Memorial to two crash victims in Ypsilanti Township removed
Update: Mystery solved: Memorial to Ypsilanti Township crash victims re-built
A memorial to two young women killed in a car accident this spring in Ypsilanti Township was taken down today.
And Tobiann Varney-O'Bryan, the mother of one of those killed and aunt to the other, wants to know who removed it - and why.
Her daughter, Caitlyn Varney, a 16-year old Lincoln High School student, died in the April 27 crash on Whittaker Road near Sea Mist. The 1999 Grand Prix driven by Caitlyn's 24-year-old cousin struck a tree head-on at 8:45 a.m. that morning.
Jessica Varney, a 2002 Lincoln High graduate, died the next day from injuries she suffered in the crash. At the time, police said lack of seat belt use was a factor.
Varney-O'Bryan said a neighbor came to her door this morning to tell her someone was taking the flowers and neon posters down that surrounded the tree where her daughter and niece died. Varney-O'Bryan, who lives nearby, said she drove to the memorial and discovered it was gone.
She called Ypsilanti Township, the Washtenaw County Road Commission and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department, and officials at each said they didn't take down the memorial, she said.
"It's only been a little over three months - we weren't ready for it to come down yet," she said. "And who knows, we may not never be ready for it to come down, but it's not like it was on anybody's property, and nobody had no right to take it down."
Varney-O'Bryan said she and other family members wanted to take the memorial down together. Now, she wants to file a police report and is waiting to hear if that's possible.
Washtenaw County Sheriff's Cmdr. Dieter Heren couldn't immediately provide information on the laws governing roadside memorials when reached this evening.
Steven Puuri, managing director for the county Road Commission, said there's no official policy on roadside memorials for county roads like Whittaker Road.
Puuri said he would have to check with staff to see whether some action had been taken on that memorial if it was in the road's right-of-way - the 66-foot width that falls under the Road Commission's jurisdiction for maintenance.
He said memorials are generally left undisturbed as long as they meet certain criteria.
"It's not something we give a time limit on," he said. "It ends (up) being a pretty sensitive thing to deal with. But provided there's no issue with routine maintenance or roadside safety, we generally don't do much with them."
A memorial might be moved if it's a visual hazard or is in the way of maintenance on roadside ditches or lawn mowing, Puuri said.
Neighbors sometimes complain to the Road Commission about memorials and take them down if they're on private property, he said.
Varney-O'Bryan said her stepson had been mowing around the memorial, which she said wasn't on private property.
Photo: File photo of the crash scene.
Comments
memyselfandi
Fri, Aug 21, 2009 : 12:04 p.m.
Jennbby. My heart breaks for you. I agree that it would be very traumatic to constantly view the damaged tree and know that it represents the point of impact of the accident in which you lost your loved one's. Someone earlier mentioned that perhaps the tree could be cut down and replaced with a memorial tree or bush of your choosing which may be at your own cost, but I'm sure no one within your circle of family or friend's would mind contributing toward the cost of such. Use the cut down tree as wood for a memorial bonfire next year. In the present time, maybe you could find some of the wide vinyl ribbon available for outdoor use and wrap the part of the damaged tree from your daily view and then gather a large bouquet of silk or plastic flowers with a complimentary bow integrated into the arrangement and attach it with extra vinyl ribbon or sturdy wire to the tree. You could even change your ribbon and floral tribute to your loved one's seasonally to keep it looking fresh and updated.
Bill
Thu, Aug 20, 2009 : 12:36 a.m.
Loseing a loved one is the worst experince as a human...and you have our hearts and prayers. But you are not the only person to lose a loved one. It happens every day, to other mothers, fathers, sisters, and friends. We mourn with you....but what makes the real difference is how you handle it. Do something constructive.....work with the county and land owner. Have the tree cut down, and stump ground out. Then plant a nice plant or flowering bush. You may save someone from going thru this pain by removing the hazardous tree. You will not have to see the scarred tree, and sometime good can come from this. Don't make it a memorial to your loss, make it a flowery bush that returns year after year to bring a smile when you pass it.
jennbby
Wed, Aug 19, 2009 : 6:41 p.m.
I am the sister of caitlyn, yes they have cemetaries for mourning, yet what about their friends who cant go to the cemetary for reasons no one can control. so this is where they go to.I drive by that tree every single day just about, and it gives me a sense of comfort. every day since the accident stuff has been up there, and driving by and seeing nothing was like something in me was gone. No the memorials may have not covered where they hit, but it was a distraction to all of us, and since its gone, you can see right where they hit, where the tree is broken off, and its like a slap in the face everytime i drive by it. So how about you all have some sympathy for our family, its been 3 and half months though it feels like yesterday my sister and cousin died, like a movie playing over in your head, no one knows what were going thru unless you have been thru it yourself. everyone grieves and heals in different ways, no one is to say how or when we can grieve and when or how we can heal, we will never heal from this completely but that memorial gives us a sense of comfort and closure and helps us. so if you dont have anything good to say keep it to your self!
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Aug 19, 2009 : 10:26 a.m.
well said justavoice. indeed, there are more posterboard signs up. it'll turn into a petty argument where people that consider it a distraction will get turned into unthoughtful monsters. it's a bad bend in the road. time to move on and remove it.
Justavoice
Wed, Aug 19, 2009 : 6:55 a.m.
And as of this morning a new memorial is in it's place. Unfortunately this is just going to turn into a petty argument between whoever removed it and the family/friends who put it up. At this point it's going to do nothing but cause further distractions to motorists on a very bad stretch of road and divide the community. It's time for the community to get past this. As much as I sympathize for the family, this is on public county property and you have to think of more than just your own pain. I just hope no one else is injured on that stretch of road due to the further distraction this is causing both from the argument that has been created as well from the memorial that is on a tree so close to the road.
Jake C
Tue, Aug 18, 2009 : 5:38 p.m.
@Debbie: You're obviously very sensitive about this topic, but it's hard to understand the points you're trying to make... Why do you want city/county employees to be the ones to put up really personal & heartfelt memorials, instead of the families? The writer listed some of the removal criteria pretty clearly in the article: if a memorial is a visual hazard is in the way of required maintenance, it may be removed. And it doesn't even sound like this memorial was removed by a city worker, so why are you jumping to that conclusion? Everyone needs to mourn in their own way, but I agree that many roadside memorials end up being a significant distraction that could result in *more* innocent people being injured or killed.
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Aug 18, 2009 : 12:51 p.m.
i hate to add that it was still a distraction on that already dangerous corner. i found myself fighting NOT to look at it. sad consequence of what happened, but if it continues to add to a bad stretch of road (also an intersection) it has to be removed before ANOTHER accident happens there.
Otto Mobeal
Tue, Aug 18, 2009 : 10:42 a.m.
Bill, great comments. I understand that it is hard for these families, but a roadside memorial is not an acceptable tribute for a loved one. Plus roadside memorial can be a hazard as drivers look at the memorial instead of the road. Besides the cemetary option, if they want a tribute/memorial try planting a tree/installing a bench/maintaining a garden at school or at a public park - get their permission first! Or build a memorial in your yard.
Bill
Tue, Aug 18, 2009 : 10:08 a.m.
I drove past the site yesterday, and was glad to see it gone. I understand the pain the families go thru, and I knew Jessica thru a friend's son. I am sorry for the lost to this world of two young people. But I don't feel roadside markers are the way to go. That's what cemeteries are for. Your loved ones are not at the site, and not everyone wants to see dead flowers, rained on paper notes, and dirty stuffed bears along the roads. I have never removed one, but they're not for everyone. And yet people feel they have the right to build them anywhere someone dies. Think about it. If everyone build one where ever someone passed, we would have piles of stuff every where. These are public roads. Go to the cemetery to mourn your loved one. These memorials are turning into permanent sites with cement crosses, markers and solar lights. One more time for effect, that's what cemeteries are for.
emu2009
Tue, Aug 18, 2009 : 9:02 a.m.
I am all for roadside memorials but I would like to see the collection of various mementos turned into signs with the victims names. There have been times when these memorials turn into eyesores. I feel the families should have their loved one remembered but in a way that is respectful to all involved.
cth
Tue, Aug 18, 2009 : 8:42 a.m.
I totally understand the pain the family has endured. The memorial was there to give the family a sense of comfort and they needed to be the ones to remove it. I placed a memorial marker for our son in a park after a tree was planted in his honor after his death in Iraq and someone dug it up. People just don't realize the pain they cause families when they violate the things we do for our deceased love ones. My heart goes out to the families that lost their loved ones in this tragic accident. I hope they can recover what was removed.
DebbieDora2
Tue, Aug 18, 2009 : 7:38 a.m.
Since were at it post your criteria. So we all will be informed of your so called criteria. I didn't see it on the web page so are we suppose to mind read your criteria?????????????????????
DebbieDora2
Tue, Aug 18, 2009 : 7:36 a.m.
You should of fixed it? My goodness do you know what its like to loose a child for god sakes. You become numb and that is the last place and peace in order for that family to grieve to visit.You have once again violated someones personal space City of Ann Arbor Dweb counsel and Washtenaw County Shame crew
DebbieDora2
Tue, Aug 18, 2009 : 7:33 a.m.
You know my heart goes out to this family. I have had 2 memorials. dug up. One was for a forestry dept staff. they didn't care the other for the little girl that was killed on the corner of my house they didn't care it was a simple angel.As you can see a County worker is worth nothing read there signs hit a worker fines doubled?? What idiot made those. I actually since growing up her and we rarely had accident let alone seatbelts or speed limits who are these nuts that redesign the roads for death. Are any women on the team I have never seen such half done crap in my life. What qualifications do the road commission have to make such a decision. Instead you should be giving these victims memorials sesigned by you for free.Shame ful Shame on you all.
Concerned Citizen
Mon, Aug 17, 2009 : 7:40 p.m.
2)Perhaps I missed something in earlier articles,... was this memorial actually NOT on private property?
David Jesse
Mon, Aug 17, 2009 : 6:51 p.m.
E.G.: Thanks for pointing this out. We fixed it. David