Freeway Death and Mall Sales

* Over the past several years, I have seen the increased popularity of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) on the roads and the careless and sometimes reckless manner in which some of them are driven.

The Dec. 19 crash that involved an SUV and a tanker truck underscores the kind of devastation that can occur when an SUV is driven unsafely. According to newspaper accounts, the SUV driver, Zaki Gordon, lost control of his vehicle entering U.S. 101 northbound at Lindero Canyon Road and crashed into the tanker truck, causing the tanker to hit the center divider. The tanker flipped over and burst into flames, spilling debris in both directions of the freeway. Gordon died and four others were injured.

After seeing the condition of the freeway while out shopping, I went home and turned on my scanner. I listened to police coverage of the incident and heard reports of other incidents involving SUVs. One report cited a driver of a green Ford Explorer who was tailgating cars and flashing its lights at them.

I hope that owners of SUVs will pay heed to Gordon’s costly error. SUVs are not Porsches. They are not BMW’s, Corvettes, Mustangs or even Honda Accords or Ford Tauruses. They are big, high center-of-gravity trucks that should be driven somewhat less aggressively than regular passenger cars in order to be driven safely. Additionally, in general, they don’t stop as quickly or maneuver as well.

Slow down, people. Try to remember what courtesy is, and drive safely.

DAVE DOLNICK

Thousand Oaks

*

The entity that bears the greatest responsibility for the Dec. 19 tanker crash on the Ventura Freeway is the California Highway Patrol.

What is amazing is that an accident similar to this has not occurred sooner.

This section of the under-patrolled freeway is absolutely out of control. If you cruise at 74 mph, people are on your tail one after the other and you must endure the handful of cars racing in and out of traffic leaving the flow as if it were standing still.

MIKE HANNIN

Newbury Park

*

I am sure your story reporting the fatal accident on the 101 Freeway that killed my daughter’s friend, Zaki Gordon, was accurate in reporting this tragedy as it occurred. But to include at the end of the story what impact the accident may have had on Christmas shopping at The Oaks mall was extremely insensitive to the fact that a 22-year-old man lost his life.

What possible difference does it make what impact that had on Christmas shoppers?

I think the Los Angeles Times owes an apology to the family and friends of Zaki Gordon.

LARRY WOODBURN

Thousand Oaks

*

My family and I live three miles east of the Lindero Canyon exit, where the accident occurred, so were very much aware of the devastation that resulted. What made it hit even closer to home was the fact that my own son had played a season of football with the 14-year-old boy who was a passenger in the Chevrolet Blazer that was destroyed and so terribly lost his older brother in that crash. We knew this family, watched and cheered our children together, and sat and talked together as families often do.

I found it cold and unfeeling for you to end your article with a question about whether the mall’s sales were affected. Why even to mention it at all? Speaking on behalf of my family and hundreds of friends who have read the article, I say a 22-year-old died--who cares if The Oaks mall’s sales were affected? People could always shop the next day, couldn’t they?

LESLEY TESTAN

Oak Park