SLTPD to honor citizen who played critical role in 2012 DUI bike-vehicle accident

By Kathryn Reed

One of the people to be honored this week at the annual South Lake Tahoe police awards ceremony is the man who was instrumental in helping save the life of Adam Rose and apprehend Christine Whalen.

Rose continues to struggle to heal from the devastating August 2012 accident in which he was struck by a vehicle while riding his bike. He keeps having surgeries. He has no insurance. And he is not able to work. And whatever money he may get from Whalen has not come through.

On May 10 his right leg and left arm were operated on — again.

“Adam had what is known as non-union of the bones in his arm and leg. The bones were about five-eighths of an inch apart on each of the fractures in his arm and leg,” Terry Soule, Rose’s mom, told Lake Tahoe News. “This was due to the severity and location of the fractures. The surgeries addressed these issues, and we are hopeful that this will really move Adam along on his road to recovery. The surgeons installed new hardware in his leg and arm and did bone grafts.”

But the surgeries won’t end there.

“Adam found out about two months ago that he will need spinal surgery, due to the trauma of being hit by the vehicle, carried on her car and then thrown off onto the highway,” Soule said. “This will be happening in the next few months, after his leg and arm are doing better.”

Rose is still living in South Lake Tahoe and plans to be at the May 15 ceremony.

Whalen is in prison.

More than one person nominated Rudy Pakes II for the citizen award of merit.

This is what police Lt. Brian Williams wrote in his nomination:

On August 21st, 2012 at about 5:00 pm, South Lake Tahoe Police Officers responded to SR 89 and 12th Street regarding a hit and run traffic collision. A white Subaru station wagon struck a bicyclist traveling in the northbound bicycle lane. The bicyclist, 38-year-old Adam Rose, was riding his bicycle when the Subaru, also traveling northbound, swerved to the right and struck him. Mr. Rose was left gravely injured and bleeding at the roadside.

After striking Adam Rose the suspect driver of the Subaru fled eastbound on 12th Street. Rudy Pakes II was in his truck with his adult son Tyler Pakes and had witnessed the collision. Rudy Pakes made some immediate and critical decisions which helped the victim to survive and also helped the police to capture the suspect. Rudy Pakes dropped his adult son Tyler off with Mr. Rose to offer help, comfort and safety while awaiting medical personnel. Mr. Pakes then called 911 while following the suspect away from the scene. Mr. Pakes gave the police a description of the suspect vehicle and kept them updated on its location and direction of travel as officers responded into the area. While fleeing the scene, the suspect driver was involved in a second collision, striking tree stumps off the side of the road near Tahoe Island and Tahoe Vista Avenues. As police were coming into the area, and the suspect vehicle continued to drive in a reckless manner, Mr. Pakes lost sight of the suspect and wisely stopped following.

When police officers arrived in the area they attempted to stop the vehicle by activating their red lights and sirens, but the suspect driver attempted to evade them until eventually becoming involved in yet a third collision at 2070 James, Bi-State Petroleum. The vehicle was finally forced to stop when it collided with, and impaled itself upon, steel and concrete posts in front of the petroleum warehouse. Not yet ready to give up, the driver of the Subaru, later identified as 54-year-old local resident Christine Whalen, tried to run on foot, but was apprehended by our pursuing police officers.

Other citizens who witnessed the collisions were also helpful in assisting police officers in locating the suspect, pointing out the directions of travel, and making positive identifications of the driver. Mr. Pakes however used particularly sound judgment and acted swiftly to render aid, compassion and comfort to the victim through his son Tyler, and then stayed engaged in order to prevent the escape of a dangerous felony suspect by following the fleeing vehicle and calling the police with a description and direction of travel. The suspect was captured and booked into the El Dorado County Jail on two felonies and three misdemeanor charges, including felony driving while under the influence, felony hit and run, misdemeanor hit and run, misdemeanor evading police officers, and misdemeanor obstructing, delaying or resisting arrest. Mr. Pakes demonstrated an admirable example for his fellow citizens by the manner in which he conducted himself, under circumstances of significant stress, offering help to the injured and attempting to safeguard others who may have become additional victims.

Among other criteria, the SLTPD Citizen’s Award of Merit is given to recognize the demonstration of bravery, sound judgment, compassion, comfort and encouragement to this Department or community, displayed in a situation of great stress, danger or other jeopardy to members of this Department, the community and/or the citizen themselves at the time of taking the action in the service of others. There are other criteria for consideration as well. These items are NOT required, but may be considered by the Awards Committee:

• Innocent person(s) are safeguarded

• A suspect is apprehended or identified

• Citizenship

• Sacrificial giving of self and abilities

• Communication skills

• Professional skills

• Rescue Skills

• Citizen saved someone’s life

• Nominee demonstrated in this act extraordinary personal character

• Courage

• Endurance

• Calm in the face of danger

I would like to nominate Mr. Rudy Pakes II to the SLTPD Awards Committee for consideration of presenting him The Citizen’s Award of Merit.

The ceremony is Wednesday at 4pm at the police department, 1352 Johnson Blvd.

Others receiving awards are:

• Officer Angie Kallstrom — Meritorious Service

• Officer Barret Rider — Meritorious Service

• Officer Nick Carlquist — Meritorious Service

• Dispatcher Linda Clark — Distinguished Service,

• Peggy Goularte — Citizen Award of Merit.