Pilot in NY ferry disaster sentenced to 18 months

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A remorseful ferry boat pilot was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Monday for falling asleep at the wheel of the vessel that slammed into a Staten Island pier in 2003 and killed 11 people.

A New York City transport official also received a year and a day in prison in a case that left victims' relatives clamoring for longer jail terms and the judge agonizing over the punishment because the defendants meant no harm.

Judge Edward Korman, speaking softly with his head bowed, said he had not intended to impose the maximum sentences under the guidelines for pilot Richard Smith and ferry director Patrick Ryan. But he did just that after hearing weeping relatives plea for justice.

The accident on October 15, 2003, was the worst in the 100 years that New York City has operated the ferry between Manhattan and Staten Island, a 25-minute commute taken by 65,000 passengers a day. Seventy people were taken to the hospital.

A separate civil case will determine the city's liability.

More: http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-01-10T000734Z_01_KWA000417_RTRUKOC_0_US-CRIME-FERRY.xml&archived=False

[LisaM]

1. Interesting. The issue of sick days and how hard it is to take them

just came up with one of my discussion groups. There are many jobs (most of them civic - teachers, nurses, etc.) where it is really difficult to use your days off without some airtight written excuse.

I think that we as a culture discourage people from taking time off work, even if it's legitimate. That, coupled with understaffing, is taking its toll on people.