Shameful...but thank goodness the kids weren't hurt

Last spring, I spoke at Iroquois Central High School about the dangers of drinking and driving. An auditorium full of juniors and seniors listened to me pour out my heart as I begged them not to drink and drive and be more aware of adults who do. I even went to their senior prom to remind them about the dangers of DWI

That's why this story hit close to home...I have a special bond with that school.

Monday morning, Robert Donnelly, a 70 year old East Aurora man drove four students from Iroquois to the Baker Road School in Orchard Park. He was drunk. Luckily the students got to their destination safely.

When he arrived back at the school, a supervisor smelled alcohol on his breath then alerted school officials and police. Donnelly was charged with DWI, he blew a .14 BAC. That was the exact same BAC that Michael McCarthy blew. He was the drunk driver convicted of killing my sister Karen.

Not only was Donnelly charged by state police, he was also placed on unpaid administrative leave at the district, where he had been a driver for the past eight years.

My question is this: What was he drinking for so early in the morning? Perhaps he has a serious drinking problem?

Didn't the kids smell any alcohol on his breath?

Perhaps police and school district officials should not look at this as an isolated incident, but instead take precautions with bus drivers to make sure it doesn't happen again. Train the drivers, bring in speakers (like myself) to talk about the dangers of DWI, and be more aware of those who try to drive drunk.

This could happen again.

Thank goodness no one was hurt.

Deanna

Latest on the 2009 CAID Softball Tourney

Plans are underway for the 2009 CAID Softball Tournament!

Here are the details:

Saturday, August 15, 2009
Games start at 9am
Sunshine Park
East and West Road, West Seneca

The registration fee is just $200 a team. We are also looking for donations for the silent auction.

Prizes include gift certificates from Darien Lake, the Bisons, gift baskets and much more!

For team registration forms or if you'd like to donate, email me at deanna@karenscrusade.org

Thanks!

Deanna

More young lives snuffed out too soon - only this time it's different

He was just 22 years old, had just pitched one of his best games of his short major league career.

Soon after he left the ballpark, Nick Adenhart was hit by a driver with a .24 BAC - three times the legal limit. That crash killed the California Angels pitcher, along with a 20 year old California State University student and a law student. Another victim is fighting for his life in the hospital.

Unfortunately, it's another sad story of young lives - on the cusp of the rest of their lives - taken by a driver who made a bad choice. Police say the drunk driver, 22 year old Andrew Thomas Gallo, was on probation, he was driving with a suspended license. They say he ran a red light, and slammed into the car carrying Adenhart, and three of his friends. Then Gallo fled, only to be arrested by police 30 minutes later.

The difference with this case - Gallo's being charged with three counts of murder, along with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of the accident. Rarely do drunk drivers get charged with murder.

Kudos to the California Prosecuters office and the judge who made that decision.

In the case of the death of my sister, the drunk driver was charged with vehicular manslaughter and vehicular assault - for the death of Karen and injuries he caused Katie.

All I can think right now is Adenhart was just about to make a name for himself, just about to start leading the Angels to what could have been greatness, and the two others who were killed, who knows...but again a drunk driver took them away - from their family, friends, and the community that loved them.

Think what could have been - what he could have been - what his friends could have contributed to society, nope, not going to happen...all because of a drunk driver.

When are things going to change? When are people going to learn that they can't drink, drive, and get home safely?

Drunk driving takes too many lives - I'm going to keep fighting against it until stories like this become non-existent.

Deanna

Happy Birthday

On April 3, 1979, my parents brought you into my life. I was four years old.

Our childhood was a happy one. Even though we didn't have many material possessions, there was a lot of love in our house. Lots of hugs, and smiles.

Remember the times when we would play "Uno" in my tiny bedroom? Or the times we'd fight over the window seat on the trips to Baltimore?

Remember the night when we went to see "Little Mermaid" at the movies? We were both young adults, yet we laughed like kids.

Over the years, we experienced life's good moments - like graduations, proms, and those that were a little more rocky.

I can't tell you how many times your smile or your "Hi Dee!" greeting would brighten up my day.

Today you would have been 30 years old, and I can't help but wonder who you'd be today.

I see your smile, I see your face I hear you laughing in the rain Still can't believe you're gone

It ain't fair you died too young Like a story that had just begun The death tore the pages all away God knows how I miss you All the hell that I've been through Just knowing no one could take your *love away* Sometimes I wonder who you'd be today

Would you see the world? Would you chase your dreams? Settle down with a family? I wonder, what would you name your babies?

When I have kids, they'll hear all about you - you can count on it. They'll see the pictures, hear all the stories, but unfortunately they won't be able to meet you in person.

I know you are my angel, guiding me through the pain, not a day goes by when I don't think of you.

I love you and miss you Karen.

Deanna

(The picture above was taken at one of the last Christmas gatherings spent with Karen. From Left to right, My cousin Melissa, Karen, and I)

Anne Adams & Cowards

Earlier this week, a judge was selected to sentence former attorney Anne Adams. State Supreme Court Justice Michael Griffith of Warsaw will probably sentence Adams next month.

They had to assigne the case to Griffith, because Erie County Judge Sheila DiTullio, who took Adams' guilty plea last month, recused herself. Both women once served as Erie County prosecutors.

We'll continue to follow this case to see what the sentencing will be for Adams. She's already lost her job, can no longer practice law in New York, and now she'll probably get a prison term.

All because she tried to "fool the system" instead of admitting guilt for the DWI that she was arrested for back in September.

Now onto another topic...

During the last several months, there have been several hit and run crashes, that could have been alcohol related. A few weeks ago, a young man was struck and killed while walking on McKinley Parkway. Turns out the driver who reported the accident was responsible.

Earlier this month, a Town of Tonawanda woman is blaming her boyfriend, after she struck two young women near Daemen College. She said her boyfriend told her to leave the scene after she knew she struck at least one person. She was arrested several days later when she tried to get her vehicle repaired.

Then there's the attorney who fled the scene in October, after he struck and killed a young woman on South Park Avenue in Hamburg.

In many cases, and possibly all the crashes I've listed above, people run from the crash because they know they've been drinking. Then often there's the cover-up, either the driver takes their car to a repair shop to get it fixed or in the case of the attorney in Hamburg, they try to fix their vehicle themselves.

My opinion - shameful. These people really are cowards. There should be harsher penalties for drivers of hit and run crashes. I've heard of attorneys who actually tell their clients to flee the scene. So what ends up happening? They leave people dying on the side of the road...like animals, not taking responsibility for their actions.

Make the penalties of hit and run crashes stiffer, and you'll see fewer of these crashes. Until that happens, people will continue to drive away, leaving people seriously hurt or dead.

Until next time...

Deanna

She's not just a drunk driver, she's a dishonest lawyer

Anne Adams is no longer a practicing lawyer, she resigned and is banned from appearing as an attorney.

It's bad enough that Adams pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors for drunken driving and her role in trying to fix the case. Now, The News is reporting that Adams was about to be fired due to allegations surrounding a divorce case. Adams took thousands of dollars from a client and the woman tried for six years to get some of that money returned.

Doesn't Adams have a conscience?

Obviously not, this is the same woman who tried to fix her drunk driving case.

What'll happen to Adams? She's awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty last month to drunken driving, offering a false instrument for filing and attempted tampering with physical evidence.

Deanna

11 years later...Who would she be today?

It's hard to believe that nearly 11 years have passed since my sister Karen was tragically killed by a drunk driver.

I've started CAID in her memory, and I'm happy to say that the organization is gaining strength and our biggest fundraiser - the annual CAID Softball Tournament is moving full steam ahead.

We just had a meeting to discuss the softball tournament, and I'm positive that this year's event will be bigger and better than last year.

It all comes back to Karen, my angel who is guiding me through each step of the process. I know that she's proud of what I've done and is with me in spirit forever.

Here's a song that always brings a tear to my eye when I think of what was lost on March 6, 1998 - a bright, young life cut tragically short.

Karen, you'll be in my heart forever, and I do everything in memory of you.


Deanna