Staff writer
Less than a week after a van-truck crash killed three group home residents and two workers from the Mental Health Association of Washington County, county commission Chairman Larry Maggi said he wants to see annual defensive driving courses for county workers who transport people.
Two victims of the crash, Sheryl Maiolini, 53, of Charleroi, who was driving the van, and Mary Watkins, 43, of Ellsworth, also a Mental Health Association staffer, worked for a Washington County contractor.
Those in similar positions would not be affected by Maggi's proposal because they are not county employees.
"Obviously, that accident's still being investigated," Maggi said Wednesday. "When you have drivers who are driving our clients around, or, as part of their job, taking people who are in county programs to events, you've got to make sure they're on top of their game when they're operating a vehicle."
Among those who transport others in county-owned vehicles are sheriff's deputies, county detectives, Washington County Health Center workers, Children & Youth Services caseworkers, adult and juvenile probation department employees and those who work at senior citizen centers.
Maggi, a former state trooper who worked the traffic detail for 15 years, said state police were mandated to take an annual defensive driving course as a condition of their employment.
"Most traffic accidents are human error," he said. "Conditions can contribute to it."
In calling for the refresher courses, Maggi said he was not implying who may have been at fault in the quintuple fatal accident.
Six others were injured in the April 24 crash.
Tim McCullough, county human resources director, said he would contact Washington County's insurance carrier about the driving classes. Maggi said he thinks the training can be offered in-house at minimal cost.
Those who hold commercial drivers license state certification must periodically update physical examinations and eye tests, but they do not have to re-take the skills part of the certification.