Father Joe Carroll violated the pedestrians’ right-of-way when the sedan he was driving struck two homeless men on the night of Jan. 31 in the East Village, according to a San Diego Police Department’s traffic collision report.
Even though responding officers identified Carroll’s actions as the primary cause of the accident, he was not cited.
Police department spokeswoman Monica Munoz said officers “cannot cite for something that occurred when they were not present.”
Traffic officers can issues citations later, based on an investigation, but won’t in this case, she said.
Carroll admitted on the scene that he was at fault, telling officers he simply did not see the men, who were in the crosswalk.
The accident occurred at the intersection of 16th and F streets. The men — Isaac McGill, 50, and Douglass Edwards, 52 — were crossing 16th Street heading east when Carroll turned the corner and struck them. Both men were injured, with Edwards receiving hospital treatment immediately following the accident for neck and back pain.
The accident occurred in darkness at about 6:13 p.m.
One witness told police that Carroll “ran the red light” before striking the men.
Carroll, an icon for providing food, shelter, housing and services for homeless people for more than 25 years, is president of St. Vincent de Paul Village. The agency is the largest homeless assistance organization in the city.
The Catholic priest has said the incident was an unfortunate accident. Edwards and McGill are being represented by San Diego lawyer Nancy Sussman.
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