Stranded Couple Were Stopped Twice by Police
By MICHAEL SCHULER For the News-RegisterBELLAIRE - A couple from Bridgeport, W.Va., who got stuck in mud here Saturday while on their way to Kent, Ohio had been stopped twice that night by other law enforcement agencies for driving too slow.
It has now been discovered that they both suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
The couple, Angel and Betty Valdez, both 82 years old, reportedly were on their way to Kent on Friday night when they drove to the 26th Street ballfield in Bellaire where the vehicle got stuck in the mud. Angel Valdez Sr. left the vehicle around 7 a.m. and was found lying in mud and water near the construction site off Ohio 149 around 10 a.m. Saturday. He was transported to Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling where he later died. Mrs. Valdez's status was not known at press time.
According to Police Chief Michael P. Kovalyk, while police were originally told the couple had been stuck at the ballfields since approximately 10 p.m. Friday, he has since learned the couple had been stopped twice, once by a Monroe County Sheriff's Department deputy in Sardis at 12:50 a.m. Saturday and a second time by a Shadyside Police officer on Ohio 7 at approximately 2:05 a.m. Saturday.
Kovalyk now estimates the couple likely didn't become stranded until at least 2:30 a.m. Saturday.
Police were notified around 9 a.m. when members of Bellaire Junior Sports saw the car with Betty Valdez inside. Assisting Bellaire Police in the search were the Neffs Fire Department, the Shadyside Police Department, members of the Junior Sports, Mayor Vince DiFabrizio.
Kovalyk also said he contacted the West Virginia State Police and learned the couple were reported as "overdue motorists."
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mike1155
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04-09-09 3:55 PM
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A BOLO was posted at 8:30 that evening after which they were stopped at least twice. Two old people, lost at 2:30am should have elicited at least a phone call by police to relatives to see what was going on with them. To me this is gross negligence. If the BOLO read someone was coming through with marijuana I'm sure it would not have been ignored.
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Abbcfm
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04-07-09 9:31 PM
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These people are my grandparents. They were going to vist my grandfather's brother or sister.(I'm not sure on which it was.) My grandfather was too old to be driving and my grandmother has shingles. They didn't need to go, but no one stopped them.
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timber
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04-07-09 8:56 PM
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Well i can relate to that my own mother is in a nursing home in fla. witch is where i live. my g/f of 25 yrs. came back there on dec. 5th and wants me to come back to. but is there any painting jobs up there? i do all high End homes got a eye on the little things that most ppl dont!
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timber
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04-07-09 8:54 PM
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Well i can relate to that my own mother is in a nursing home in fla. witch is where i live. my g/f of 25 yrs. came back there on dec. 5th and wants me to come back to. but is there any painting jobs up there? i do all high End homes got a eye on the little things that most ppl dont!
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nickynoodle
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04-07-09 7:00 PM
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ive seen cars travel rt 7 at 25-35 by oldsters cuttin a b-line to new martinsville....elders should be tested yearly for the ability to handle a vehicle safely...i can expect the monroe county deputy to not handle the situation properly but the shadyside cop shouldve recognized the danger these people were in and responded accordling.....powhatans finest werent suspicious so that means they were going under 35mph....the monroe county sheriffs dept should hang their heads in shame...help the people, thats what youre there for.....
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Lunachiksam
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04-07-09 5:49 PM
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Alzheimers can be a hard thing to diagnose by family members. Many people suffering from it really can act and appear normal for the most part in earlier stages. This is def. a sad case. I hope and pray that the Police really had no clue of their conditions, and didn't just ignore any signs. You can't really blame anyone though, just pray for the family. It could've been much worse anyway.
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robojock
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04-07-09 5:04 PM
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This is how they can get pulled over. What would they be arrested for? You can not just take away somebody's freedom of movement based on a hunch, especially in today's society where cops get sued for arresting paople that are actually criminal. The ACLU would be all over that one!
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AmySue
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04-07-09 4:46 PM
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Cory, do you know anything about altzeimers? It comes and goes. One day they can be fine but another day they may not know their own children. Alot of them will remember childhood friends before their immediate families. It is a sad disease!eerhere, I know there is alot of drugs in this area and all other areas along the river but I dont think its as bad as you make it sound!!
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wvcommonsense
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04-07-09 2:06 PM
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Another reason why we need stem cell research to help those with alzheimer disease.
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USMCDeathPimp
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04-07-09 1:25 PM
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What idiot expected them to drive to Kent Ohio?...whoever this 'relative' is sure has no insight on thier conditions. As for the police...most are just $6.00 an hour good ol boys that couldnt spot a leper colony riding in a bus.
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cory1978
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04-07-09 1:20 PM
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yes wonder...as eehere as already said all the police care about is getting money for their department. to protect and serve as long as it's beneficial for the police.
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cory1978
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04-07-09 1:19 PM
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a simple g o o g l e inquire will inform you rusty...even us ask. c o m
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Rusty1
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04-07-09 12:59 PM
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Cory where does your "fact" come from? I'd like to see for myself.
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eerhere
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04-07-09 12:35 PM
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I'm not surprised at all. No elderly couple, with normal brain function, would be on Rt 7, going from Bridgeport, WV to Kent, OH; especially south of I-70. And, at 1:00 in the morning. Police don't see anything but alcohol or drugs, and they're protecting us? I just can't believe it!! We are living longer, and believe me, Alzheimers is everywhere people. My prayers are with the family.
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wonderwhy
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04-07-09 12:31 PM
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cory- they were stopped by two differnt departments.
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cory1978
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04-07-09 12:00 PM
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and I don't understand how a police officer can pull them over and let them go twice. It's seems obvious that they weren't in their right mind. If it were me, I'd still be in jail under suspicion of being intoxicated.
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cory1978
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04-07-09 11:57 AM
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such a sad story. proof that elderly people should be retested for a drivers license every year. It is a fact that elderly people kill more innocent victims than drunk drivers.
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