DUI Victim, and Driver, Speak in Court
Posted on Nov 29, 2010 2:40pm PST
Anthony Scott Yannacone, 24, of West Chester, has been sentenced to 26 months to nine years in state prison on charges of aggravated assault while driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident, as reported by the Daily Times in Delaware County, PA.
Yannacone's housemate, and passenger in his vehicle the night of the alcohol and drug fueled accident in East Goshen, was Adam MacDonald.
MacDonald needs help eating, drinking and swallowing due to massive brain damage sustained during the car crash. He was in a coma for a month on life support, has endured 21 separate operations, walks with a cane and has memory loss. His medical bills have exceeded $1.2 million.
MacDonald's father, Andrew MacDonald, said, "He is wholly incapable of caring for himself and cannot be left alone."
Though some progress has been made, MacDonald, who will be 27 later this month, is never expected to fully recover.
Yannacone left the scene, and MacDonald, after crashing his girlfriend's BMW into a tree. He later denied being associated with the accident and knowing who was left behind in the car.
Yannacone had traces of marijuana and a blood alcohol of .18 in his system after the crash.
Assistant District Attorney, Andrea Cardamone, in a request that Judge David Bortner hand down a severe sentence sited not only Yannacone's behavior by leaving the scene, but also the fact that he had just completed safe driving and alcohol awareness classes for his first DUI - 18 months before this accident.
Cardamone, said, "This is more than a tragedy. This is a crime. These were not unintended consequences. When you drive drunk, people get hurt. They die. I am offended and I am angry at drunk drivers. It is not a mistake."
Yannacone said that since the accident, in an effort to make up for what his actions have cost his friend, he has become involved helping those with brain injuries at Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital. He has also spoken about the dangers of drunk driving at the Gaudenzia House treatment center.
He stated to the judge, "I am terribly sorry, your honor, and I hope that one day Adam is able to forgive me."
Scott M. Klein, Yannacone's attorney, urged the judge to keep his client in Chester County Prison, or to lessen his sentence to under two years.
Cardamone stated that the accident, that took place after midnight on January 3, occurred after an evening of smoking marijuana and drinking. Yannacone rammed a tree at the corner of Dutton Mill and Strasburg Road. The accident alerted a neighbor who called the police to the scene.
Police spotted one man, later identified as Yannacone - face bloodied and shoes missing - walking away from the scene. The other man, later identified as MacDonald, was found unconscious in the front seat.
Cardamone said that there is one question that MacDonald has for Yannacone: "Why he left me."
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