As a long time Tahoe resident I’ve heard of and witnessed many, many accidents in the stateline strip. The area is poorly lit, except by flashing, distracting marquee and billboard signs. With the closing of bills the area is even darker. You’ve got drunk pedestrians milling about in an area where drunk drivers are common. A pedestrian over pass, and a closure of pedestrian street crossing from dawn to dusk should be enforced. I think some responsibility should land on the casino’s…that area is poorly designed for the maintenance of public safety. The pedestrian always has the right of way, but is that really safe? I’ve seen a few accidents there first hand, all of which could have been avoided if someone put a little thought into how traffic (vehicle and pedestrian) is routed through that strip. It’s proved itself a recipe for tragedy too many times.

Joan was my neighbor. Sweetest Lady ever. Vacationing with her family. How sad this terrible news is. Rest in peace Joanie, you did not deserve to die this way!

my heart goes out to you Maggie and Tony as well as her family.

I heard that the driver blew a .09. That’s like a beer and a half. I’m not sure if the pedestrian had been drinking. How many people get in their car after a glass of wine or two with dinner? I’d say the majority of normally responsible people don’t think twice about a drink or two before driving. I see the driver painted as a drunken menace in the comment threads on other sites. While I understand frustration and anger during tragic times, and fleeing the scene of a crime only reinforces that image. However, the flight mechanism is a strong one, and I wonder just how many people can remain calm and collected in the face of possible manslaughter. I truly feel for all parties involved, I do also plead for understanding from both sides. If a pedestrian enters the roadway on a green light (not sure if this was the case), will a crosswalk make them easier to see? Will it protect them from an oncoming car? The accident occurred at about 10mph, and skid marks showed that the driver attempted to stop. The images of a frothing drunk, careening down the highway are false. This all points the fact that the area where this occurred is in dire need of corrective action. A single streetlight might have made for another uneventful night in Tahoe, and two people totally unconnected by tragedy.

With all the articles that I have read about this incident, this is the “closest” to correct. Although many of you are close to either party, the fact is both are at fault here. Stupid decision by the driver, of course, but most don’t know that he went back to check on the victim before going to see his family. Also, many don’t know that the victim had been drinking as well and did not have a green signal to walk. In no way am I condoning that the driver drove after drinking, but as Josh correctly and level-headedly stated, more than the two involved in the incident are at fault. These accidents happen on the strip more than people realize. As angry as some are at the situation, remember that prayers for the fallen help more than threats against the guilty. I pray that God continues watching over everyone who is even moderately touched by this situation.

I am so sorry for the loss of the victims family and my prayers are with you. I am a very close friend and a family member of Daves and I know firsthand that he is devastated. He would have never wanted to take someones life. I just want to say that the newspaper made him look worse than he was! Dave is a loving husband, a hands on dad to his two young children, and a loyal friend. Anyone who knows him would agree. From the comments I have read it sounds like Joan has the same great qualities. It is an unfortunate accident and my prayers go out to both families.

The families of the wedding that David attended and participated in are devastated for the loss of life and for the lasting effects it will have on all the families.

David is greatly loved by us as Joan was by her family and friends, our hearts are broken for all involved.
I am not familiar with the area except for the week spent prior to the wedding.

The area wants the tourist money for weddings, parties and gambling but does not have the money to protect them and put in the proper safety measures?
What a sad commentary for the South Lake Tahoe area.

A lot of us commented even before the accident that pedestrians were expected to complete a journey across the roadway in less than 20 seconds before the light turned to “Do Not Cross”.

Add alcohol to the mix of party encouragement and the lack of safety precautions and you have a recipe for disaster waiting to strike. I for one do not want another family going through the grief Joan’s family must deal with or the sense of helpless and loss and guilt my family has to deal with – my son was the groom in the wedding David attended.

The families and participants of the wedding that David attended would like to start a fund in Joan’s name for whatever the family feels would honor her most.
We know that this will never bring back Joan to her family and friends but we do not want her death to go unrecognized as the loss it truly is. Hundreds of lives were affected by this tragedy. I don’t know how to contact the family, when the timing is right if one of you who know them- let them know we would like to do this in memory of Joan, that would be greatly appreciated. State Police have my name and contact info.

May God Bless all of us affected and heal our hearts in our sorrow and loss.

Many thanks Maggie.

I was not blood to Joanie but I have known her most of my life and her son and daughter-in-law are my best friends! If you knew Joanie you always felt like family (: so when I came across this article I felt compelled to comment. “LC” was right, there have been so many people effected by what happened and my hope is that something can be learned from this…No one close to this tragedy will ever be the same. It could have been anyone of us walking across that crosswalk that night…what we all need to realize is that Joanie was not alone she was there with her beautiful teenage granddaughter, daughter-in-law and other friends from our area…anyone of those people could have been a victim as well. It terrifies me when I actually think about how many more lives cold have been changed that night!! As Maggie mentioned Joanie(Grannie)as she was known by her family and close friends was the sweetest lady you would ever have the privilege to meet. She was a combination of many things…sweet, loving, funny and very spunky! If you were in the same room with Joanie you were guaranteed a big hug and smooch on the cheek (: God we miss her! As for the comments made by others in regards to the circumstances of the accident I just say this…I’m not sure how anyone knows the mph the driver was going or his blood alcohol level at the time of the accident since as far as I know even the victims family do not have that information? However what I have been told by those “close to the situation” those who actually witnessed her being hit the witnesses on seen is this…Joanie was NOT at fault!!! She was walking in the cross-walk just steps behind her family and as seen on the street video provided she DID have a green signal to walk. This tragedy has changed many lives forever. “LC” your idea to honor Joanie in some way was a wonderful gesture and appreciated so thank you for that and as you said…may God bless all of us affected and heal our hearts in our sorrow and loss.

Did anyone witness this accident