Fatalfatigue.com In Memoriam Page

In Memoriam

Robert (Rob) Giddings - Martin “Marty” Collo

On May 3, 2001, at 1:15 p.m. in the afternoon, my precious son, Robert (Rob) Giddings, was tragically taken from us by a driver who supposedly fell asleep at the wheel of his van. Rob was 28 years old.

As my son and a crew were working along Interstate 5, near Tacoma, WA, a driver of a van veered through two lanes of traffic before reaching the shoulder of the freeway. The driver then continued another eight feet down a slight incline where he hit and instantly killed my son. The force of the impact threw my son into and then over a chain link fence.

The 59-year-old driver and his 23-year-old passenger were both apparently asleep.

Motorists were well aware of the workers' presence, as all the appropriate signs were posted announcing their presence.

The only charges that could have been brought against the driver were negligent driving or failure to stay in one's lane. I was not notified as to whether or not the driver was ever charged with either of these violations.

This is certainly not justice! When you fall asleep at the wheel of your car (deadly weapon) and kill someone, I ask you, where's the responsibility?

Rob was a very loving father and son. His boys were his "Pride and Joy." He was taking medical college courses to become a pathologist and had a 3.8 grade average. He had a very good future ahead of him. My son left behind three beautiful little boys. Galen, now 11 years, Robert, now 6 years old and Reece, now 3 years old. What do you say to them when they constantly tell you that they miss their daddy and ask when they can go to heaven to see him? Their father's life was not meaningless to them and they too deserve justice.

As the law now stands in our state, you are only held criminally responsible for a death or injury to another person if you are found to be under the influence of alcohol, drugs or road rage. A motor vehicle is a lethal weapon!! We should be held accountable for any and all actions that we take while behind the wheel.

We need enforceable laws regarding deaths resulting from drowsy driving and fall-asleep crashes. We also need education and awareness programs for the public and law enforcement officials. These things will help create a strong message of accountability for one's actions. Fatalfatigue is trying to accomplish just that.

Remembering Marty
by Gina Collo

January 31, 1956 - April 27, 2002

On April 27, 2002, in Southampton, New Jersey, my brother, Martin “Marty” Collo, age 46, was killed instantly, head-on, by a drowsy driver.

It was Saturday morning around 8:30, and my brother was riding his motorcycle on his way to visit our mother in New Jersey. He was doing what every good son does. Our father had just died and Marty was attending to our mother’s needs, mind you, not just this weekend, but every weekend.

Meanwhile, a young man who had been up all night at a prom party decided to get behind the wheel of his vehicle and drive home. This driver’s irresponsible decision to get behind the wheel of his car is incomprehensible. He fell asleep at the wheel and drifted into oncoming traffic, hitting my brother head-on.

He took my brother’s life and shattered the lives of all of Marty’s family members and friends.

Marty was such an incredible person. He was a professor of government and politics at Widener University in Pennsylvania. The faculty there and friends of Marty described him as a “man of honor, a scholar and friend.” Marty taught at the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University and Lafayette College before joining Widener University in 1986.

We miss Marty's unique personality, smile, friendship, teaching ability and motivation.

I am so proud of my brother. I will never forget him and nor all that he accomplished in his life. I think of him every day, remembering the good times and trying to remember that he would want me to keep on going and to learn life’s lessons. I only wish that I could of given him one last hug and told him I loved him.