Minnesota dentist gets 90 days in jail, misdemeanor fine for running down blind man at crosswalk

From KSAX-TV:

WILLMAR, MINN. - A Willmar dentist was sentenced in the Kandiyohi County Court to 90 days in jail for allegedly running over a blind man at a crosswalk back in November, according to the Kandiyohi County Court.

Gary Mattson (pictured), 56, was sentenced June 23 in the Kandiyohi County Court to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine and a year probation on a misdemeanor charge of failure to stop for a blind person, according to Kandiyohi County Court.

Tom Sykora, 58, of Willmar, who is blind, was crossing a crosswalk in November when Mattson allegedly ran him Sykora.

Sykora suffered 22 broken ribs, a broken shoulder blade, a broken ankle and severe aches and pains.

"It's an odd situation," the victim, Tom Sykora said Wednesday. "He did a great deal of damage to me and a misdemeanor doesn't fix it."

According to Kandiyohi County court records, Mattson told authorities he didn't know if he ran over anyone or struck anything. Mattson's blood alcohol level was tested and results were negative.

As part of Mattson's sentence he was ordered to take a vision test, pay $540 in restitution and attend a victim impact panel, according to the Kandiyohi County Court.

On June 28, 2010, Mattson will begin serving his sentence.