Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: The driver of this truck that got stuck in Cottonwood Wash the same night 4-year-old Maci Reed went missing has been charged with endangerment and reckless driving.
Dear Editor:
The Safford police chose to press charges against (Kade) Good whose truck was stuck in the flood on July 22. However, I will be surprised if those charges stick. My daughter was the passenger in the truck. I spent several hours with Good directly before the accident and can vouch for his sobriety.
My daughter was ill and needed 24-hour care. As a trusted friend, Good offered to do that, for which we were extremely grateful. He drove many miles to get her and take her to Safford for care.
The article stated he, “avoided emergency vehicles”. In reality, he avoided the road closure as did other drivers. His previous accident was mentioned in this article but the hard work he put into a rehabilitation program was not noted. It also failed to mention that the officers didn’t approach offering help initially they accused him and my daughter of being on drugs. They may have seemed noncompliant because no one was concerned about their very real and scary circumstances.
The witness said he saw Good drive into the water but didn’t mention other vehicles driving the same route. At 9 o’clock at night, in an extreme monsoon, he could see that, “Good appeared disoriented upon hitting the water”? Who wouldn’t be disoriented? Also, that Good was throwing items out of his truck. He was desperately trying to get to the medicines and items that he needed to care for my daughter.
I respect our first responders. I am grateful they helped. I also think the officer’s previous interactions with Good tainted their perception. If Good had no reputation my daughter’s care might have been taken seriously. I know everyone just wants the community safe but give him a chance to show his best self and you’ll see he is Good.
Sincerely,
Laura Livesay
Glendale, Arizona
Editor’s Note: Kade Good has been charged with endangerment-substantial risk of imminent death, and reckless driving. After charges were filed on July 29, a warrant was issued but was quashed after Good paid a $10,000 bond. According to online court records, Good had his initial appearance in Pima Justice Court on Tuesday.
