mtc jo questions
JO MARTELL questions: V
Please state your name for the jury.
Jo Martorell
Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Sure. I’m 18 and just graduated from Copeland high school. I've been in Copeland, Washington my whole life and I love it here. In High School I was a 3.9 gpa student, the vice president of my senior class, and I was part of many extracurriculars
You mentioned an experience you had in a car collision as a child. How, if at all, has that impacted your experience and habits as a driver years later?
When I was around 6 or 7 years old, I got into a car crash with my aunt while she was driving. I never wanted to experience how scared I was during that in my life ever again, so that event shaped me to be a more responsible and cautious driver
What do your parents expect of you, generally?
As the founders of ADEII, the biggest company in Poplar County, they expect a lot
Taught me accountability, honesty, and responsibility from the moment i was born
They expect a lot for the future of their company and the future of the Martorell family
In your group, how do most of your friends treat the speed limit?
Like there is no speed limit
I feel unsafe while they're driving
And how do you treat the speed limit?
Because of that previous accident, I never go over
My friends call me “Eeyore”
What happened back in August 2024, pertaining to driving?
I received a $150.00 fine for texting while driving
What were the consequences of this afterward?
My parents made me pay the full ticket and grounded me for a while after that. Most importantly, I felt as if I completely betrayed their trust in me
And between August and December 5th, did you use your phone while driving?
No
I’d like to establish a distinction, if I may. Were you actively using your phone at the time of the collision?
No, I had put my phone down and my attention was on the road at the time of the collision
Thank you. Now, let’s turn to the events of December 5th.
What were you doing that night?
Studying @ friends
What were you studying for, and why was the test so important to you?
Test was worth 50% of my final grade
My parents put lots of pressure on me, academically especially
The future of ADEII needs someone capable
When did you realize what time it was?
When my friends asked me how I got my parents to extend my curfew
I stopped everything, immediately packed all my things, and ran out to my car
The only thing i was focused on was getting home fast to apologize to my parents
What was your curfew, and how did your parents feel about you missing it?
10:00pm
Disappointed, they emphasize accountability and responsibility so much that I could only imagine how let down they were by my forgetfulness
When you left your friend’s house, what was your state of mind?
It was frantic
I was only thinking of how I could get home as fast as possible so that I could explain and apologize to my parents
I had most definately broken their trust
Did you check your phone when the first message came in?
What about the second?
What about the third?
Yes
But you did not intend to use your phone, is this correct?
Yes, I know better
Can you describe what the intersection looked like as you approached?
Yes, let me recall
It was oddly dark, all of the streetlight were out
There weren’t any cars except for
Bus to my right-hand side
I looked up from my phone and the light was still yellow as I was inside the intersection
No pedestrians from what i could see
How were the streetlights at the time?
They were broken. I think an order had been put in to fix them
Can you tell us what happened next?
HAM IT
I looked up from my phone
All of the sudden, Mar came out from behind the bus
I was shocked - all I could see was their face, dimly lit by what I think was their phone
What was the first thing you did when you processed the situation?
After my car collided with Mar and everything stopped, I had to process what had happened. I stepped out of my car and immediately went to go look for Mar while I was yelling, “NO, NO, NO!” I found Mar, who was stopped about a car length in front of mine. They appeared to be in extreme pain, and when they opened their eyes and tried getting up, I told them to stay still. Then, the bus driver came our from around the bus and yelled at me to get away from Mar. I walked back towards the direction of my car, and I called my parents once I realized my phone was still in my hand. They came almost immediately and started asking me what had happened. I was still in a daze, I don’t remember what I could’ve said. All I remember was Marti telling me to stop talking without our family lawyer present. Marti grabbed my phone and started doing something, which I now know they were deleting the texts they’d sent me before the accident.
What was going through your mind as you knelt by Mar waiting for help?
I was worried for Mar’s safety
Most importantly, what my parents would think and how it would affect their reputation, as well as the company’s
How has this experience affected your life since December 5th?
My mind has been in a fog ever since
I havent been able to focus on anything
Schoolwork, my committments, I didn’t get to walk with my class
My school had divided to Team Mar vs Team Jo
I lost friends
I barely managed to graduate, scraping together a 3.7
Above all, my parents became completely disappointed in me. I’m supposed to be the future of our family, but this accident has affected me so much
Do you feel anger toward Mr/Ms. Galceron?
No, none at all. I think they want to be left alone as much as I do
Is there anything you wish you could say to Mar, if yo u could?
I would want Mar to know that, not a single day goes by where I don’t think of Mar Galceran.
They have a huge place in my life now