Jackman - 5-year-old Liam Mahaney of Jackman was scheduled to start kindergarten last year.

All of that changed in an instant. On the night of July 19 of last year, a Canadian logging truck crashed on Main Street in Jackman, spilling 100,000 pounds of logs into the home of Gary and Christina Mahaney, destroying their home and killing young Liam, who was asleep near his mother on the couch.

Authorities say the driver of the truck had fallen asleep. "You know, what we had to deal with was completely unfair," said Liam's mother, Christina Mahaney. "We're still living that horrific night every day."

No charges were ever filed as a result of the accident. The Mahaneys continue to work with local lawmakers to try to strengthen the law to make sure if something like this does happen again, the driver won't go unpunished. "You know it is true, he fell asleep at the wheel and unfortunately that's not against the law," Christina Mahaney said. "That's completely wrong. If you're tired and you're driving and you're carrying 100,000 pounds of whatever you're carrying, you're putting a lot of people in danger. And unfortunately that night it was my house, my son."

In December, Jackman residents were joined by lawmakers and local law enforcement to try to come up with a way to slow truckers down. Several suggestions were made, including more speed traps to be set up by local law enforcement, and possibly deputizing Jackman residents who could write tickets to those caught speeding through town. "I do know the sheriff has been coming up, they've been doing checkpoints. But as of now, we're still seeing the speeding unfortunately," said Mahaney.

The Mahaneys have also organized "Liam's Walk" for later this month to raise awareness of the true dangers of overtired truck drivers. It's a battle the Mahaneys say they'll continue to fight as long as it takes. "We'll continue forward until something does get passed."

In the hopes that a tragedy like the one that befell young Liam Mahaney will never happen around here again.

"Liam's Walk" is scheduled for Saturday, July 21, from 11:00-3:00.
Registration is at 10:00.
The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 12.
All proceeds will go toward a permanent memorial for Liam Mahaney, as well as a scholarship in his name.

Donations can be made to:
Skowhegan Savings Bank
Liam's Walk
PO Box 141
Jackman, Maine 04945

Or on PayPal or my paypal- mahaneyangel3@yahoo.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Please include Liam's Walk in the notes.

You can get all the information on "Liam's Walk" by logging on to
http://www.trucksafety.org/index.php/component/content/article/6-uncategorized/226-liams-walk-parents-against-tired-truckers.html

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