A man has plead guilty to homicide by vehicle while DUI following the death of a 22 year-old woman who had suffered with massive head injuries for ten months after he crashed into her while under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana, as reported by Penn Live.
A.K., 30, entered his guilty plea on May 23. Family and friends of the woman killed, J.J., were both tearful and relieved as the case moved toward closure. Her aunt, mother and sister wore matching T-shirts adorned with J.J.'s pre-injury image and the words spelling out "Traumatic Brain Injury."
The sentencing is scheduled for August. Along with J.J.'s death A.K. is also accountable for severe injuries sustained by J.J.'s passenger, C.E.
Judge Deborah Essis Curcillo can impose as much as a 10 to 20 year prison sentence according to Deputy District Attorney Abby Trovinger. A.K. has been convicted twice before for DUI.
The attorney for J.J.'s family, P. Richard Wagner, said, "There's no question (J.J.'s) family was traumatized at the time this accident happened. They collectively worked so hard to help (J.J.) She was in and out of a coma. They never lost faith. Then the second devastation came on April 13 when her body gave out."
In describing the June 16, 2012 accident Trovinger told the judge that A.K.'s blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit to drive and he also had marijuana in his system. When the collision occurred, at approximately 11:30 p.m., A.K.'s vehicle was traveling 83 mph in a 35 mph zone.
J.J. and C.E. had just gotten off duty where they worked together at a local Comfort Inn hotel. Trovinger described them to the judge as "completely innocent victims."
A.K., handcuffed during the court proceedings, is being held in county prison with a bail set of $500,000.
Following J.J.'s death a count of homicide was added to A.K.'s original charge of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI.
Attorney Robert Daniels represented A.K. in court. He declined to comment to reporters at the close of the hearing.
D.E., C.E.'s father, told reporters that his daughter had recovered from her physical injuries and had just completed her sophomore year at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. It has been nearly a year since the accident and D.E. commented that "Next month is going to be pretty hard. The crash happened right on Father's Day."
According to C.E. his daughter has had close contact with J.J.'s family. D.E. said that C.E. is "tough and that has helped her."
Now with J.J.'s recent death and A.K.'s guilty plea, D.E. said "It is the beginning of finality with him admitting he did wrong. But there will never be total finality when you lose a loved one in this fashion."
Charges stemming from a DUI, DWI, OUI or OWI are best handled by an attorney experienced in defending these types of cases. Contact a DUI attorney right away to help you with your defense!