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Driver Accused Of Hitting, Killing CHOP Doctor Barbara Friedes Had BAC Nearly Twice Legal Limit, DA Says
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Just over a week after Children's Hospital of Philadelphia doctor Barbara Friedes was hit and killed while riding her bike in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced Wednesday that the driver officials believe is responsible has turned himself in to authorities.
According to Krasner, Michael Vahey was driving the car that struck Friedes, a chief resident at CHOP, as she was riding in the designated westbound bike lane on Spruce Street near 18th Street on July 17.
During a press conference Thursday with Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel and bike safety advocates, Krasner said Vahey turned himself in on Tuesday, July 24. Vahey's bail was set at $1 million and he was arraigned on Thursday night.
Michael Vahey Philadelphia Police Department "I stand in this moment thinking about Dr. Friedes and her family, thinking about a young lady who was raised and went this far, and was taken away because someone decided to use alcohol," Bethel said.
According to the DA's office, Vahey was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash and had a BAC of nearly 0.16. The legal limit is 0.08. He was also reportedly traveling over 50 mph, double the speed limit in the area.
Vahey is facing numerous charges, including homicide by vehicle by DUI, homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter.
Speaking to reporters, Krasner detailed the case's "challenges" and responded to questions about why it took so long to bring the charges against Vahey.
"Car accident cases involving fatalities involve a lot of forensics," Krasner said. He added that breaking down cell phone data, investigating the vehicle involved and looking at injuries sustained during the accident all made this a tougher case.
Michael Vahey charged in death of CHOP doctor Barbara FriedesFull news conference 41:06When asked about Vahey turning himself in days after the crash instead of being arrested at the scene, Bethel said his department had to have a "much more complex process" to ensure a strong case.
"We have to make sure we go through a very methodical process to ensure that when we work with the DA's office and his team and they are guiding us in this work, that we are making sure we have a very strong case," Bethel said. "The immediacy is not about blowing into and getting back a breathalyzer."
Friedes suffered "severe head trauma," police said after the accident, and was taken to Jefferson University Hospital where she died a short time later. She was 30 years old.
"Barbara was a beacon of light," Dr. Jeanine Ronan, attending physician and program director of the Pediatrics Residency Program, said in part in a statement shared with CBS News Philadelphia. "She was loved by so many and embodied kindness, strength and a deep compassion for all who crossed her path."
Barbara Friedes John Dietrick According to the Philadelphia Parking Authority, Friedes was the first cyclist death reported in the city in 2024.
In a statement shared with CBS News Philadelphia, John Dietrick, Friedes' father, and her mother Mary, said, in part: "We will be working closely with DA Krasner's office and Assistant District Attorney Katherine Wood to ensure Barbara's death is not another statistic, that there is change, and that there is full accountability with tangible results not nice words of remorse and sorrow."
In the statement, Friedes' parents thanked Philadelphia police and the district attorney's office for their work so far.
"When Barbara had a challenge before her, she never took the easy path – she fought for what was right versus what was easy – she defended those who couldn't defend themselves – she will continue to make a difference, and we must honor her," they said in the statement.
In the wake of Friedes' death, advocates said Spruce Street has one of the most popular bike lanes in the city, but it's too dangerous for cyclists.
Spruce is a one-way, one-lane street running east to west. The parking lane is to the right of the lane of traffic. To the left of the road is a small buffer lane, and a bike lane is on the far left next to the sidewalk. Advocates say the buffer lane is not enough to protect people on bikes.
Memorial for Barbara Friedes, CHOP doctor killed while riding her bike in Rittenhouse Square CBS Philadelphia "If there was a concrete barrier between the driver and Barbara yesterday, Barbara would be alive today," said Nicole Brunet, policy director with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
"In 2009 we also recommended a protected bike lane, but that request was rejected," Brunet said.
The Bicycle Coalition is calling on city leaders to:
The family of Emily Fredricks, a 24-year-old pastry chef who was hit and killed by a sanitation truck while riding her bike to work in 2017, went to Harrisburg in June to advocate for more parking-separated bike lanes (PSBLs). Those PSBLs allow parked cars to serve as a barrier between the bike lane and the lane of traffic.
Still, CBS News Philadelphia found car after car blocking bike lanes in the city, oftentimes forcing cyclists into traffic.
Advocates call for more bike lane protections after tragic death of CHOP doctor Barbara Friedes 03:07Most signs say "no parking" as opposed to "no stopping," which means drivers can legally block the lane for up to 20 minutes before being ticketed. Some residents along Spruce Street said they need to park there at least for a short time to drop off items or unload groceries.
Last year, the Philadelphia Parking Authority issued 3,887 tickets to bike lane violators, roughly triple the amount issued each of the previous two years.
Still, an investigation found numerous cars parked for more than 20 minutes and up to 75 minutes with no driver inside.
Advocates also say in recent years legislation for parking-protected bike lanes failed to pass in Harrisburg on several different occasions.
But Pennsylvania state Rep. Ben Waxman said he believes Friedes' death galvanize lawmakers to do more.
"It's important to remember that people whose primary mode of transportation is a bike [or] is walking, they have a right to safety," Waxman said. "They have a right to get themselves where they are going without fearing they are going to die."
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Alexandra SimonMy Uncle Donald Trump Told Me Disabled Americans Like My Son 'Should Just Die'
When my uncle was elected President, I recognized what a highly privileged position I would be in. I would have some access to the White House. And as long as that was true, I wanted to make sure I used that access for something positive. I was eager to champion something my wife, Lisa, and I were deeply passionate about, something we lived every day: the challenges for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
Our son William, our third child, was born on June 30, 1999. Within 24 hours, he went from seemingly healthy to fighting for his life in the NICU. Raising him was different from the start. William was diagnosed at three months with infantile spasms, a rare seizure disorder which in William's case altered his development physically and cognitively. We had so many questions: What would the future hold for someone like William? How far could he go? How much could he learn? Would he ever have the chance to do the things that other children do?
We just didn't know. It took 15 years before his medical team could accurately pinpoint the cause of his condition: a KCNQ2 mutation, a genetic misfire that the doctors called a potassium channel deletion.
In our journey with William, Lisa and I had become close to some truly inspiring parents and dedicated advocates who were doing amazing work to improve the day-to-day reality for families like ours. It's a huge lift for caregivers, not to mention the constant need to mitigate expenses. There are so many different demands and challenges. But there are things that the government can do—some things that can only be done by the government, both federal and state. We wanted to bring knowledgeable people to the White House, to see if we could make a difference.
Lisa reached out to my cousin Ivanka, who was working in the White House as an advisor to the President. Ivanka got right back to her and said she'd be happy to help. She provided a contact for Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who was secretary of housing and urban development. We brought several talented advocates with us for a meeting with Carson and members of his senior staff in April 2017. "Look," I said as we got started, "I'm the least important person in the room." I wanted the focus to be on the others, who knew a lot more than I did. They immediately started floating ideas, which was exactly why we were there. Our collective voice was being heard. It was a start.
Fred Trump and then-President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in 2018.Courtesy of Gallery Books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC In January 2020, just before COVID hit, Lisa, myself, and a team of advocates met with Chris Neeley, who headed the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, a much-needed federal advisory committee that promotes policies and initiatives that support independent and lifelong inclusion. We discussed the need for all medical schools to include courses that focus on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We emphasized how crucial it was for hospitals and other acute-care facilities to help patients transition from pediatric to adult services. We emphasized the importance of collecting sufficient data to explain medically complex disorders. This was not about more government spending. It was about smarter investing and greater efficiency.
We spent the next few months making calls and talking with officials and gathering our own recommendations, giving special attention to the critical need for housing support for people with disabilities. We were back in Washington in May.
By this time, COVID was raging. We were all masked up and COVID tested on the way into the White House Cabinet Room. Once we got inside, we sat down with Alex Azar, the administration's secretary of health and human services, and Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health, both of whom served on the White House Coronavirus Task Force. The promising agency motto stated: HHS: Enhancing the Health and Well-Being of All Americans.
Sharp, direct, and to the point, Azar exhibited my kind of efficiency with no time to waste. His first question was, "OK, why are you here?"
I made a brief introduction. Our group included a leading doctor and several highly qualified advocates. What followed was a great discussion. Something clicked with Giroir—an idea for a program everyone could agree on that would cut through the bureaucracy and control costs and also yield better and more efficient medical outcomes.
Excellent. We were making progress.
"Really appreciate your coming in," Azar finally said, more warmly than he had sounded at the start. "I know we're going to see the President."
The meeting I had assumed would be a quick handshake hello with Donald had turned into a 45-minute discussion in the Oval Office with all of us—Azar, Giroir, the advocates, and me. I never expected to be there so long. Donald seemed engaged, especially when several people in our group spoke about the heart-wrenching and expensive efforts they'd made to care for their profoundly disabled family members, who were constantly in and out of the hospital and living with complex arrays of challenges.
Donald was still Donald, of course. He bounced from subject to subject—disability to the stock market and back to disability. But promisingly, Donald seemed genuinely curious regarding the depth of medical needs across the U.S. And the individual challenges these families faced. He told the secretary and the assistant secretary to stay in touch with our group and to be supportive.
After I left the office, I was standing with the others near the side entrance to the West Wing when Donald's assistant caught up with me. "Your uncle would like to see you," she said.
Azar was still in the Oval Office when I walked back in. "Hey, pal," Donald said. "How's everything going?"
"Good," I said. "I appreciate your meeting with us."
"Sure, happy to do it."
He sounded interested and even concerned. I thought he had been touched by what the doctor and advocates in the meeting had just shared about their journey with their patients and their own family members. But I was wrong.
"Those people . . . " Donald said, trailing off. "The shape they're in, all the expenses, maybe those kinds of people should just die."
I truly did not know what to say. He was talking about expenses. We were talking about human lives. For Donald, I think it really was about the expenses, even though we were there to talk about efficiencies, smarter investments, and human dignity.
I turned and walked away.
When William was 9 years old, Lisa and I met with Donald and a medical fund was created for William's care by the Trump Family, a fund that was crucial to our ability to support him.
In the summer of 2018, William was in the hospital for almost three weeks with a serious case of life-threatening pneumonia. He was 19 and very sick. It was incredibly frightening for Lisa and me—and for his brother and sister too. It was always hard to know if moments like these could compromise his health to the point that we would lose him. These are the times that you reach for all the strength you have.
Fred, William, and Lisa in the NICU in 1999.Courtesy of Gallery Books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC William came home with oxygen and a feeding tube. After more than two weeks on a ventilator, he needed to learn how to eat all over again. We were too often in these setback situations, but you move forward the best you can.
It's times like these when family support is most needed and appreciated. At every opportunity, we let my aunts and uncles know how grateful we were for the medical fund for William's care and recovery. We sent pictures and updates, as we had in the past. We got no personal responses, which was the norm. It was the dedicated support and genuine love of caregivers that helped us the most.
Uncle Robert died in 2020, and the medical fund for William continued. It was enormously helpful with our home-care costs and medical expenses, and we were always grateful to my father's siblings for contributing. But even before Robert's death, their interest had seemed to begin waning. My cousin Eric, who was the administrator, called me to say the fund was running low. Donald was the only one contributing consistently. Eric said he'd been getting some resistance from Maryanne, Elizabeth, and Ann Marie, Robert's widow. I really didn't look forward to these calls.
"Why don't you call Donald?" Eric said. "Talk to him about it."
I thanked Eric for the heads-up and promised I would.
Soon thereafter, I was up at Briarcliff Manor, home of the Trump National Golf Club in Westchester, N.Y. Donald happened to be there.
He was talking with a group of people. I didn't want to interrupt. I just said hi on my way through the clubhouse. I called him later that afternoon, and he answered.
I got him up to speed on what Eric had told me. I said I'd heard the fund for William was running low, and unfortunately, the expenses certainly were not easing up as our son got older. In fact, with inflation and other pressures, the needs were greater than they'd been. "We're getting some blowback from Maryanne and Elizabeth and Ann Marie. We may need your help with this. Eric wanted me to give you a call."
Donald took a second as if he was thinking about the whole situation.
"I don't know," he finally said, letting out a sigh. "He doesn't recognize you. Maybe you should just let him die and move down to Florida."
Wait! What did he just say? That my son doesn't recognize me? That I should just let him die?
Did he really just say that? That I should let my son die . . . So I could move down to Florida?
Really?
I'm usually pretty good at getting my head around things that other people say, even when I don't agree with them. But this was a tough one. This was my son.
Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised to hear Donald say that. It wasn't far off from what he'd said that day in the Oval Office after our meeting with the advocates. Only that time, it was other people's children who should die. This time, it was my son.
I didn't want to argue with him. I knew there was no point in that, not at the same time I was calling for his help. I tried to keep my cool.
"No, Donald," I said. "He does recognize me."
Donald's comment was appalling. It hurt to hear him say that. But it also explained why Lisa and I felt so strongly about advocating for our son and why we wanted to help other people understand what it was like to raise a child like William. A lot of people just don't know.
People with these disabilities are perceived as less than in so many ways. That attitude is everywhere, even at the highest levels of policy and politics.
William deserves a life just like anyone else, and to that end, I knew I had to advocate for him in every way possible. I might never change Donald's mind or change the mind of anyone who lacked love and compassion for those whose voices couldn't be heard and whose lives were fully dependent on others. But I knew what I could do. I could offer my voice, my experience, and my strength to push forward for those who needed it.
The barriers are everywhere, even in communities that are generally supportive, like ours. There are still doorways that can't accommodate wheelchairs. It is still hard to find meaningful day programs that foster independence with learning, socialization, and assistive technology. The whole narrative still needs to change.
I knew that acceptance and tolerance would only come with public education and awareness. Donald might never understand this, but at least he had been open to our advocating through the White House. That was something. If we couldn't change his feelings about William, that was his loss. He would never feel the love and connection that William offered us daily.
(Editor's note: TIME reached out to former President Trump for a response to the description of events in this piece and did not receive a reply.)
Copyright © 2024 by Frederick Crist Trump III. From the forthcoming book ALL IN THE FAMILY: The Trumps and How We Got This Way by Fred Trump, to be published by Gallery Books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC. Printed by permission.
Doctors Reveal Why Biden Dropping Out Was Best For His Health
After President Biden's announcement on Sunday that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, two doctors shared thoughts with Fox News Digital about what this means in terms of Biden's ongoing cognitive health.
Looking back, some experts believe the path to Biden's exit began with what was widely described as a disastrous debate performance in late June, during which the president seemed to display an unclear train of thought and a lack of coherence.
"President Biden has shown signs of cognitive impairment for many years," Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon who specializes in cognitive function, told Fox News Digital on Sunday. He has not treated Biden or advised him.
"It is medically probable that when he took office in 2020, he was afflicted by mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a gateway syndrome to Alzheimer's disease and potentially Parkinsonism (not necessarily Parkinson's disease itself)," Osborn said.
"And he has only deteriorated since then, as is typical of those with neurodegenerative diseases."
'Prudent' decisionGiven signs of his "ailing cognitive status, President Biden's decision to step down from the race seems prudent," said Osborn, expressing his professional opinion.
"President Biden has shown signs of cognitive impairment for many years," said Dr. Brett Osborn. AP "It is medically probable that when he took office in 2020, he was afflicted by mild cognitive impairment (MCI)," said Osborn, a neurosurgeon who specializes in cognitive function. Instagram / @drbrettosborn"In my opinion, he is unfit to run the country and is unsuitable for his duties as commander-in-chief," he said.
"By stepping down, President Biden can prioritize his health and potentially mitigate further cognitive decline, while also ensuring the leadership role is filled by someone fully capable of handling the demanding responsibilities of the position."
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, said he believes Biden's decision may be best for the president's health.
"In my opinion, he is unfit to run the country and is unsuitable for his duties as commander-in-chief," Osborn said. AP"The stress of the race could have definitely made cognition worse — but it will progress anyway if there is a cognitive issue, and fitness is a big concern," the doctor told Fox News Digital on Sunday. (Siegel has said on multiple occasions that he has not examined or treated the president and that he cannot make any definitive diagnoses.)
Osborn also emphasized that remaining in the presidential race could have been "detrimental" to Biden's mental and physical health.
"Chronic stress releases cortisol, the dominant stress hormone of the body, which can negatively impact the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, leading to further deterioration," Osborn told Fox News Digital.
"The stress of the race could have definitely made cognition worse — but it will progress anyway if there is a cognitive issue, and fitness is a big concern," said Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. Getty Images for SiriusXM"In my opinion, he is unfit to run the country and is unsuitable for his duties as commander-in-chief." — Neurosurgeon Dr. Brett Osborn
Biden's past brain surgeries could also have affected his cognitive function, according to Osborn.
"It is likely that the combination of the two brain surgeries and his [possible] neurodegenerative diseases, plus the added stress of the Oval Office, have markedly accelerated the deterioration of his already ailing brain," he said.
"Another term [was] not even a consideration, in my opinion. By 2028, he will categorically be a 'nursing home patient.'"
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In addition to cognitive concerns, the doctors discussed Biden's recent bout with COVID-19.
"Post-COVID syndromes and long COVID have been shown to affect underlying neurological conditions," Siegel warned.
"This can also come from recurrent COVID."
Regarding COVID, Osborn noted that the virus has been shown to have potential long-term effects on cognitive function, often referred to as "brain fog."
"These effects can include difficulties with memory, attention and executive function," he said.
"Post-COVID syndromes and long COVID have been shown to affect underlying neurological conditions." — Dr. Marc Siegel
"In someone with pre-existing cognitive issues like President Biden, contracting COVID-19 could exacerbate these symptoms — via neuroinflammation — and lead to a more rapid decline."
Osborn also suggested that the president's contracting COVID was used as an "exit strategy."
"It accelerated his, but more likely their, decision to vacate his run for the presidency," the doctor surmised.
Health as a qualifying factorAlong with meeting the official requirements — that the president must be a natural-born citizen, must be at least 35 years of age, and must have lived in the country for at least 14 years — the doctors agreed that the individual should be physically and cognitively healthy.
"It is extremely important," Siegel told Fox News Digital. "We have a right to it as a country."
The role of president involves making complex and high-stakes decisions, often under significant pressure, Osborn noted.
"Cognitive health is essential for clear thinking, effective communication and sound decision-making, all things President Biden lacks," he said, sharing his viewpoint.
"Cognitive health is essential for clear thinking, effective communication and sound decision-making, all things President Biden lacks," Osborn said. REUTERS"They should admit to what they know and reveal full neurological results." — Dr. Marc Siegel
Physical health is also essential, Osborn said, as the role also requires long hours, frequent travel and crisis management.
"A healthy president is better equipped to handle the demands of the office and to lead the nation effectively through various challenges," he added.
Need 'full health disclosures'In light of Biden's announcement to exit the race, Siegel said the decision "should be accompanied by a full health disclosure."
He said, "They should admit to what they know and reveal full neurological results."
The situation highlights the need for thorough health evaluations for presidential candidates — and sitting presidents — to ensure they can perform their required duties, according to Osborn.
"Routine testing — physical and mental — should be made non-negotiable instead of being thwarted by the governing party," he said.
"The allowance of President Biden's mental incompetence for four years is an embarrassment to the United States government, and the world has borne witness."
In response to outreach from Fox News Digital, the White House press office stated that "health was not a factor" in the president's decision to withdraw from the race.
"He looks forward to finishing his term and delivering more historic results for the American people," said the White House in its statement.
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