Truck driver suspected of DUI
VALLEY LAKE RANCHOS — A man and woman riding a motorcycle on Avenue 21 near Road 31 were killed after they attempted to avoid a pickup truck that turned in front of them, the California Highway Patrol said. The driver of the pickup is suspected of DUI.
Gary Ragsdale, 41, of Madera Ranchos was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. The names of the victims, a couple from Ahwahnee, are not being released pending notification of family members.
Ragsdale, who was coming from Hensley Lake, was also charged with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, according to officers. He and a female passenger sustained cuts and bruises in the crash.
Bystanders at Sunny’s Market and gas station were horrified as they saw the crash unfold...
Comments
The family
Gary Ragsdale was named after my cousin Gary Ragsdale who died in Vietnam 1969 USMC.
This side of my family are all Veterans including me,
I can't take back what adult Gary has done, I can only pray for the families that have lost, including ours, and Gary for his actions.
I am certain Gary had no intention but made a bad choice to drive while drinking when this accident happened.
Such a tragic loss for all of us.
.
I want to send a public apology to the families that have so tragically lost.
Sincerely, a distant relative who cares.
Ron Wayland
Response to Ron Wayland's comments
Ron, Thank you for your apology on your relative's behalf, and for your prayers. I am one of Gary Smalz's sisters, the one that lives in SoCal. My family is devastated over this loss, and some are, understandably so, very angry at Gary Ragdales irresponsibile decision that took the lives of two people we love.
Personally, I'm also praying for the Ragdales family- there were NO winners here.
My response to the death of my brother and sister in law
I am Gary Smalz's other sister April, the one who lives local. I appreciate you trying to reach out and can understand why, but an apology doesn't mean anything to me, and I know that Gary's daughter feels the same. There were close to 75 motorcycles that rode yesterday with my husband and myself. Do you know that only a handful of these people knew my brother? There were people that I personally didn't even know! The ALL came out because they are sickened by people who drive after drinking and want to spread awareness not to drink and drive.
If I was the relative of a man who woke up, drank, got in a truck and drove, then two innocent people died, I would be mortified and embarrassed and feeling horrible. In this day and age we don't live under a rock, we ALL know the dangers of drinking and driving, we know that it is against the law, AND we know that we can hurt somebody and KILL them (as in this case). There are signs on the highway, ads on TV, it is even in bars...drink responsibly...Don't drink and drive. So to me...a person who gets behind the wheel after drinking doesn't care about their fellow man. Bumping into somebody and making them drop an item is an "accident"...Not reading the reviews and going to a movie that is boring is a "bad choice".....Getting behind the wheel while intoxicated is a decision you make and your actions show that you don't care about the outcome. Your relative had intention....that intention was made when he drank and drove...he didn't care about the possible outcome.
I went to the crash site...the visibility is clear...there is not a blind corner, a sign or a tree, there is NOTHING obstructing the view of traffic both ways. BUT there was impaired reaction time and decreased awareness due to alcohol.
I cannot describe to you on what level this has affected my family. You have NO IDEA WHAT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM US. My brother and I had plans together to ride and camp, to play music again, to travel to Sturgis and play a gig, we had car shows to enjoy together coming up, we shared beliefs on so many things that we would talk about...and none of this can EVER happen now.
Riding is such an ingrained part of our lifestyle...we are a family of riders, many who were taught by my brother...a safety instructor for 9 years. I now am nervous to ride my Harley, I am jumpy on the back with my husband, every two lane road with a turn in driveway I am worried a truck will turn in front of us, your relative has ruined something that I love to do with my family and friends, and ruined it for others also. I received an email from a couple I do not know, my brother taught them how to ride. The quote " Your brother was an incredible instructor, and if the man who taught us to ride was killed on his bike, we are no longer riding, we are putting our bikes up for sale."
My brother was the one who I turned to for advise since my Father has been gone for 15 years. He was wise, smart and full of knowledge. His grandchildren will not remember him, they are too young. His children are fatherless, did you know Gary and Laura have a 9 year old? Who does she make HER Mother's and Father's Day presents for while her classmates are making things for their parents who are alive. She was away at Girl Scout Camp, she came home to her parents dead. Your relative bailed out the next day to sit on the couch with his family, while my brother and sister in law lay in the morgue. The man who works at the Store who lifted the bike off my brother, it had crushed his insides, broken his pelvis, and the impact knocked his teeth out of his mouth, is so shaken by all of this. Laura's mother is elderly like my mom....Parents aren't supposed to bury their children.
My brother was a community leader, an entertainer, a teacher....my sister in law was a kind gentle person who was always smiling. Look at their pictures, see the love they shared, look at the internet news videos, see the sorrow and pain that we are experiencing. There is no "I'm Sorry".
People who do things like this should take responsibility for their actions. But I know this trial will drag on and cost the State of California thousands of dollars. Money spent because somebody didn't care. Somebody who just did what he felt like without worrying about anybody else, somebody who drank and drove.
I will be there for my brother and sister in law every step of the way.