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Driver cited in wheelchair death By Chris Bristol A motorist who told Medford police he was blinded by the sun when he struck and killed a man in a wheelchair has been cited for careless driving. Glen Thomas Dow, 22, of Medford, could be fined more than $400 if he does not contest the ticket or is found guilty of causing the Nov. 3 accident. A Jackson County grand jury last month declined to bring criminal charges in the case. Police believe Dow was going nearly 37 mph in a 25-mph zone when his 1986 Nissan pickup truck struck Wayne Oliver, who was crossing the street about 4 p.m. in the crosswalk at the corner of Fourth and Holly. The impact of the collision flung Oliver�s body almost 70 feet through the air and destroyed his motorized wheelchair. He suffered massive head injuries and died later that night at the hospital without regaining consciousness. Dow told witnesses and police at the scene he never saw Oliver because the setting sun was in his eyes. Officers who investigated the crash noted that it was, indeed, very bright and glary. Dow voluntarily gave blood and urine samples after the crash. He tested negative for the presence of drugs or alcohol. Lt. Tim George said the decision to give Dow a ticket was based in part on the speed and the vulnerability of the victim, who was almost halfway across the road when he was struck. "Just because the grand jury decided not to file doesn�t mean it wasn�t at least a traffic violation," George said. "Unfortunately in this case, a traffic violation resulted in someone�s death." In a brief interview Tuesday night, Dow said he doesn�t think he was going almost 37 but doesn�t plan to contest the issue, either. He reiterated that he was blinded by the sun. "My only comment is, Friday I�m just going to go in, plead guilty to it and pay my fine," he said. Oliver�s caregiver, Marsha Mills, said she bears no animosity against Dow. Oliver�s friends at the office of DASIL (Disabled Advocacy for Social and Independent Living) said Dow attended the memorial service. Instead, Mills complained that Fourth Street is almost always hazardous to cross, particularly during the morning and evening commute, because of heavy traffic and speeding. Although Fourth Street is four lanes wide where the accident occurred, homes and apartments line the road. McLoughlin Middle School is only a few blocks away. Drivers "just aren�t paying attention," she said. "This should be a warning to people around here, because there are kids out there and other people who don�t have cars." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.