news article about the consequenses of sleep deprivation

Thought all of you who are sleep deprived should read today's news article:

MAN GETS PROBATION IN MANSLAUGHTER CASE ... BUSINESS OWNER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NARCOLEPSY AFTER THE FALAL CRASH
By Rebecca Meany
Times-News writer

TWIN FALLS -- Citing the need for the defendant to be with his children and keep his business afloat, a judge suspended a jail sentence for a man who pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular manslaughter, ordering him to two years' probation.

Earl W. Reed, 48, president of Reed Grain and Bean Co. Inc., was sentenced by Judge John Hohnhorst in 5th District Court Tuesday in the presence of approximately 60 people who filled the courtroom to capacity.

Those in attendance included his supporters, as well as family members of Vella Arterburn, 68, of Heyburn, and Enid Bell, 72, of Burley, who died in the April 21, 2003 crash.

Reed fell asleep while driving and was later diagnosed with narcolepsy.

Before being sentenced, Reed stood to address the loved ones of Arterburn and Bell.

"There's nothing I can say to calm your grief, relieve your sorrow," he said. "I'm truly sorry about the accident. The causes of their deaths weigh heavily on my heart. I'm deeply sorry."

Addressing the judge, Reed said, "Over the past 20 years I've tried to be a good citizen, father and spouse. I'm not a bad person. This accident has been extremely hard ... on the families, it's taken a toll on my wife and myself. These have been the longest 18 months of my life. I'm sorry for the impact this accident has had on the families and the community."

Judge Hohnhorst spoke for a half hour before handing down the sentence.

He noted that he had received, and read, more than 80 letters submitted to him by supporters of both parties.

"Some of these reflect a deep dose of anger," Hohnhorst said. "Love doesn't transfer into hate for another person ... it shouldn't. I think that dishonors them."

He said he would not follow prosecutors' sentencing recommendation of one year in jail for each of the two counts, with nine months suspended for each count, equaling six months' jail time.

"Mr. Reed is the father of four young children," the judge said. "Secondly, Mr. Reed is the owner and operator of a business that employs 40 to 50 people. I may well un-employ those 40 families. I'd punish people who have done nothing wrong. The best I can do is send a message to take heed of your physical conditions and do something about it."

Reed's attorney, Keith Roark, told the court how remorseful his client was.

Roark said that, against the advice of prior counsel, Reed sent letters of condolence to family members of the two decedents.

Roark also said he wanted to take the case to trial but Reed insisted he plead guilty to take responsibility for what happened.

The state presented a different picture -- one of an irresponsible person who should have known he was not fit to drive.

"Earl Reed had been suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness," said Suzanne Craig, senior deputy prosecutor for Twin Falls County. "He frequently fell asleep at his desk, he had sleep paralysis ... and various symptoms of narcolepsy were suffered by the defendant prior to this date. He was not yet diagnosed with narcolepsy but he knew he had a tendency to fall asleep. Mr. Reed was a danger on that day."

Judge Hohnhorst sentenced Reed to 365 days in jail for each count, with all of that suspended in favor of two years' supervised probation.

He also ordered the defendant to pay a $2,000 fine for each count.

Additionally, Reed's driver's license will be suspended for two years, he must write letters of apology to the families, he must serve 250 hours of community service and has to get treatment for narcolepsy.

Prosecutors charged Reed with two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter, but the defendant agreed Nov. 16 to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of vehicular manslaughter.

Reed was driving a 2002 Chevrolet pickup westbound near 3900 N. 3435 E. when he crossed into the opposite lane and collided with an eastbound 1973 Mercury Montego occupied by Arterburn and Bell, according to reports from the Twin Falls County Sheriff's Department. Reed suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Times-News writer Rebecca Meany can be reached at 735-3259 or by e-mail at rmeany@magicvalley.com.