The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office:
A Mendocino County Superior Court jury returned from its Tuesday afternoon deliberations to announce it had found the trial defendant guilty as charged.
Defendant Jane Laycock Barisione, age 71, of Laytonville, was found guilty of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, said crime occurring late in the afternoon on March 22, 2023 on the Ridgewood Grade just south of Howard Station.
Testimony received at trial was that defendant Barisione was driving an unregistered vehicle southbound in the fast lane at an unsafe speed for the conditions during a heavy rainstorm.
The rear tires of the defendant’s vehicle were “significantly under-maintained” (“bald”), according to the vehicle expert, and thus prone to hydroplaning, allowing the vehicle to spin out of control due to water on the roadway.
The defendant’s vehicle crossed over into the northbound lanes and hit head-on a northbound vehicle traveling in the slow lane, killing the driver of the northbound vehicle and badly injuring the northbound vehicle’s passenger.
The law enforcement agency that investigated the crash and provided trial testimony during this week’s trial was the California Highway Patrol.
A special note of appreciation is extended to the two Good Samaritans who witnessed the crash, tried to provide assistance to the victims, and came to court this week to testify as to what they saw happen that fateful day.
The prosecutor who presented the People’s evidence to the jury was District Attorney David Eyster.
Visiting Superior Court Judge Rene Chouteau, retired from the Sonoma County Superior Court bench, presided over the two-day trial.
Tragedy to everyone. I’m sure the woman had no intention of harm other person. I feel she is suffering this event throughout her life. We all need compassion for both families
That is the definition of Manslaughter, the unintentional taking of a life.
If negligence (bald tires) and excessive speed had NOT been leading factors in the cause of the accident, per CHP and witnesses, she very likely would NOT have been charged at all.
A mistake is one thing, but a mistake created through negligence is a whole other kind of thing.
Exactly & not to mention the vehicle was not registered which is illegal here !
So why are we condoning millions of. Illegal entries into our country ??
Illegal immigrants aren’t hurting you no matter how much the news channels try and convince you otherwise. This woman’s negligence caused a death. Your negligence can do so too, as you spew racism in the guise of “patriotism”.
Maybe cal-trans or the DOT should be at fault. The road is not supposed to have standing water on it to begin with. It’s a “grade”.
Did you even bother to read the article before you drooled all over your keyboard to make that room temperature IQ comment?
“The rear tires of the defendant’s vehicle were “significantly under-maintained” (“bald”), according to the vehicle expert, and thus prone to hydroplaning, allowing the vehicle to spin out of control due to water on the roadway.”
Implying caltrans or the DOT should be a fault is pure ignorance on your part.
Hes not wrong either though. The road is even worse after the recent work. There’s so much standing water on the road when it rains & with others cars spinning it into the air & windshields, its really dangerous! That said, driving at unsafe speeds, on bald tires, in those conditions, without registration & obviously insurance, is pretty thoughtless & reckless.