The Facts: Hanako Abe's Justice - Claim filed against San Francisco
Updated: Jul 2, 2021
Background
2020's New Year's Eve, a day for counting down the hours to New Year's day. Minutes too. Seconds too. Festivities should ring out through the city of San Francisco, flourishing about. As COVID rampages and brings a halt to public festivities, private ones continue.
Yet, during New Year's Eve, another countdown starts. Counting down the hours. Minutes too. Seconds too. Until 27-year-old Hanako Abe's horrifying fatal collision with a car...human and car. Rewinding less than a month prior, three-strike parolee by the name of Troy McAlister roams free in San Francisco after being released.
As the countdown comes closer to an end, 2 days prior, McAlister runs from police after stealing a car from a befriended woman on a dating app. The countdown continues...2 days ahead. McAlister possesses the stolen car while impaired, a dangerous combination. Minutes count down prior to Abe's fate, parolee and impaired McAlister drives freely around San Francisco unrestricted. Seconds count down prior to Abe's fate, and Abe steps into the crosswalk with 60-year-old Elizabeth Platt. The stolen car flings little rocks of asphalt off the pavement as McAlister careens it right towards the intersection.
The countdown ends.
Abe and Platt are flung from their places in the sidewalk out into the street and New Year's Eve ends in tragedy for Abe and Platt. McAlister is arrested.
So, what does this have to do with what is happening now?
In solely Japanese, Hiroko Abe describes the tumultuous history that lead to her daughter Hanako's death. Through the extensive record of McAlister, one event stood out. An email was sent in December 2020, but not read. Now, how bad could an unread email be? Well...not any unread email. A neglected email concerning the release of a prisoner. And no action resulted in the release. For context, correct communication will not allow an email to be sent outside of the response timeframe.
A frustrated Hiroko demands looks into this and draws the suspense that is to come of possible protocol reforms. To Hanako's wishes and love for San Francisco, Hiroko pushes for change, not for just her daughter, but for everyone.
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