feel the sentencing needed to send a message to other drivers to warn about the hazards of being distracted.

“What lesson is to be learned? What message is to be sent? They have to pay attention. They can’t let these things happen, because these are the consequences, the loss of life,” Humphrey said.

He went on to say that the request to not impose jail time for Strawbridge was “extremely compassionate, but a reasonable one.”

He suggested the court add on to the maximum two-year driver’s license suspension and impose a five-year probation, the terms of which would include that Strawbridge would not be allowed to operate a motor vehicle during that time, whether he held a driver’s license or not.

He also requested a $750 fine.

While Ingram agreed with Humphrey’s five-year probation suggestion, he argued against using a sentence as a deterrent.

“Deterrents only work for those engaged in intentional crimes,” he said.

In the end, Frost imposed the two-year suspension and five-year probation, with the suggested terms, and $750 fine, with $225 suspended for probation fees, and 90 days jail suspended.

“I am going to do what the family wants me to do here because I think the family wants the right thing,” Frost said. “Mr. Miller was a competent, kind and decent man.”

To Strawbridge, he said, “You recognize it is not about you. I don’t think jail is appropriate in this case.”

After the sentencing Strawbridge asked to approach the family and speak with them directly. He again shared his sorrow and was given a hug by Rich Miller.

kwhite@mojonews.com

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