Driver in tragic Phoenix motorcycle accident to be retried

Tragic Phoenix Motorcycle accidentJustice may still be in the cards for fallen motorcyclists who were tragically killed last year by an accused dump truck driver.

After a hung jury forced the trial’s judge to declare a mistrial, reports have surfaced that Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery will retry Michael Jakscht.

Jakscht is accused of being impaired while driving a truck that killed four motorcyclists and seriously injured five others in a north Phoenix accident.

It was March 24th 2010 when four people died and five were seriously injured when a large dump truck plowed into eight motorcycles stopped in traffic at a light in North Phoenix at approximately 1 p.m.. The eight motorcycles, carrying at least nine people, had pulled up behind a pickup and a small SUV near 27th Drive and Carefree Highway in North Phoenix.

At the time, witnesses told officials the dump truck ran over the motorcycles and collided with the SUV originally in front of the bikes at the light. Some of the motorcycles burst into flames while others, along with the riders, were dragged 50 to 75 yards according to reports. By the time the sanitation dump truck had finally stopped, three riders were trapped underneath.

"I have never seen such a horrific accident involving so many motorcycles," Phoenix Public Safety Manager Jack Harris told reporters at the time.

The prosecution claimed Jakscht was under the influence of drugs and a "lapse of consciousness or his inability to maintain his attention to the task of driving."

But defense attorney Robyn Varcoe said Jakscht had already made 10 runs and had driven about 150 miles that day, operating the truck's complicated machinery, so it was unlikely that he was suddenly unable to drive.

According to Jakscht, he was midway through his day driving a roll-off truck when, according to his testimony, he glanced to one side. When he looked back to the road, he realized he was bearing down on 10 motorcyclists stopped at a red light.

The meth, he said, could only have come from some diet pills that he had been taking for weeks and had last taken the day before.

Phoenix police say initial toxicology tests show that Jakscht had methamphetamine in his system at the time.

Tragic phoenix motorcycle accident

Jurors were told he would have to be found guilty on all counts, or not guilty of any, because the injuries and deaths happened in the same instant. The jury hung 9-3 in favor of acquittal, forcing Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Joseph Welty to declare a mistrial.

Montgomery met with prosecutors this week to review the case. A new trial date has not yet been set. A $1 million bond has been set for Jakscht.

Comments  

 
0 #3 Fred 2011-11-16 14:10
It all depends on who you are... "Just bikers, so lets go easy on the truck driver." But, had it been any other group, say a bunch of guys heading out for the Saturday game of golf, likely a different outcome. Just like a pack rat; what is the difference between a pack rat and a squirrel? They and both rodents, but the squirrel is dressed better, so everyone thinks they are cute. Kill a squirrel, people get angry; kill a pack rat, everyone is happy. (Not that I am comparing bikers to unsavory rodents, or advocating killing rodents, just making a point.
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+2 #2 2011-08-31 11:07
If this involved a car load of kids or animals I bet there would be more outcry from the public. What a travisty to say that he must be found guilty on all counts. Let's just reduce it down to outright murder.
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+9 #1 2011-08-27 15:10
I don't care if he had a heart attack or stroke -- when you're behind the wheel, you're responsible for that vehicle. No excuses.
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