I Warned Them Before Pedestrian Was Killed
On June 25, 2024, I spent several hours at a deposition answering questions from lawyers regarding the civil trial Spitznas v. Newtown Township, et al. Recall that case involves the death of Scott Kipling Spitznas, who was struck and killed at the North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive intersection in December 2021. The deposition document is nearly 200 pages long not including documents that the lawyers downloaded from my website and Facebook account. I asked ChatGPT to provide a summary, which I reproduce below. It took the AI program about 30 seconds to complete, formatting included!
Here’s a short summary of the deposition:
Deposition Highlights Township Role in Fatal Crash Case
In a June 25, 2024 deposition, Newtown Supervisor John Mack testified in the civil case over the death of Scott Spitznas, killed at the North Sycamore and Silo Drive crosswalk in 2021.
Mack acknowledged that the Board of Supervisors has a role in pedestrian safety, including speed limits and intersection improvements. He also admitted that meeting minutes often omit key details and that his own use of social media to highlight safety issues has drawn criticism from colleagues.
A major dispute arose over a Remington & Vernick Engineers report recommending safety measures after the crash. Mack had referenced it online, but attorneys clashed over whether the report was confidential.
The case underscores the tension between government transparency, public safety, and legal liability in Newtown Township.
John Mack’s Testimony
Background & Role
- Mack has lived in Newtown since 1995 and has served as a Township Supervisor since January 2018.
- He described his responsibilities as attending meetings, voting on township matters, and occasionally serving as Secretary or Vice Chairman of the Board.
Minutes & Transparency
- Mack noted that meeting minutes often omit details and described local government as “more about secrecy — preventing citizen access to information.”
- He acknowledged tensions with colleagues over his extensive use of social media (website, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to report and comment on township issues.
Pedestrian Safety
- Mack created a “North Sycamore Street Pedestrian Safety Timeline” documenting accidents at the intersection.
- He confirmed pedestrian safety is important and that supervisors “have a role to play” in improving intersections — such as lowering speed limits or funding improvements.
- He tied his focus on safety to both the death of a worker (prior to Spitznas) and the fatal crash involving Spitznas.
Engineering Reports Dispute
- A major point of contention was a Remington & Vernick Engineers letter (Jan. 2022) with recommended safety measures.
- Mack had posted about the recommendations online, but attorneys disputed whether the report was public, citing confidentiality statutes.
- The deposition was temporarily halted over objections about questioning Mack on traffic studies.
Key Takeaways
- Mack positioned himself as an advocate for transparency and safety, though criticized for posting about township issues online.
- He linked Scott Spitznas’s death to longstanding safety concerns at the intersection.
- The deposition underscored a legal dispute over access to engineering safety studies, central to the case.
Posted on 22 Aug 2025, 01:38 - Category: Public Safety
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