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Man arrested for running over CHS student

- DUI alleged; victim is son of River School principal

By MARY BROWNFIELD

Published: May 14, 2010

PACIFIC GROVE resident Timothy Petrick, 25, was jailed for felony drunken driving early last Sunday morning after allegedly driving over Carmel High School student Ryan Marden with his pickup truck while trying to get up a hill. The teen, who is the son of Carmel River School principal Jay Marden, and a friend had been sleeping under the stars at a Corral de Tierra property when the accident occurred, according to California Highway Patrol public information officer Bob Lehman.

“He was literally run over across his chest by a truck,” Jay Marden confirmed Wednesday. “There are discrepancies in the stories about whether it was one tire or two, but it ended up with his being airlifted to a trauma center in Santa Clara, and the young man who ran him over was arrested for drunk driving.” The friend sleeping next to Ryan was unharmed.

The incident occurred shortly after 2:30 a.m. May 2, when Petrick decided to see if he could drive his 2007 Toyota Tundra up a hill on the property, according to Lehman.

“He had some passengers with him and ran over this kid, who was in his sleeping bag,” he said. “He was unaware he had run over the victim until the passengers in his vehicle started yelling at him.”

Lehman did not know what connection Petrick and his friends had with the camping boys or with the owners of the property, which is located on Corral de Tierra Road several miles from Highway 68 in Salinas. A CHP officer arrested Petrick for felony drunken driving causing injury and lodged him at Monterey County Jail.

A rescue helicopter took Ryan to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, where Lehman said the teen was treated for a broken collar bone and pain to his neck and shoulder.

After receiving a call from someone at the scene, Marden drove to Santa Clara to be with his son, who was released the following day and had been at home recuperating until May 12, his first attempt at returning to class at Carmel High.

“I have no idea, yet, what the long-term prognosis is, and I don’t know the extent of the injuries yet, either,” Marden said. “But we feel very blessed, and frankly, I think it’s a miracle that he survived it.”

The family is focusing on helping Ryan heal.

“My heart is broken for him — not just because of the physical trauma, but because of the emotional trauma he’s experienced as well,” he said. “He’s been in a lot of pain, but his spirits are better ... I believe there have got to be emotional scars, but he’s a strong fellow, and very athletic.”

Indeed, Marden reported one of his son’s greatest disappointments is not being able to finish the season with his championship-contending CHS swimming team. In a blog, head coach Conrad Kohrs described Ryan as a standout, potential event winner and team leader, and attributed his survival of the accident in part to his “exceptional physical condition.”

“We rejoice that our teammate survived and carry his indomitable spirit with us as we encourage his recovery and seek to attain the higher reaches of our athletic potential in the weeks to come,” Kohrs concluded.

Marden said he is grateful for the care and concern expressed by members of the community.

“The outpouring of support and affection for Ryan, primarily, and our family has been overwhelming,” he said. “It has been so positive and supportive, with people wanting to reach out in any way, shape or form they could. You would hope a community like this would come together, but it has exceeded any expectation we would ever have — and it affirms why we live in a small town.”