It was overcast and still quite dark that morning, Sept. 27, when the three women parked their cars at Three Corners Market, put on reflective vests and checked the batteries in their headlamps. Maggie, Jessie’s dog, had her flashing collar turned on as usual. Then they headed out running north toward Arcata on the wide west shoulder of Old Arcata Road, facing traffic — using best runners’ practices.
Pretty much every Thursday, unless someone had a temporary runner’s injury, the women met to run — for companionship and joy, and to train for their next big run, in this case, the Humboldt Redwoods Marathon later this month. They had a lot in common — married with two young children each. All were teachers, two preschool, one a part-time university lecturer. Thursdays were road days, Three Corners north for a five- or eight-mile loop before their busy days really began. On Tuesdays, they ran in the forest, and weekends were reserved for longer, leisurely runs in the Arcata Marsh and out on the Arcata Bottom, sometimes the Hammond Trail, wherever in nature.
That Thursday they had gone just under a mile, just south of Ole Hansen Road, when all three women were run down by the driver of a 2005 Kia who fled the scene. (As of print deadline Tuesday, there was no official word regarding the “person on interest” taken into custody Friday, or any other suspects. See our blog for an update.) Suzanne “Suzie” Seemann was killed at the scene. Terri Vroman-Little and Jessica Hunt were seriously injured — Terri with a broken leg, scrapes and bruises, and wrist injury; Jessie with a broken leg, foot and scapula and a lung injury. They are recovering but have no memory of the accident after leaving the market that morning, according to Tasha Souza, a professor at HSU, who is a fellow runner and friend of all three.
I’ve known the Seemann family for 40 years. Suzie’s late father-in-law, Howard Seemann, was my professor in the early 1970s and his wife Ann, a dear friend. Her sons, Hank and Luke, and our daughters played together as toddlers while their parents spent hours in conversation at the dinner table.
All our children grew up, went to college and started their own wonderful families and interesting careers far from Humboldt. But Hank came home six years ago to take over as environmental services director for the county. He brought his wife Suzie and baby son Malcolm. Daughter Evelyn was born here.
I met Suzie only a few times. Smart and kind, a patient mom with a dazzling smile. I had no idea she was such an accomplished scientist until I read her obituary.
I don’t think it’s just because I know the family that the grief seems so profound. I was visiting a friend at St. Joseph Hospital Monday and I stopped to talk to a veteran nurse. She had tears in her eyes when she spoke of the three families and their friends. She said she didn’t even know them.
“It’s so tragic. These are all very special people,” District Attorney Paul Gallegos told me Tuesday. “Of course it’s tragic no matter who it is, but these women are loved by so many — people at HSU, in the teaching community, in county government. It’s just very sad.”
There will be a memorial for Suzie Seemann Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Freshwater School.
This article appears in Propping Up Schools.
The sadness of this tragic accident just seems to grow deeper within me. I do not personally know the people involved but I think of them all the time.
I am also very saddened by this bizarre event that has catastrophically demolished one woman’s life, and has changed the lives of the injured survivors. Children, husbands, friends and families are suffering today. How are we to resolve the pointless act of one person who has hurt our community to it’s very core?
This is just so heartbreaking, as I drive these days and see walkers, runners and bikers on the road, or when I am out walking or running, my mind tries to grapple with this tragedy, how could someone hit 3 people and a dog? how could they not stop and help? what kind of a person is capable of this? do we know who called for help and how long before help arrived? could Suzie have been saved if this coward had stopped and helped? My thoughts and prayers are with these families….
Yes it’s a tragedy and the driver had no right to leave the scene but to make sure it isn’t repeated it’s worth considering this: It was dark with very thick fog. Were the women running in a group, to talk, or single file?
senseless is the fact the guy should have been behind bars. he is a convicted of 2nd degree robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and felony possession of a firearm, and the judge let him out. he should have been in jail. these families would have been spared the pain and suffering if the judge would have locked him up when he should have.
to AA: dark with thick very fog? pull your head out… NOT an excuse
My son a college studen was assaulted September 22, in Arcata by a homeless man. His jaw was broken in two places and had to be airlifted to Santa Rosa. He made it and it was a senseless tragedy too. And we will never know this person that did it. I hope justice is done for the families and Maggies dog.And my hearts goes out to all of the.
Kathy,
Is that what you learned fromthis tragedy? In fact, it’s irresponsible to run on a highway while conversing in a group. If it’s dark and foggy your risk level goes through the roof.
AA-
This is horrific enough without the victim-blaming.
I see that sort of comment in the same light as “Well, she got raped but she WAS in a short dress, so….”
Please consider the effects of your remarks.
Dronkers, we’re all sad about the tragedy. Kindly spare us the guilt slinging. Some of us would like to prevent it from happening again.
Old Arcata Road is filled with clueless runners and cyclists who take little or no precautions to prevent accidents. If you think that dark clothing and maybe one feeble flasher gives you a pass to risk your life on a public highway, you need to reconsider.
AA, your trollish comments are not “helping” anybody. Please consider the effects of your remarks.
The person responsible here is the lunatic behind the wheel, no one else.
Sad that our infrastructure is designed to accomodate the almighty car, and not safer, more sustainable means of transportation.
My heart goes out to all the victims of this tragedy.
Old Arcata Road is not a highway. Even if it was, that doesn’t prohibit pedestrians from using it.
Runners (and walkers and bicyclists) have a right to use the roads, regardless of time of day, even regardless of what they’re wearing.
These women wore reflective vests, headlamps and had a dog with a flashing collar. They were hit in the shoulder of the road, where they had a right to be. Nothing about them was “clueless” or “feeble.” In no way did they fail to take precautions.
Safer roads and more trails would go a long way toward reducing the deaths and injuries of pedestrians (and bicyclists) – and so would better driving. What happened was not the fault of the women exercising both their right to use a public road and appropriate safety measures; the blame lies with the driver.
If you want to prevent this sort of tragedy from happening again, advocate for structural change – Mike’s absolutely right. This is horrific enough without the victim-blaming.
The driver was definitely at fault for leaving the scene. We haven’t found out who caused the accident and the survivors can’t remember what happened. Again, it’s a tragedy but for heavens sake we do need to think twice about running in the dark and in the fog on Old Arcata Rd. If we shut down that conversation every time somebody gets hit what are we hoping to accomplish?
While AAs remarks may be a bit callous and inappropriate, I have to admit that the first thing that came into my mind when hearing of this was why were these women out running in the dark, on the foggiest morning of the year, on a road known for speeders? I live right by there and the fog was so thick that morning that you wouldn’t be able to see flashing lights, reflective vests, or even headlights from any distance more than a few dozen yards. I ride a motorcycle primarily and I took the car that morning, specifically because the risk of riding in fog that thick is more than I am comfortable with.
This in no way makes the event any less tragic nor does it relieve any responsibility from the dirt bag who hit them and drove off. I would however hope that other people might consider the risk of certain activities around here when the fog is that thick.
My condolences to all involved in this horrible event.
This is ridiculous that you people are speculating over whether they should be running or not. These women are Experienced Runners who run EVERY morning regardless of fog. The side of the road is the side of the road and drivers in the fog need to be aware of their surroundings regardless of the weather and take responsibility for their actions. Besides this point, this discussion board should be a place for people who actually knew this amazingly brilliant and inspiring woman to grieve and show their condolences, not speculations. Suzanne was no doubt one of the best people I ever had the pleasure of knowing and will never forget. My her life attitude and inspirations live forever.
AA
It is always the drivers responsibility to drive safely per any weather or road condition, you never know what could be ahead, especially in fog. Clearly this driver was not driving at a safe speed for any type of weather.
K, I agree but unfortunately the victims ran into a punk who was running from the law. People like that don’t pay attention to traffic laws.
A drunk could have done just as much damage and they are hardly rare on our roads. If its foggy and dark your chances of being hit on Old Arcata Road go way up. Why risk it?
This was a senseless tragedy. I, also, upon hearing the story thought to myself, “i would NEVER run down Old Arcata Road” I don’t even drive down it at night. That’s where drunk drivers/speeders go to avoid the highway. It’s scary! Can we get a couple more areas of speed bumps, please? I drive the speed limit, and between Eureka and the Indianola cutoff, cars are backed up behind me. Sometimes cars pass me and speed by going 60+mph. Not safe for such a residential area (and many blind drives)
Do any of you ever stop and add up the amount of violent and sometimes bizarre acts of violence and mayhem that occur in such a remote and secluded area? Drugs, alcohol, depression and other factors seem to contribute to so many of these horrific and senseless acts. Take for example the woman killed in front of the Bayshore Mall several months ago or the deranged man who was tripping on mushrooms and tore apart his “friend”. Seriously, enough is enough with the drugs! This guy was no different and probably high on something resulting in a tragic loss of life, one who actually contributed to the world in so many positive ways. Prayers to all affected.
Good point, Sarah. Thanks.
Two days ago, on 101, in the daylight at 8 a.m. I had to honk at a woman in a beige Kia who clearly was reaching down to pick up something on the floor of the passenger side of her vehicle. Several times she violently wove into the “pedestrian/bicycle” lane. It would have been bad news if there had been a bicyclist there, all because she had to pick something up while driving. And we all know how that ended for the bicyclist on 299, who was also a parent. I will take Jen’s advice to get more involved in conversations about infrastructure improvement so that we all the right and freedom to ride bikes and run safely. Until that happens, I encourage all bicyclists and runners to take extra care. Because you never know when a woman in a beige Kia will drop her lighter and need to fish around for it, at your expense. (You know who you are wake and bake.)
To NC Journal: Please ban AA from commenting.
To AA: Get a life.
We don’t ban speech in this country, Carol.
A lot of people have died on Old Arcata Road. We need to face the fact that it’s a very dangerous place to run.
Your angry outburst surprised me. Is this how you remember a friend?
I spent countless hours with Hank growing up and the Seemann family was very close to us as we shared ties to HSU and the Univ of Minnesota.
Howard and Ann always welcomed me into their home when we attended EHS, and Hank was a great soccer player and the ideal childhood friend. He was thoughtful, caring and brilliant.
Now at age 44, I can say for certainty that I have never in my life met a finer person than Hank Seemann. And clearly he met his match in Suzy. This is tragic beyind words, makes no sense and should never have happened.
I know Hank and Ann and the family will recover for the sake of the children, but no one should ever have to go thru this. It makes me think to cherish every day, every moment with friends and family alike, as none of us know what lies around the next corner.