Theodore Lucas Cherniak

BAINBRIDGE _ Theodore Lucas Cherniak, 10, of Bainbridge, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, May 28, 2012, at Wilson Regional Medical Center in Johnson City.

Teddy was born on Feb. 26, 2002, son of Stephen and Jeanne (Seely) Cherniak in Johnson City. Teddy was a fourth-grader at Greenlawn Elementary School in Bainbridge, where he played the trumpet and sang in the choir. He loved sports and was an avid participant in baseball, basketball and soccer.

Teddy and his family are members of the United Methodist Church of Bainbridge where Teddy played in the chime choir.

Teddy is survived by his parents, Stephen and Jeanne Cherniak; and his big brother, Xavier of Bainbridge; his paternal grandparents, Walter and June Cherniak of Cohoes; aunt, Daniele Cherniak of Cohoes, aunt, Cindy and Chris Lavell of Goshen; uncle, Frank and Deborah Seely of Hancock; cousins, Michael, Emily and Justin Lavell, Anthony and Carmella Seely and Ross Glasmann; as well as many cousins, extended family, and numerous friends.

Teddy was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Lynford and Helen Seely; and his aunts, Michele Cherniak, Pamela Seely and Patty Seely.

Friends are invited to call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 31, 2012, at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St., Sidney.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 1, 2012, at the United Methodist Church of Bainbridge, 27 North Main St., Bainbridge, with Pastor Gary Kubitz, officiating. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery, Bainbridge.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Teddy's name may be directed to the Bainbridge-Guilford Booster Club, c/o Christine Smith, 2 Linda Lane, Bainbridge, NY 13733, the Bainbridge Emergency Squad, 22 West Main St., Bainbridge, NY 13733, the Guilford Emergency Squad, Mechanic Street, Guilford, NY 13780 or to the United Methodist Church of Bainbridge, 27 North Main St., Bainbridge, NY 13733.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.landersfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.

Right to the point:

The total lack of leadership by Ray LaHood of NHTSA, Donald Karol of NTSB, every insurance company, every state, every owner of these trailers that would rather spend $100.00 on dinner at Outback then spend about $40 to $60 on Pressure Treated 6 4x4 Posts and 8 2x6x8 pressure treated boards to install temporary railings.

Any Villiage, Any County will not approve your DECK if you do not have 4 foot railings...but you can tow a trailer and have CHILDREN in it and have NO RAILINGS?

Incompentece of all safety officials and the constant GOVERNMENT quashing of our life saving mission KILLED THIS CHILD.

Heavy Hearts in Bainbridge Following Fatal Parade Float Accident

5/29/2012 (Updated 5/30/2012 2:22:25 AM)

Tuesday night sadness hung over the Village of Bainbridge.

On Monday, Teddy Cherniak was killed when he fell off his baseball team's float in the Memorial Day parade.

This took place in front of hundreds of horrified witnesses at the end of the parade route near Front and East Main Street.

Bainbridge Fire Chief Kyle Simpkin tells Fox 40 the young victim was an exceptional athlete and his death is a tremendous loss.

Tuesday evening after a storm moved through town, people who knew and loved Teddy laid crosses, flowers, notes, and a baseball in his memory at the scene of the accident.

Schoolmates of Teddy's were just up the road when the accident happened.

"It just all came together so fast. We didn't know what was happening," said fifth grader Gina Haddad who knew Teddy through school and church.

Gina, her younger sister Valerie, and friend Gwen Grmond were at the memorial site with their mothers to pay respect to their friend.

"It makes me feel pretty good knowing that he'll always be here with us," said Haddad.

Would Float Railing Have Prevented N.H. Parade Tragedy?

East News
Would Float Railing Have Prevented N.H. Parade Tragedy?

December 6, 2006

A bill rejected by the state Legislature four years ago would have required a safety railing on parade floats � a measure that might have prevented the death of a 9-year-old boy in Portsmouth's holiday parade.

Some witnesses said Thomas Fogarty of Greenland was sitting with his legs dangling over the side of his Cub Scout troop's float when it hit a bump and he fell in the path of the wheels. Others said he was walking beside the float when he fell. He was run over and later died of his injuries at Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

The 2002 bill would have required floats to be equipped with a railing at least 3 feet high and solid enough to prevent a small child from squeezing through. It was rejected by the state Senate.

The bill's sponsor, former Senate President Beverly Hollingworth, D-Hampton, said it was impossible to know whether such a law would have prevented Saturday night's accident.

"I can't say this would have never happened. I can't even go there,'' said Hollingworth, who was recently elected to the Executive Council.

"I just want to say I am heartsick for the family, the people driving the float, the chaperones and everyone involved,'' she told Foster's Daily Democrat. "It must be one of the most traumatic experiences for them. Everybody can second-guess, but that's not what we should be doing right now.''

Hollingworth said many people felt at the time the bill was not needed.

"The reason legislation failed, I believe, is because everyone felt they were doing everything necessary. My feeling for sponsoring the bill was that without a lot of expense we could make sure the kids were contained within the floats,'' she said.

Hollingworth said she sponsored the bill after years of watching her children and grandchildren take part in parades.

"I always preferred to have my kids marching or walking,'' she said. "In a parade, there is just so much going on, adults can't watch every single one of the kids.''

The state's mandatory vehicle restraint law for children doesn't apply to school buses, antique cars or parade floats traveling less than 10 mph.

The Portsmouth death came a day after a 3-year-old girl was seriously injured after falling from a parade float in Freeport, Maine.

COMMENTS:

yazowski May 29, 2012 at 2:49PM

I wonder what precautions were taken to try avoiding such an accident. So sad that a boy lost his life on a day he probably was very excited about participating in with his friends and team.

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nobamanow May 29, 2012 at 2:57PM

RIP Teddy.

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Larry May 29, 2012 at 5:10PM

I was there, it was right in front of me, but did not see the actual accident (occurred on the other side of the truck). This was after the parade. The float was being used to transport the kids back after the end of the parade. A float is not a safe transportation device. What I saw was a truck with a float stop, being waved on by an Officer, start and then stop again in explicitly in the middle of the intersection. After a few moments all the kids jumped off and were herded away. The truck and float moved away and then the ambulance came moments afterward. I did see the aftermath. IMHO, a float is not a safe transportation device.

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Dawn Melancon May 30, 2012 at 10:21AM

We already know this...and nobody cares.

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obamanation May 29, 2012 at 11:10PM

Oh god, who can see chuckles Schumer coming up with some stupid no kids on floats law now?

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Dawn Melancon May 30, 2012 at 8:48AM

This child should not have died like this when we warned Donald Karol of the NTSB back in August! Go to www.dangeroustrailers.org YOUR GOVERNMENT AND THE INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE STOPPED OUR LIFE SAVING MISSION.
Would Float Railing Have Prevented N.H. Parade Tragedy?
East News
Would Float Railing Have Prevented N.H. Parade Tragedy?

December 6, 2006

A bill rejected by the state Legislature four years ago would have required a safety railing on parade floats � a measure that might have prevented the death of a 9-year-old boy in Portsmouth's holiday parade.

Some witnesses said Thomas Fogarty of Greenland was sitting with his legs dangling over the side of his Cub Scout troop's float when it hit a bump and he fell in the path of the wheels. Others said he was walking beside the float when he fell. He was run over and later died of his injuries at Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

The 2002 bill would have required floats to be equipped with a railing at least 3 feet high and solid enough to prevent a small child from squeezing through. It was rejected by the state Senate.

The bill's sponsor, former Senate President Beverly Hollingworth, D-Hampton, said it was impossible to know whether such a law would have prevented Saturday night's accident.

"I can't say this would have never happened. I can't even go there,'' said Hollingworth, who was recently elected to the Executive Council.

"I just want to say I am heartsick for the family, the people driving the float, the chaperones and everyone involved,'' she told Foster's Daily Democrat. "It must be one of the most traumatic experiences for them. Everybody can second-guess, but that's not what we should be doing right now.''

Hollingworth said many people felt at the time the bill was not needed.

"The reason legislation failed, I believe, is because everyone felt they were doing everything necessary. My feeling for sponsoring the bill was that without a lot of expense we could make sure the kids were contained within the floats,'' she said.

Hollingworth said she sponsored the bill after years of watching her children and grandchildren take part in parades.

"I always preferred to have my kids marching or walking,'' she said. "In a parade, there is just so much going on, adults can't watch every single one of the kids.''

The state's mandatory vehicle restraint law for children doesn't apply to school buses, antique cars or parade floats traveling less than 10 mph.

The Portsmouth death came a day after a 3-year-old girl was seriously injured after falling from a parade float in Freeport, Maine.

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Wake up!!!! We have been telling Ray LaHood of NHTSA and Donald Karol of NHTSA and they do NOT care about the loss of lives due to children falling off dangerous trailers with NO RAILINGS.
http://dangeroustrailersparadefloat.blogspot.com/2008/02/would-float-railing-have-prevented-nh.html