The Outrage in Tennessee

The following letter was sent to Gov. Sundquist, Senator Clabough, Knoxville News-Sentinel and the Daily Times. Info is at the end of this e-mail for those who would like to express their outrage. Note that this originally occured in 1996 so its quite old...

I am writing this letter in response to what I feel is an extremely irresponsible action on the part of the State of Tennessee in naming a section of Interstate 140 near Knoxville -- stretching from Interstate 40 in Knox County to U.S. Highway 321 in Blount County -- as the "Senator Carl O. Koella, Jr. Memorial Highway." Mr. Koella was responsible for the death of fellow AMA member, and fellow Ohioan, Terry Barnard of Huron, Ohio. Mr. Barnard was touring on his motorcycle along Highway 321 in Blount County in October 1996 when an oncoming van bearing state Senate license plates and driven by Koella turned left directly in front of him. Barnard struck the van and was killed. Witnesses reported the van driver briefly stopped, got out of the van, then got back in and drove off.

While a grand jury determined he should face felony charges, Koella pleaded "no contest" in May 1997 in a plea bargain to a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. He was fined $2,500 and ordered to perform 30 days community service.

This action represents a slap in the face of not only Mr. Barnard and his family but, of every Ohioan, and motorcyclist who has travelled and vacationed in Tennessee. It tells me that the fact that his irresponsible actions that caused the death of another human being was irrelevant and unimportant to the State of Tennessee, its leaders and its citizens. This is very disturbing to my wife and me, as well as my fellow Ohioans.

My wife and I have travelled extensively by both car and motorcycle but unless this situation is changed, and Mr. Koella's name removed from this stretch of highway, we, and any people we can inform of this insult, will not travel in the State of Tennessee in the future. We feel it is totally irresponsible to indicate by these actions that a man's wrongful death is unimportant to your state, its leaders and its citizens.

We look forward to seeing this stuation corrected.

John R. and Janet K. Pratt
Toledo, OH
AMA member, HOG member and AAA member
Executive Board Member, Lucas County Democratic Party

===========================================

The AMA suggests that if youd like to share your concise and civil comments, send them to Sen. Bill Clabough, 309 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243 (e-mail sen.bill.clabough@legislature.state.tn.us) and Gov. Don Sundquist, State Capitol, Nashville, TN 37243-0001 (e-mail dsundquist@mail.state.tn.us).

Copies can be sent to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, P.O. Box 59038, Knoxville, TN 37950-9038 (e-mail letters@knews.com) and the Daily Times, 307 E. Harper Ave., Maryville, TN 37501 (e-mail: dean.stone@thedailytimes.com).