By Bobbi Mlynar
mlynar@emporiagazette.com
Bruce Vanderman of Madison has been sentenced to 12 months in the Lyon County Jail for his role in the death of Emporian Jerry L. Williams.
Williams, who was 52, died from injuries received April 2007, when Vanderman’s vehicle collided head-on with Williams’s pickup truck.
Vanderman allegedly was attempting to pass a semi-tractor trailer when the accident occurred on a county road southwest of Emporia.
He first was charged with two felonies, involuntary manslaughter and aggravated battery. He pleaded no contest in January to amended charges of vehicular homicide and battery, both misdemeanors.
District Judge Jeffry J. Larson sentenced Vanderman to 12 months for vehicular homicide and six months for battery, with sentences to run concurrently. After serving six months Vanderman will be allowed eight hours of work release daily.
During the sentencing in Lyon County District Court Friday afternoon, victim’s impact statements were given by the victim’s mother, Marie Williams; his mother-in-law, Lois Danford; his four brothers; his older daughter, Lisa; and his widow, Glenda.
Through their testimony, they created a verbal snapshot of Jerry Williams and the effect his death had on their family.
Williams had been a farmer, carpenter, horseman and, for more than 30 years, an employee at Flint Hills Feed Lot. Co-workers said that he never raised his voice, his mother said, and that he was patient.
“In fact, I believe his favorite word was ‘outstanding,’ because he used it all the time,” Scott Williams said.
Marie Williams said that she and Jerry Williams’s other daughter, Ann, were at her home, making plans for a 25th anniversary celebration for Jerry and Glenda, when the call came about the accident. Williams had been en route to feed his horses.
Lisa Williams recounted a story Glenda Williams had told her about Jerry Williams’ sitting with a young woman who was trapped in a vehicle in an accident on a gravel road. Law enforcement told him to go back to his vehicle, but he refused.
“My dad decided he would sit and talk with her until she was freed,” she said.
The young woman died before emergency personnel could extricate her, and Glenda Williams had asked him why he had stayed.
“His response was it was the right thing to do, and because that was something he wanted people to do if it was one of his friends,” Lisa Williams said.
Jerry Williams survived for a time in the hospital; Steve Williams talked about calling to make arrangements to donate his brother’s organs.
The family asked for Vanderman to receive the maximum sentence, run consecutively rather than concurrently.
“There’s been no remorse showing, no acceptance of guilt, no ‘I’m sorry,’” Jay Williams said. “In my opinion, if there was any shown here today, it would be for a lower sentence.”
Vanderman later turned to speak directly to the family in a voice that often was inaudible.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “... I hope God blesses your family in every way possible and ... takes away the pain.”
He also apologized to his son, Josh, who was injured in the accident, and to the taxpayers of Lyon County.
“One thing that’s been bugging me about this case,” the judge said. “Tell me what were you thinking when you made the decision to go around that semi?... At the very least, you had made the decision that you wanted to pass.”
Vanderman told the judge that, contrary to law enforcement reports, dust did not obscure his vision. Instead, he said, he was concerned that the semi in front of him might overturn. The wind seemed to have shifted it severely to the right side of the road, leaving him exposed at least partially in the wrong lane of traffic.
“It surprised me so much that I unintentionally remained in the passing lane,” Vanderman said. “I didn’t want to do that. I’m guilty of not paying attention.”
Happiness09 (anonymous) says...
My deepest sympathy's to the Vanderman family, and I pray to God that you never make a mistake that takes someone's life.
March 6, 2009 at 4:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zippy (anonymous) says...
The Williams' family are very good people. If they thought Vanderman was truly sorry for what he did they would have asked for a lesser sentence. Glenda, the girls and all the family have suffered and will suffer more than Vanderman will ever know or realize.
March 6, 2009 at 9:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
Six months in jail and six months of work release. So that is what the life of a good honest family man is worth today, eh? It appears our nation is not only short on money, we are also very short on morals, integrity, honesty, values and common sense.
March 6, 2009 at 11:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
My heart goes out Miss Marie and her family who have had to endure this hardship and loss. I hope they can find peace now and go on, I'm sure they will. I do not feel 6 months in County is adequate punishment for the loss of human life.
March 7, 2009 at 5:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bulletsarecheap (anonymous) says...
First of all why would anyone feel sorry vanderman? After all he is the one that is still alive. This judge needs to be voted out, 6 months for a good mans life, that is crazy. I wanna know what happened to the good old fashion justice, and what this judge did is not justice. I know bruce and he is not you definition of a model citizen. I dont want my tax dollars paying for him I think my username is a better Idea.
March 8, 2009 at 8:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madlittleredhead (anonymous) says...
This is the craziest form of punishment I have seen yet. Vanderman is only getting 18 months total and after six of those months, he gets out for work release. This is ludacris for someone who killed somebody. What were they smokin' in that court room when they sentenced him? The Williams family lost a wonderful family member and they have to live the rest of their lives without him. Vanderman should have got way more time than what he did. Be careful driving out there, he'll be back on the road before we know it!!
Just the other day, I heard on the news that some guy transporting cocaine through Kansas City was sentenced to 25 years in prison and he didn't kill no one!! He was just caught transporting and they threw the book at him. Vanderman killed somebody and got a slap on the wrist!! I guess the rest of his punishment will be that he has to live the rest of his life knowing he killed someone. I'd like to hear his son's side of the story of what really happened. He lied and I'm sure he sucked the rest of his family into the lie as well.
Bulletsarecheap: I think you are absolutely right.
March 9, 2009 at 8:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )