Senseless Tragedy in Santa Monica

Re “Car Plows Through Crowd in Santa Monica, Killing 9,” July 17: I attended the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market on Wednesday, as usual. With one exception. I came without my daughter, which made my trip along Arizona go a few minutes faster. Minutes that saved my life. After having just rounded the corner off Arizona to 2nd Street, I heard the commotion. I went back to an unbelievable sight of blood, mayhem and an unearthly stillness. I sat with one victim and gazed at the critically injured around me. The row of victims went on down the street.

Every bystander who could help, did. In what seemed like ages, but was merely minutes, the paramedics worked their way down to our block. I don’t think they had any idea how far the damage stretched; but that did not alter how fast they responded and how efficiently they worked. Passing those who could wait and tending to the most critically injured first, they got it right each time. I now know that every dollar spent on emergency response personnel and training has been well spent. I’ll be back next Wednesday to once again shop at the Farmers’ Market.

Deborah Ebert

Pacific Palisades

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If Santa Monica had installed permanent street inserts for removable steel bollards into the various street access points along the route used for the Farmers’ Market (and other street fairs), and those bollards had been dropped into place as soon as the vendors were finished off-loading and the market was ready to open, George Russell Weller’s car would have been stopped cold. Instead, the city relied on flimsy wooden barricades, and The Times writes about stricter rules for elderly motorists (July 17). Age has nothing to do with this tragedy -- easy access does.

Ann Calhoun

Los Osos

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An elderly member of our family drove her car into the house while aiming for the garage. Then, a year or so later, she made a left turn in front of an oncoming vehicle. The first accident was reported by the body shop to the DMV, and was followed by my letter of warning. The license was renewed. The second accident totaled the car and, fortunately, no one was hurt. She was nearly 90 and her difficulties in operating an automobile were not hard to observe.

R.W. Tolbert

Long Beach

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This horrible accident reminds us once again that we have to be more strict with seniors driving cars. At the age of 86, Weller should not have been driving. He may look capable of driving and appear physically and mentally fit, but at a moment of crisis, he may not react the same way he would have when he was much younger. There has to be a mandatory age when someone has to give up their license.

When pilots turn 60 years of age, they must retire from commercial airlines. It’s about safety. Driving is a privilege, but once someone gets to a certain age they must give up that privilege because many lives depend on it, as this horrific accident showed us.

Anthony Mohr

Los Angeles

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I was appalled to see a photo with someone dead in it. This is harmful and unnecessary. As someone who lost my sister this year and had the event shown in the media, I can personally attest to the torment it has caused her friends who saw the images. How would you feel opening the paper to see your deceased loved one lying on the pavement? God bless the family and friends of the person you have shown in this photo.

Sonja Gettel

Glendora