Sophia Kazmi
Valley Times
Posted: 06/29/2009 12:29:58 PM PDT
Updated: 06/29/2009 01:38:41 PM PDT
LIVERMORE — A 58-year-old Dublin man struck by his runaway pickup truck at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory has died of his injuries.
James Leadstrom died Sunday at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, according to the California Highway Patrol. He was flown there Friday morning after he received head trauma and internal injuries trying to stop his 2008 Chevrolet Silverado.
According to accident investigators, Leadstrom had parked his pickup truck in a lab parking lot near Vasco Road and East Avenue around 10:30 a.m. Friday. but the truck had been left in reverse gear and it began to roll backward.
Leadstrom partially entered the truck to apply the brakes, but instead hit the accelerator, according to the CHP. The truck accelerated backward, struck a parked Chevrolet Impala, then a Toyota Celica.
Leadstrom was thrown behind the truck after the second car was hit and was run over by the pickup after it hit a Honda motorcycle. The truck hit one more car, a Nissan Altima, before coming to rest.
— Sophia Kazmi
25 comments:
A candidtate for this years Darwin award but doesn't have anything to do with LLNL in any substantive way.
Not sure you know what you're talking about. The man worked for LLNL for a LONG time and is known by many. Did you read the article?
This accident happened at the lab while he was at work. He apparently had been released from NIF the same day and was moving to a new office.
I read the article that was posted. Doesn't say a thing about where the guy worked. Didn't say the accident occurred inside the fence. I'm not clairvoyant so I was not able to divine the subtle nuances of the whole story as you have been able to do but, if I were, I would say: "A candidate for this years Darwin award but doesn't have anything to do with LLNL in any substantive way".
5:51
You act like one of those uncaring corporate jerks. The man made a tragic mistake and it cost him his life. Perhaps he was distracted by the day’s events; perhaps he was just tired. But he was human, just like each of us and I am sure he will be missed by his loved ones.
"doesn't have anything to do with LLNL in any substantive way."
Keep saying that if we have stand downs, safety reviews, memos, web classes etc.
It is a tragic incident and the only good thing that can come of it is if we all take a moment to think about our own driving mistakes.
you have posted a story that isn't even close to describing what happened and in fact is false. You should pull this posting immediately.
Newspapers got it wrong. The guy is still alive, but in a coma.
From the Lab's internal news....
6-29-09
A Laboratory employee was seriously injured late Friday morning in a traffic accident involving his government vehicle and two parked privately owned vehicles. The accident occurred in the parking lot north of Bldg. 242. The employee was evacuated by medevac helicopter to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley.
No one else was injured. Exact details regarding the circumstances of the accident are under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleague for a full and speedy recovery,” Deputy Director Steve Liedle said.
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6-29-09
Many of you may have read news reports regarding the death of one of our colleagues who was involved in a vehicle accident here at the Lab on Friday.
These reports are false. James Leadstrom is alive but remains in a coma as a result of injuries sustained from his accident.
We remain sensitive to the needs of the family with regard to the release of information and have offered them our full support. Counselors from the Lab’s Employee Assistance Program are available for any employees in need of support. Call x-xxxx for assistance.
The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate the accident and the Laboratory has launched an incident analysis team led by Mark Martinez. Any witnesses to the accident are encouraged to contact Martinez at x-xxxx.
We will keep you advised and will provide follow-up information as it becomes available.
George Miller
Laboratory director
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6-30-09 Update
We have recently received additional information from Jim Leadstrom's family on his status, and with their consent, I am providing you with an update.
After all hopes for recovery have faded, and after what must have been a difficult decision, Jim's family has decided to allow his organs to be donated.
We offer our deepest condolences to all of Jim's friends and family in this time of loss.
Upon hearing the news, NNSA Administrator Thomas D'Agostino also expressed his condolences, "Jim Leadstrom is in our thoughts, and our prayers go out to his family at this difficult time."
We will keep you advised and will provide follow-up information as it becomes available.
George Miller
Laboratory director
---
June 29, 2009 8:23 PM
I think the wrong person got run over. Maybe God will take care of this mistake at a later date.
June 30, 2009 5:52 PM
BLOG purpose
This BLOG is for LLNL present and past employees, friends of LLNL and anyone impacted by the privatization of the Lab to express their opinions and expose the waste, wrongdoing and any kind of injustice against employees and taxpayers by LLNS/DOE/NNSA. The BLOG authors do not have to agree or disagree with any post or comments before publishing them. They serve as impartial moderators.
What about this don't you understand?
You people are so insensitive. This person was loved my many and the accident remains under investigation. Don't assume you know what happened. This was a tragic accident and that's all.
I heard the guy was supposed to retire next month. Between being canned from NIF cause he served out his usfulness and retirement I's sure he had a lot on his mine.
This was a very tragic accident that could have happened to any of us.
LLNS is now in a mode of damage control. These types of accidents reap havoc on safety statistics and award fee. Watch what happens next.
Sad story. It is 100% lab managements fault though, for creating such a stressful environment that an employee can't even focus on putting a car in park.
July 2, 2009 8:45 AM
It'll only get better as time goes on. He may have been preoccupied with happiness knowing he was about to be free from LLNS and on his way to enjoying a life of retirement, away from all the crap we young people and never able to retire have to put up with.
"Keep saying that if we have stand downs, safety reviews, memos, web classes etc."
You ain't seen nothin' yet. LLNS was about to push out the requirement to wear helmets when riding bicycles on-site. Now helmets may be needed when riding vehicles also.
Get ready to have to pass a training class for each distinctly different vehicle you drive at the lab. Apparently the truck the victim drove had a new type of automatic transmission 'gear selector'. The victim may have thought he had put the truck in Park, when in fact he put it in Reverse.
Just like the ladder incident. Even though driving vehicles is commonly performed by the public (just like climbing ladders), we wil now likely have to have an IWS for driving.
For those trying to bring in WFO, it's another cost that driving us out of business. LLNS needs to look at the US auto industry.
Hi this is jims niece meghan, first and for most thank you for everyones support my family and i really appreciate everything. Now to why i want to comment this my uncle was killed in a freak accident and for the sly comment about now youll need to take safety classes that is very disrespectful to my family. As many of you know he was the most cautious and predictable man you would have ever met. When i was told i was in disbelief he wouldnt have left the car on. To be truthfully honest with all of you no body know what really occured unless you witnessed this accident. If you have read its still under investigation so my family and I would really appreciate that if you dont know what happend dont speculat. And the last thing yes my uncle worked for LLNL please before you speculate get your info correct. Thank you
Meghan,
Many of the comments were self serving and disrespectful and you have every right to express your disdain toward some of the blogs. I am sure your uncle was a good man and this must be difficult for your family. As I said before this type of accident could have happened to any of us.
I think people sometimes look at how this might affects them and speak out or blog without regard for those it has hurt the most. I hope you know that most of us at the lab or associated with the lab are very sorry that this has happened. On behalf of those who care, please accept our sincere condolences.
God bless.
Meghan,
I submitted this one: "You people are so insensitive. This person was loved by many and the accident remains under investigation. Don't assume you know what happened. This was a tragic accident and that's all."
Unfortunately, I was there and I pray for your family everyday. This was a horrible tragedy and he will be sorely missed. Please don't let the stupid posts get to you. It has nothing to do with Jim or your family, they are angry at the Lab and I'm ashamed to work at a place where people feel this way. Please know that we really do care and hope you find some comfort in knowing that he's in a better place. Lisa
July 6, 2009 7:00 PM
The comments on this blog are a fine example of just how disconnected and disconcerted we are about one another ever since the take over by LLNS where this place has became a dog eat dog world. No one cares anymore about one another simply because they spend to much time worrying if they'll have a job tomorrow and never make friends because as soon as you do LLNS will lay them off and they'll be gone forever. This place is no better than any other large company. No time for friendship, just work, work, work with half the people, and twice the work in half the time. I don't foresee it getting any better. People at this place are definitely disconnected by all means. Call the commentors what you like but their comments are just a reflection of their work environment. The fact is, this type of work environment is what the new generation of children are to look forward to, especially as your jobs continue to be eroded away by foreign national. There's basically nothing to look forward to any more except quieting time.
James Edward Leadstrom, who worked at the Lab for more than 30 years, died following a vehicle accident at the Lab on June 26. He was 58.
Born April 20, 1951, he was a resident of Dublin.
Leadstrom joined the Lab in 1976 as a draftsman in the Mechanical Engineering Department. In October 1981, he became a mechanical designer in the Materials Fabrication Division (MFD), worked for the Laser Science Engineering Division (LSED) from 1995-2005, and had been in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED) since January 2005. His most recent assignment was supporting NIF, a post he had held since October 2008. Throughout his career, Leadstrom made valuable contributions to many of the most important programs at the Laboratory.
He attended Salesian High School in Richmond, Calif. He obtained an AA degree in general education from Contra Costa College in San Pablo and an AS degree in architecture from Laney College in Oakland.
Leadstrom is survived by his sister, Linda Ramage; two nieces and nephew-in-law, Anne Parry and Kenny and Lisa Cook; three great-nieces, Meghan and Margaret Parry, and Kristen Jackson; and two great-nephews, Robert Parry and James Cook.
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