Negligent parents or victims of society? ?

I have a neighbor who is a pompous a**. But you can't say anything negative ab out him publicly because he has made himself into the town martyr. 20 yrs ago his 9 year old son was killed when struck by a car as he returned from the library. The son was crossing a busy main highway that his father knew was dangerous (he had complained at Town Hall numerous times about this) re: the speeding cars. Yet he allowed his son to go to the library himself, cross that dangerous street numerous times, yet he has always felt it is the town's fault that his son died. Question: If he were a poor man in a bad part of the city instead of a white guy in the suburbs, wouldn't he have been arrested for child negligence? Please share your thoughts. Please also note that he was pompous and arrogant before this horrible tragedy.