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Court Orders Elderly Man to be Civilly Committed in Traffic Death Case

A judge moved today to have the court civilly commit an elderly man who killed a motorcyclist on Highway 82 last summer. Judge Erin Fernandez-Ely says it’s necessary for John Walls, who is 89 and lives in Carbondale.

Walls, appearing frail and using headphones to hear the proceedings in court today, had been charged with misdemeanor counts of careless driving causing death and reckless endangerment for the Aug. 23 accident just west of Basalt. He killed Patrick Dunn after his car hit the motorcycle head-on.

Walls was declared incompetent by the state and cannot stand trial. The District Attorney’s Office had moved to dismiss the case. If civil commitment proceedings are ordered, decisions could be made for Walls under a legal framework. It also would allow him to be put in the care of an institution or facility. Walls’ lawyer objected to the judge’s motion and a hearing has been set for May 19th.

Meanwhile, a family member of Walls has filed for guardianship and conservatorship of the elderly man, and looking toward a long-term living arrangements.

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