Another Dewey Mills Road Dee-Wee…Is it just coindence or are we seeing quite a few DUI’s on Dewey these days? What with so-called “motorists” ending up in ponds, having accidents and ending up with citations, perhaps a good idea to drive with much more care in this area?
Hartford Police have issued this press release about the latest incident:
PRESS RELEASE
INCIDENT: DUI/MV CRASH
CASE #: 11HF04080
HARTFORD POLICE OFFICER CLIFFORD
CONTACT#: 802 295 9425
DATE/TIME: 10/29/11 0200
LOCATION (specific): DEWEY MILLS ROAD
VIOLATION: DUI REFUSAL
ACCUSED: GEORGE RAMIREZ
AGE: 47
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: QUECHEE VT
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT: OFFICERS RESPONDED TO DHMC FOR A REPORT OF AN INTOXICATEd DRIVER WHO WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN QUECHEE, VT WHERE THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED HE HAD CONSUMED ALCOHOL PRIOR TO DRIVING. HE LATER REFUSED TO SUBMIT TO A BLOOD TEST AND WAS CITED FOR DUI REFUSAL WITHOUT INCIDENT.
COURT ACTION: Y
CITED – DATE: 11/15/11 COURT: WINDSOR
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 
Posted by Daniel T. Quinn on October 30, 2011 at 11:46
Was it necessary and appropriate to post the alleged offender’s name in this blog? What was your intent? If you are going to post incidents on the police blotter, there is a responsibility to post ALL of them. The person’s name could have (and should have) been redacted…in my opinion.
WEB Reply: The intent in posting this press release is WEB has detected a trend of DUI’s on this particular road that is certainly notable and newsworthy. We have no idea who this individual is or isn’t. It’s irrelevant.
If the police provide the information to the public, it is fully public information. WEB does not “redact” any names from police press releases — Ever. We put up all press releases relevant to Woodstock — including Quechee, South Woodstock, Bridgewater. If it is relevant to the immediate area, it is posted. End of story. Standard journalism practice. You may not want this person’s name in the paper, but if this person was involved in the accident and the police issue the information, the public has a right to know who was involved.
LikeLike
Posted by Daniel T. Quinn on October 30, 2011 at 13:01
While I agree it is public information, so is everything else in the police blotter. I don’t know the person in the story, but you have singled out one person in a story about “a trend.” Thus, you have selectively redacted everyone else who was arrested for a “DUI on this particular road.” Say what you will, it’s not “fair and balanced” reporting. If the “public has a right to know” (and WE DO) you have a responsibility to tell the whole story, not a snapshot of what is a video. In my opinion.
WEB Reply: Appreciate what you are saying. Don’t know how long you have been following this blog, but there have been several other reports posted here about incidents on Dewey Mills Road. The Hartford Police have issued several (perhaps three or more) in the past six months.
As journalists, we constantly sift through items and determine whether they rise to the level of “news.” We have reported on others — with their names — in the past as they have risen to that level. If someone ends up in the Dewey Mills pond — that’s news. If someone has an accident on Dewey Mills Road and ends up at DHMC emergency room — with or without alcohol involved, that’s news. If the police issue a citation to appear in court as a result of that incident, that’s news, too.
I believe you are reacting to a snapshot of one post and not the blog’s record over time. Appreciate what you are saying, absolutely.
If there were -hopefully not – another accident on Dewey Mills Road this evening and Hartford Police issued a press release, you can be sure it would be posted here. WEB
LikeLike
Posted by Daniel T. Quinn on October 30, 2011 at 13:59
Thanks for the explanation. I have been following your posts since The Flood, and have enjoyed reading them – all of them – whether or not I agreed with them. I have not read any previous stories (with or without names) about Dewey Mills Road, so my commentary is reflective of this one story. Thus, my reply is a “snapshot” of your “video.” I’ll try to read your previous posts. Again, thanks.
LikeLike
Posted by Hope McLaughlin on October 30, 2011 at 14:51
The recent rise in activity on Dewey Pond Road is probably due, in part, to the loss of the covered bridge ( near Simon Pearce) in Quechee. Since Irene, all traffic into and out of the center of the town of Quechee has been diverted to enter/exit at either the Main Street intersection ( The Fat Hat corner) or the Dewey Pond Road intersection( just east of the Quechee Gorge-Ottauquechee Dog). For those who live on the south side of the river, what used to be a straight short mile trip home from a dinner (and, obviously a few glasses of wine) at one of the fine restaurants on the north side of the river, is now an additional five mile trip around Dewey Pond. It is no wonder there has been a rise in traffic incidents on this road. Dewey Pond Road is narrow and quite twisty. The tightest turn on the road is at the base of a hill and is bordered by the pond at both edges of the road. It is dark and often enshrouded by ground fog. Successful navigation of it requires a slower speed and full concentration, even under the best of conditions.
You do the community a service by reporting the recent high incidence of alcohol related accidents on this road. It serves as a warning to those traveling the road: be careful, and drive sober!
LikeLike