I am writing to inform you of a blatant disregard for public safety and personal property by a local company.

My wife and I ordered pizza on August 21st from Pizza Hotline in Charlotte Hall. When the pizza arrived the order was incorrect and we needed a second pizza sent. This was done without hesitation by the store; however, what happened next was hardly customer friendly.

After delivering the pizza the driver sped in reverse out of our driveway and then spinning tires sped down the common right-of-way on the farm we live on, leaving an initial rut of fifteen feet and turned up gravel for the next seventy five or so feet.

I would like to point out that my family and our neighbors walk with regularity on this road. I immediately took pictures and went straight to the store in person. I spoke with the manger on duty, who was extremely helpful, showing her the pictures and expressing my concern, not only for the total disregard for private property, but for public safety as well.

I then spoke with the driver who had so rudely left my driveway. I told him that I felt that he owed me an apology; however, he saw no reason to apologize and offered the excuse that he was in a hurry.

This was not satisfactory, so my wife decided to contact the owner of Pizza Hotline. He spoke only briefly with my wife on August 21st, asking her to email him the pictures and he would get back to her in the morning. Both my wife and I spoke with the owner George Heinze on August 22nd. He did not apologize for his driver’s actions and tried to justify his reckless driving by saying the store was very busy and the driver was in a hurry.

I told him of the concerns I had of how young children and adults frequently walk on the road. I told him that I have a seventeen month old a daughter and my neighbors baby-sit their two year old granddaughter, but he still would not accept responsibility and insisted that the driver’s behavior was justified since he was in a hurry.

Mr. Heinze then stated that the whole situation was “silly”.

This incident was far from silly and could have been gravely serious. It seems every time you turn around another pedestrian is struck by a careless driver. It was only this past spring when a little girl was hit in La Plata while waiting for her bus. I can not believe that the owner of a local business would address such a situation with such a melancholy attitude. Not only did his driver have no respect for personal property, but he had no regard for public safety. Then to top it off the owner who should be holding him accountable justifies compromising the safety of my daughter because his driver was in a hurry and his store was busy. That is outrageous.

I feel the public has a right to know that this particular business owner does not seem to be worried if his drivers speed down neighborhood streets if the are in a hurry. So does it mean that because his driver’s are in a hurry that will justify compromising public safety and personal property? I do not think so. I would like you all be aware of the kind of business they are running.

Obviously, this pizzeria owner is only about making a buck or a pie and not about his customer’s well being, safety or personal property. I think that before ordering their next pizza, parents should consider whether or not it is a matter of life or death. With owners and drivers like this out there, sooner or later that is what it will come down to.

Darrell Cusick

Mechanicsvil