Question regarding an accident and speaking to media

[PDubs]

LEOs - hopefully you can validate this and offer more insight.

Recently, my sister was involved in a fatal accident. VA/MD/DC area residents have read about this one yesterday at the 270 spur with the falling fences. She's in stable condition and the media would like to talk to her. I told her that since the investigation is still open, not to say anything just in case someone interprets it wrong or can come back to hurt us.

Even when it's closed, should she watch what she says or is she okay to talk to the media?

http://www.wusatv9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=47267
http://www.nbc4.com/news/7611480/detail.html
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0306/307347.html

My sister's car is up against the jersey wall/divider.

Thanks.

 

[ElGato]

Sorry to hear about your sister, I hope she recovers fully.

I'll defer to the LEOs and keep my opinions to myself.

 

[FordSVTFan]

If she was a driver she has potential liability, she should not talk to the media and she should talk with a lawyer immediately.

 

[type911]

Sorry to hear about your sister. My family will say a prayer for yours.

 

[jshen]

Follow FordSVTFan

This matter may wind up in criminal and/or civil court. You haven't given much in the way of facts. Therefore, with what you have said get lawyer.

 

[PDubs]

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers guys. I should have posted more info, here's a handful of links:

http://www.wusatv9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=47267
http://www.nbc4.com/news/7611480/detail.html
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0306/307347.html

Sister's car is up against the jersey wall/divider.

 

[PDubs]

No takers?

 

[mvcrash]

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers guys. I should have posted more info, here's a handful of links:

http://www.wusatv9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=47267
http://www.nbc4.com/news/7611480/detail.html
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0306/307347.html

Sister's car is up against the jersey wall/divider.

If your sister was not the driver of the Tractor Semi-Trailer, I would not think she has any criminal or civil liability. I can tell you that the media can do nothing to help her, rather mis-quote and twist things.
I would take everyone else's advice and have her only talk to an attorney. Her attorney can release a WRITTEN statement to the press for her.

Most importantly, I wish her a speedy recovery and have her speak to a counselor, it will help her through a tough time.

 

[PDubs]

Good point about the attorney releasing a statement for her and thanks for the thoughts. We've lined up a lawyer and already have the WashingtonPost running a correction for their <sarcastic> stellar </sarcastic> reporting abilities.

 

[Stewart_H]

Ok, here's my take on the media. It's been 6 years since I was a LEO, but during my 14 year stint as a LEO, I have never seen one person from the media report on the events of something that has the potential to be sensational, and leave it bland.

I know the media has a job to do, and can actually be very helpful in many circumstances, but its been my experience the media cannot be trusted to report all the given facts, period. In my opinion, they only report the facts they think will sensationalize a story. Plus, they just flat out get it wrong, sometimes.

My brother, who is also a LEO, actually feels more strongly about this than I do. But that may be because he lives in a large metropolitan area, and it's worse there, than it is here where I live.

If it were me, I'd tell her not to speak to the media. But that's my opinion based on my experiences.

Stewart