Long Island, New York (NewYorkInjuryNews.com- News Report) — 21-year-old Jonathan M. Ebel of Mastic, N.Y., was recently sentenced to 18 months probation and 30 hours of public service for the death of a Conway woman who reportedly stepped out in front of his car on U.S. 501, near Singleton Ridge Road. Ebel told Circuit Judge Edward Cottingham that he was leaving a McDonald’s early in the morning on August 23, 2007. All of a sudden there was an object that smashed his windshield. In his state of shock, Ebel continued driving home to his apartment only about a mile away. After telling his father what he thought had happened, his father instructed him to call 911 immediately.
Although he tells the 911 operator that he will return to the scene of the accident, she tells him to stay on the phone and not to go back. Further investigations pointed to the woman being severely depressed and a friend of the woman said she had expressed suicidal thoughts to her earlier in the day.
Ebel was originally charged with leaving the scene of an accident with death. However, he plead guilty to assault and battery of high and aggravated nature. Technically, leaving the scene of a crime or accident is a felony. The judge said that Ebel made a mistake by not stopping immediately, but there was much intent present, in addition to the overwhelming amount of evidence that the deceased woman had intentionally stepped in front of his car. Ebel had done the next best thing, which was to notify his parents and police. Reports state that Ebel was upset about the outcome of the situation and even dropped out of school to move back to Long Island with his family.
Legal News Report by: New York City Injury News