After five and a half weeks of investigation, Novato police Tuesday said the driver who struck and killed a young Novato girl who was riding her bike home from school was not at fault.
Hailey Ratliff, a 12-year-old seventh grader, was hit Sept. 27 by a GMC SUV near the western city limits. The driver, an out-of-state man who has not been identified by police, cooperated with officers at the accident site on Novato Boulevard just west of San Marin High School.
Toxicology reports on the driver came back negative, according to the police report.
"There were no indications that he went outside his lane or had any unsafe driving maneuvers," acting Lt. Jennifer Welch said.
“Few things are as heartbreaking as the loss of a child,” said Police Chief Jim Berg said in a statement. “Accidents such as this reaffirm the city’s ongoing commitment to help make our community safer for everyone. We at the city are saddened by the loss of anyone as a result of a traffic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends during this difficult time.”
Multiple witnesses were interviewed as part of the traffic unit's investigation, Welch said. Officers who specialize in reconstructing crash scenes conducted a skid analysis study and combined the data with information obtained from witness interviews, police said. The girl was crossing Novato Boulevard where there is no crosswalk; the closest crosswalk to the crash site is in front of San Marin High a quarter mile away.
"It is the determination of the NPD that the collision occurred because the bicyclist entered a roadway without yielding the right of way to an approaching vehicle," the report said.
Welch said later Tuesday that police would not be releasing more specifics about the crash. In its release, the department did not mention Hailey Ratliff nor the driver by name pursuant to state Vehicle Code Section 20012, which deals with confidentiality.
The investigation is being forwarded to the Marin County District Attorney's Office for review. Police did not reveal anything about lawsuits being filed in connection with the accident.
The Ratliff family — father Charles, mother Angela and their three young boys — have since moved back to New Mexico, from which they had moved to Novato late this summer. Charles Ratliff had started an administrative job at Journey Ford Lincoln dealership in Novato.
The Ratliffs lived in a relatively new subdivision about a quarter west mile from the intersection of Novato Boulevard and San Marin Drive, just across Novato Boulevard from the Dogbone Meadow dog park. School kids from the subdivision often walk or ride on bike paths on either side of Novato Boulevard. Hailey Ratliff had ridden her bike on the south side of the road and attempted to cross Novato Boulevard at Sandy Creek Way, just before the dog park, when she was hit by the SUV.
Hailey's death sparked a large response from family and friends. Hundreds attended a candlelight vigil the day after she died and a roadside memorial has been maintained at the accident site. Memorial bracelets and T-shirts have been sold in her memory to support a fund set up to help the family.
A committee comprised mostly of residents from the Ratliffs' neighborhood has been formed and is working with police and Novato's Department of Public Works to see if additional safety measures can be taken in the area to protect pedestrians and bicyclists.
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As sad as it is, sometimes accidents are accidents. A child was killed. A family, a community, and an unsuspecting and innocent driver all have to live with that for the rest of their lives.
"At my elementary school (also in Marin) back in the olden days before helmets, the only students permitted to ride their bicycles to and from school and use the school's bike racks were those who participated in a Saturday safety event on the school playgrounds. Those who completed it successfully got a sticker to put on the handlebar stem. Parents were the ones conducting this. [Nezumi, 11/6/12]
I drive this road very often and I think 45 is fine there. I believe it slows to 25 (maybe 35) once you get just passed the school. This was a terrible loss and it saddens me when kids lose their lives, but I think we also should use this to educate other children on the safety of the road, and crossing it while either walking or riding a bike.
I certainly have sympathy for the driver. This could have been anyone of us , the parent of the child or the driver (speeding or not). If I was a driver involved in an accident that took someone's life, I'd be devestated. Think about it, whether driving 25 or 45MPH, you hit a pedestrian, you're going to seriously hurt them or worse, as in this case. The lives of both sides will never be the same and I pray that they both find peace. From a mother and a driver
That's the minimum.
Some have come to the defense of the driver as we believe there was no bad intention (racing or drinking) and the police could not prove speeding or distracted driving was involved. Also, there are bicycle riders that always blame the driver and this has caused some backlash. The driver, who may have done nothing wrong or done everything wrong, may carry the guilt with him for life. The road can be made safer by reducing the speed to 35 mph, putting in two crosswalks a good distance from the curve, and adding "Bots Dots" or plastic cones to the bike lane at the corner. Nothing can fix what has happened or take away the pain that is felt. I am very sorry for the loss.
I don't know how long you've been out of high school, but a residential subdivision went up there since I've lived here, with no changes to the speed limit. Novato can do better.