Update: Blind man run over at busy intersection, in critical condition

juan j.
11/19/2009 8:37 PM

Alicia- I'm so glad your praying for Tom Sykora AND Mr Mattson. I'm glad I live in America and can have my opinion and be able to tell you that you and Maria S and Jason from Pennock, can all move in together and pray for the 911 killers who flew the planes into the world trade centers, child killers, and while your still in la-la land, pray for Charlie Manson too. You will be eating your words when this case goes to trail and the poor Mr Mattson is found guilty. Hurray to Pat M. of Willmar for telling Maria like it is. You will get "ripped into" when you go so far left and defend the bad guys. If I ever get a few DUI's and run over blind people, then flee the scene of a felony,... I hope I get you and your new roommates on my 12-person jury. I'll celebrate with you guys after my acquittal. Drinks will be on me!

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Alicia S.
11/19/2009 10:55 AM

I wanted to post this from the Q102 News Website. What has happened is awful. My thoughts and prayers are with both Tom and Mattson. We all can have our own opinions and i believe we should let everone speak their mind with out being ripped into by others. I do hope that Tom survives-God Bless. Q102 News Blindman in serious condition after being run over 11/18/2009 A blind man with a guide dog, white cane and wearing a yellow, reflecting vest was struck and runover by a pickup as he was crossing a Willmar street Monday evening. Willmar Police Chief Jim Kulset says it happened at South 1st Street and 19th Avenue around 6 p.m. Kulset says it looks like 58-year-old Thomas Sykora of Willmar was crossing 19th Avenue and had nearly reached the corner by Office Max when he was hit by a northbound pickup turning right from 1st Street onto 19th. Kulset says a Kandiyohi County Deputy arrived at the scene almost immeadiately, started giving first aid to Sykora, and briefly spoke to the pickup driver, 55-year-old Gary Mattson of Willmar. Mattson left, and witnesses later said they saw Mattson's pickup go over Sykora. Sykora suffered chest injuries and was taken to Rice Memorial Hospital, and later flown to St. Cloud Hospital where he is currently listed in serious condition. Sykora's guide dog apparently was not hurt. Kulset says the incident is still under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time.

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Pat M.
11/19/2009 12:40 AM

Marie S. of Willmar, it's difficult to tell who's side your are on due to your boarder-line inability to articulate your thoughts. Please repost your opinions with a semblance of intelligence so I can properly communicate mine towards you. "What if this was you" Are you trying to defend the driver? Oh and by the way, that squiggle mark after that sentence means it was a question, it's called punctuation, learn it. "Stop judging and trying putting the shoe on the other foot" Wow, where to begin? If this, once again difficult to tell who you are defending (sounds like Mr. Two DWI to me), is really your thoughts your righteous self has just been invited to my driveway where you will be given a blindfold and told to lay down. I will then, at a moment I feel right, proceed to drive over your chest with my pickup truck. Then your thoughts about the shoes changing feet will be oh so accurate. Once again, if your post wasn't defending the driver and instead defending the blind man walking in a crosswalk, waving a cane in front of him, wearing a luminescent coat, with a guide dog, then completely disregard this message and take CAPS lock off.

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juan j.
11/19/2009 12:35 AM

Marie S- Did you know when you type in CAPITAL letters, it means you are SCREAMING at readers? Are you another one of those liberal Minnesotans, cheering for the drunk driver and not the victim? Next post we'll read from you will be defending sucide car bombers because they are doing it for cause. Click on http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tomsykora/journal & get enlightened. Go back to bed Maria and sleep this one off.

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Nicole T.
Willmar, MN     11/18/2009 9:33 PM

My thoughts and prayers are with Tom's and his family. I do not know him or the family personally, but I do see Tom almost every day. It is a tragedy for something like this to happen to someone who is so careful! For the last several months he has been wearing neon colors with reflective tape on his clothing. He moves about carefully, trusting his guide dog, and they make a great team. He is an inspiration for me, being blind and being so independent, I don't know if I could overcome such challenges, but he does. Now somebody may have taken that away from him. I choose to believe he has the will to live and get better, and I only hope that he can continue to live his life the way he chooses to, not to have to depend on others for help because of a senseless accident (and I say accident for lack of a better term).

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joe r.
Willmar, MN     11/18/2009 5:07 PM

How in Gods name does a driver not see a blind person and his dog crossing a street in front of them? Too many people on cell phones, distractions, and under the influence. I don't know this drivers situation, but he is a complete moran, and needs his license revoked for being unattentive and just plain stupid! My prayers for the person who was run over, sad situation that did not need to happen, especially to someone who is handicapped.

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Casey O.
11/18/2009 5:06 PM

Thanks Renae.

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Lori D.
11/18/2009 4:38 PM

Although I did not know Tom, my thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. I wish him a speedy recovery! I no longer live in Willmar but I had seen Tom before, out near the 1st St/19th Ave SE intersection and on one occasion he was almost hit by a car. Thank God that driver caught himself or herself. I do not understand how Tom was not seen. And to leave the scene is absolutely inexcusable. As far as the offender goes, my daughters and I were patients (for a short time) of his dental office and I always wondered why he shook so much. After reading about his drunk driving offense last year it suddenly became clear. Shouldn't he have lost his license to drive?

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Renae G.
Willmar, MN     11/18/2009 4:04 PM

caring bridge website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tomsykora/journal

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Amy T.
11/18/2009 3:31 PM

Margot and Family, my thoughts and prayers are with you and Tom. I hope the legal system in Willmar will do it's duty and put this man in jail for a long time!! Jason O in Pennock, you are not deserving of a drivers license either! This man was blind and doing the best he could, to be run over TWICE is Unthinkable! God bless Tom and his family.

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