MAILBAG:

This is a tragic case for all involved, but anyone who “celebrates� or expresses joy about the “consequences for your actions� should be ashamed of themselves (“Justice. Consequences,� May 22).

Who among Candace Tift’s supporters, or members of the jury, or almost any one of us, at some point in their life, hasn’t done something so very humanly irresponsible like ignore the warnings on a prescription drug container, operate a vehicle when they were tired or suffering from mental exhaustion or worry, or driven home from a dinner or a night out with in excess of .08 alcohol in their bloodstream?

True, Janene Johns made an error in judgment, but like the rest of us, we make mistakes; but unlike most of us, hers just happened to be at precisely the wrong place at precisely the wrong time. Watch Johns’ actions in the videotaped interview conducted by police officers immediately after the accident to know this was a terrible, terrible, accident, but nonetheless, an accident!

The concerns she expressed, while sobbing and in an obviously fragile and distraught condition, were focused on Tift’s condition, whom she did not even know she had hit until being told. There is nothing to be gained in inflicting more emotional pain on Johns nor by putting her in prison.

Like Tift’s family and supporters, Johns will suffer from the memories of what happened for the rest of her life. Both families have paid a heavy price for a very human error in judgment. But, no one should take comfort from the verdict because, unfortunately, it could happen to almost any one of us.

Malcom Read

Costa Mesa